posted July 19, 2012 12:38 PM            

One of the most useful things I learned in graduate school was Gestalt Therapy. This field of therapy was one of the few( only) that appealed to me. Gestalt Therapy is very logical. It said that we had our own answers. They were just buried. Gestalt Therapy is known for the famous “Empty Chair” exercise. One pictures someone in a chair across form them. One talks to the imaginary person, who could be a parent, a spouse,a friend etc. Gestalt therapy employs techniques which allow the patient to experience his feelings, rather than just talk about them. At any rate, Gestalt Therapy made logical sense, as many esoteric therapies did not. One of the most valuable parts of Gestalt Therapy was dream analysis.

To make it very simple( and it is), one becomes each and every object(or person) in his dream. It helps to keep a notebook next to your bed, so you can wake up and write down all the details. Even the smallest detail is important. Remember that you created the objects, colors and people. As such, each is a message from your subconscious. If you have a pink, polka dot monkey who is kissing a yellow zebra, each detail makes sense. Often, the most way out dream has the most important message. It is way out because it is too hard for your conscious mind to accept the reality of the situation. Hence, your subconscious makes it symbolic.

The last step is to allow each and every object and person to speak. Just allow them to speak as you give voice to your thoughts. Just speak aloud, as you become each object. If you are a yellow zebra, you may have this to say. “I am a yellow zebra. I am yellow because I am afraid. I am a zebra because I live in the jungle. I feel my life is a jungle”

The interpretation for this could be that you are afraid because your life seems wild and out of control, as if you living in a jungle.

This is an example that I hope shows you the process. It is very simple, and more so, very, very enlightening. I promise you will be very surprised at the things you have been harboring, of which you are unaware.

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