And then I stood there...Naked!" - Working with Shame in Dreams

Shame is a deep-rooted emotion which has become of deep interest of researchers studying dreams and dream analysis. Psychologists and therapists, such as Freud, Breuer and Jung have shown interest in dreams and working with dreams for therapeutical reasons and healing purposes. They interpreted dreams in different ways and provided various explanations about the meaning of shame and its functions for the individual, such as repression, anxiety and self-esteem. Working with dreams can support individuals to transform shame and value shame experiences in dreams as a source of personal growth and self-development. This presentation provides insights into the work with shameful experiences in dreams within therapeutical practice. One case study on working with shame in dreams is presented in detail. Conclusions and recommendations on how to constructively work with shame in therapeutical practice are presented and recommendations for future research and practice are given.