Psychosocial factors play a crucial role in our mental health, often stemming from subconscious memories related to complex early life experiences, necessitating personalized interventions. However, conventional cognitive-based approaches typically require ten or more talk therapy sessions to effect positive behavioural changes, which poses significant barriers for those who can’t access or afford holistic care. Consequently, many individuals resort to self-medication to cope with overwhelming emotions, underscoring the urgent need for more efficient holistic solutions.
Dreaming is a universal yet underutilized mental health resource. As both neuroscience and psychology recognize, dreaming problem-solves various waking concerns creatively through memory consolidation and emotional processing. Based on this understanding and transformative personal dreams, I created Guided Dreaming, an innovative mental wellness practice, to facilitate stress reduction and problem-solving through a safe and calming waking dream experience. This unique approach has demonstrated a 91% efficacy rate and an average 36% improvement in mental outlook after just one session, which I had the honour of presenting at a recent International Association of Analytical Psychology conference in Germany themed “Process of Transformation.”
I developed Guided Dreaming based on insightful waking dreams I experienced during the pandemic, combined with neuroscience, psychology, and ethical dreamwork guidelines set out by the International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD). Like most people, I didn’t know it was possible to dream while awake until I experienced it firsthand in 2020 during hypnotherapy sessions to alleviate my chronic shoulder pain caused by the stress from homeschooling my children while managing a business. Unexpectedly, I dreamt of a gentle octopus swimming out of my shoulder and shapeshifting into a luminescent healing bubble, my dream body dissolving and becoming one with the light inside.
Through various literature, I discovered that many ancient and contemporary practices, including hypnosis, Dream Yoga, Vision Quest, and Active Imagination, cultivate waking dreams to support individual and collective problem-solving and wellbeing. Dreams reflect our waking lives and can serve as a way to solve problems through the use of metaphors. For instance, in my underwater octopus dream, the water symbolizes emotions, while the octopus—renowned for its ability to change its shape, colours and texture—represents flexibility and adaptability. The healing bubble signifies inner transformation.
At the beginning of Guided Dreaming, I invite participants to bring a personal or professional problem to resolve and a chosen helper for safety and support. With breathwork and visualization, I lead them into a serene underwater dreamscape while they are awake, experiencing profound relaxation and transformative insights with the guidance of the friendly Octopus and their chosen helper. After the dreaming experience, I facilitate dream sharing to help participants interpret their dream content and derive problem-solving insights.
For my master’s thesis in health psychology at Adler University last year, I conducted scholarly research on the effectiveness of Guided Dreaming in reducing stress and generating problem-solving insights. This study involved a mixed-method survey of eleven self-selected adult volunteers who participated in a single Guided Dream session, either online or in person. Each participant provided informed consent before completing the survey, which included 15 questions and gathered quantitative, phenomenological, and demographic data.
The findings indicated that all participants, regardless of their diverse backgrounds, experienced vivid waking dreams featuring positive emotions. Notably, 91% of them reported feeling safer and less stressed while also gaining insights that helped them address their individual challenges. On average, participants assessed their mental outlook to have improved by 36%. The case studies presented below illustrate that each person faced distinct problems and, in turn, gained unique transformative insights from their waking dreams.
Case #1. Anxiety Relief: A middle-aged woman with chronic anxiety encountered an overwhelming underwater cliff during Guided Dreaming. Her deceased father, whom she chose as the helper, appeared as a comforting presence and smiled at her. Then, a red octopus wrapped around her, offering warmth and support. After the session, she felt renewed resilience to face life’s challenges.
Case #2. Career Direction: A young person felt uncertain about her future career. During Guided Dreaming, she entered a warm, cozy space that comforted her. In this serene void, clarity emerged, revealing endless opportunities ahead. Inspired, she decided to pursue paths that would fulfill her aspirations and offer the infinite potential she desired.
Case #3. Diverticulitis Diagnosis: A woman recently divorced and diagnosed with diverticulitis had a waking dream during Guided Dreaming of opal jellyfish gliding through dark waters, their translucent bodies shimmering in iridescent colours. The jellyfish, with tentacle-like appendages resembling defibrillators, pulsed with energy. She interpreted the dream as a release of pent-up emotions, urging her to confront unresolved feelings beneath the discomfort of her waking life.
Case #4. Meditation Struggles: A devoted Christian woman seeking spiritual growth struggled to stay awake during her meditation sessions. During Guided Dreaming, she was surrounded by vibrant colours and felt as if she were a baby floating in the ocean. This profound experience resonated with her, signalling the start of a new spiritual journey. Inspired, she decided to move her meditation practice to the morning, hoping the fresh energy would help her stay alert and engaged.
Case #5. Chronic Pain: A middle-aged Asian woman, plagued by persistent bodily pain, experienced a waking dream where she ran freely and joyfully without discomfort. This vivid contrast to her reality highlighted her declining health and the limitations it imposed on her life. It served as a painful reminder of how a negative mindset can profoundly affect overall wellbeing, overshadowing dreams of movement and joy.
Case #6. Burnout from Abandonment: A dedicated professional felt overwhelmed by relentless deadlines and indifferent coworkers. During Guided Dreaming, she dreamt of her beloved childhood swimming pool, where a graceful mauve octopus enveloped her in a comforting embrace. Its vibrant colours shimmered, easing her feelings of isolation and abandonment.
Case #7. Business Obstacles: A business owner facing challenges found herself in a vivid waking dream with a friendly turtle in a shimmering underwater world. She joyfully danced with a playful purple, yellow, and orange octopus. Through this whimsical experience, she realized the importance of building a solid foundation, exploring new opportunities, and embracing life’s fun and joy.
Case #8. Trauma and Loss: A person sought to release past trauma during Guided Dreaming. In her waking dream, she swam through a dark cave, the sound of a waterfall echoing above, before emerging into a sparkling ocean. Accompanied by her beloved cat, playful dolphins, and majestic whales, she frolicked with a rose-coloured octopus, releasing rainbow-coloured oil. At that moment, surrounded by gentle creatures, she felt a profound sense of connection and reassurance about her healing journey.
Case #9. Spouse Relationship: A Muslim black man felt a growing distance from his wife due to their hectic lifestyles. He dreamt of a serene beach in Abu Dhabi where they swam together, accompanied by a vibrant blue octopus that symbolized their intertwined fates. This vivid experience prompted him to reevaluate his priorities, emphasizing the need for relaxation and meaningful moments together.
Case #10. Identity Uncertainty: A mixed-race woman wrestled with uncertainty about her power. In her waking dream, a playful dolphin led her to an underwater ruin, where she found a radiant moonstone among vibrant coral. Standing on it, she saw a glowing city and danced with a colour-changing octopus, revealing a magnificent world tree. Realizing the moonstone symbolized the need to let go of self-doubt, she embraced her authentic self with newfound clarity, free from societal expectations.
Case #11. Feeling Trapped: A non-binary individual felt a deep frustration stemming from powerlessness. During Guided Dreaming, they experienced water flowing through their body, symbolizing the release of burdens and the liberation of their spirit. This awakening fueled a desire to embody fluidity in everyday life, prompting them to explore experiences and practices that celebrate their identity and foster confidence.
In conclusion, Guided Dreaming provides a unique and nurturing experience that fosters introspection and meaningful transformation, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to address their personal challenges. Research indicates that participants encounter a variety of dream narratives that resonate with their specific waking life concerns, highlighting the profound connection between dreams and mental well-being. Notably, those who have engaged in multiple sessions discover new dream themes each time, reflecting their evolving waking issues. This adaptable approach can cater to various demographics and can conveniently be facilitated online or in person, making it both accessible and budget-friendly. In summary, the findings indicate that Guided Dreaming is a safe, effective, and efficient holistic alternative for transforming psychosocial challenges into insightful pathways for healing and personal growth.
A trip to disney world can transform psychological issues but it does so through etertainment and destration, and poor people can’t afford to do it. Guided dreaming is a borgeois version of this and could not rival the therapeutic effects of, for example, working with someone doing therapeutic creative and emotional writing. But the problem really is to get to the roots of psychological suffering as a SOCIAL phenomena, not as a personal or individual issue because the latter is delusional. Our psychological condition is constituted within our society, within a particular social environment. So mental health and illness, as you call it, reflects these social conditions which are the real problem, and dream analysis has absolutely no value whatsoever in uncovering and exposing this fact. Your article I find has nothing to do with the transforming of the fundamental problem and it is just another grift, another way of profiting out of patients. It may be nice and improve people’s wellbeing on some level, but not by getting at the root of the problem, so doing nothing about the problem you are enabling the problem, actually, and it may even be harmful to the people you are helping because dream analysis is not what is required. It is an observation and understanding of the whole dynamics of one’s own life which are psychological, emotional and environmental, all these being the one fundamental reality which is human consciousness, or conscious life, and it is that which needs to be observed and understood so that the movements of thought, feeling and action are intelligent in relation to each other and to environment. You know nothing about this at all but neither does hardly anyone even writing on MIA, so please, people – DISCOVER IT NOW. And then look back at your work. Understanding will act unless the ‘me’ (thought) successfully resists out of self-interest. Ah – I would be a very toxic chief psychiatrist let me tell you.
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Thank you for a thought-provoking comment that highlights the intricate relationship between individual psychological well-being and societal health. Societies are indeed composed of individuals whose experiences—both positive and negative—shape their mental states. Many people today grapple with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, often stemming from adverse past experiences that contribute to their sense of powerlessness in effecting societal change.
Guided Dreaming can serve as a transformative tool in this context. By providing a safe and supportive environment, it allows individuals to delve into their emotions and memories, promoting healing and self-discovery. Participants often report reduced stress and newfound insights that can inspire creative problem-solving. This process not only aids individual growth but also fosters a collective spirit where empowered individuals can contribute positively to society.
My weekly Guided Dreaming virtual drop-in sessions only cost $20 each, which is far more affordable than a trip to Disneyland, yet with the potential for profound personal transformation. Additionally, I offer pro bono services to those facing financial difficulties.
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There is an evolution of evil, not just life and the good (all of which evolve in people not in actions or material things), and evil can and does evolve to become formidable. Examples include the Japanese war machine with it’s kamakaze pilots, like the twin towers hijackers, or a more mundane and socially acceptable example is Margaret Thatcher when she came in: she was absolutely formidable in her early years of being Prime Minister and managed to dominate global politics to an extent that no leader of such a small country ever has in the democratic world (obviously authoritarian and imperial powers are another matter). It is now widely recognized that the legacy was the destruction of our society and it’s desiccation and collapse owing to the rampant and destructive movements set about by capital. Now, reflecting back on your country, the manifestation of explicit evil has just begun, and this evil is stumbling and juvenile. It will become like the Japanese war machine or the absolute horror we saw under the Nazis, who again are an obvious example of formidable evil and again managed to dominate global affairs punching way above it’s weight and swelling enormously before it was defeated. So evil has a capacity to evolve quickly and it does through the energy we call ‘power’. Evil in your country now has extraordinary power and dominates your society. Watch out or nuclear bombs may have to be sent your way to stop this formidable evil for undeniably there is one thing that is worse then dying and that is to be swallowed up in a life system of absolute evil which has happened to you now> Power will make it inexorably more and more formidable, ruthless, cruel.
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Every collective evil act, from genocide to systemic oppression, is rooted in individual decisions shaped by personal histories, experiences, and emotions. Each act of malice or indifference can be traced back to a complex interplay of societal influences, psychological pain, and individual choices. Understanding this connection is crucial, as it reveals that the capacity for both good and evil exists within us all, influenced by our pasts and the world around us.
Although we cannot alter the course of history, we hold the power to heal and transform our society. Acknowledging the wounds inflicted by past injustices and intergenerational trauma is the first step toward recovery. By confronting these painful truths, we can cultivate empathy, fostering a culture that prioritizes understanding over hostility.
Ultimately, it is our responsibility to learn from these mistakes and actively work towards dismantling the systems of oppression that persist today. Planting the seeds for a better society requires intentional actions—education, dialogue, and compassion. Through these efforts, individuals can break the cycle of negativity, making choices that contribute to healing and progress. A transformed society rests on the collective commitment to nurture the potential for good that exists within each person.
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You say evil arises from individual actions, but those individuals are conditioned by the whole of society, so you can’t possibly explain one side of this without seeing both as part of one total whole. You divide individual from society in your socially conditioned delusion, because everything in your thinking mind is the forms and memories of social experience, including your rational operations and prejudices and opinions and conclusions – it’s all social phenomena that has conditioned and hijacked the brain but calls itself ‘me’. You seem like a very nice and intelligent person but like most, perhaps all nice and intelligent people on Earth today, you have a ENORMOUS amount to learn if there is any hope of you breaking through into freedom, truth and power. This is a FACT. Listen or don’t listen. And you CAN shoot the messenger if you want – perhaps it’ll improve my inside out and back to front visage. Just make sure you hit the visage and not the goolies
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Affordable mental health and well-being services play a crucial role in addressing social engagement, inequality and enhancing fairness within communities. When mental health resources are accessible, individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can receive the support needed to thrive socially. Many marginalized groups experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to socioeconomic disparities, leading to social withdrawal and decreased community involvement.
Affordable mental health care can empower these individuals by equipping them with coping strategies and fostering a sense of agency. Accessible services reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues, encouraging more individuals to seek help and participate in community activities. This inclusivity enriches social networks, cultivating environments where diverse perspectives are valued and encouraged.
Moreover, equal access to mental health resources can bridge the gap between different social strata, facilitating dialogue and understanding among diverse groups. As mental wellness improves, individuals are more likely to engage in civic activities, volunteerism, and community initiatives that promote fairness and equity. Ultimately, when mental health care is affordable and universally accessible, it contributes to a more engaged, resilient society where all individuals can participate actively and equally, reinforcing social cohesion and justice.
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In an article by Carolyn Todd in the NYT Dr. Dasgupta was quoted, “REM is critical to our emotional health and brain function – and even potentially our longevity”. Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience was quoted, “If you’ve ever gone to bed upset about something and woken up noticeably less bothered, its likely a result of the emotional processing and memory reconsolidation that happens during REM. There’s evidence that your brain divorces memories from their emotional charge – removing the sharp, painful edges from life’s difficulties. REM is like a form of overnight therapy”.
For the first time in history, humans can benefit from being awake during the REM healing process. Therapists can use Se-REM in their office, or have clients do it at home and help them process the experience in their next in office session. The progress will be shocking.
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