Dreams in analytic experience: freudian perspectives

Abstract

This paper explores the personal context that led Freud into analyzing his own dreams, and the impact this task had in itself and on the creation of a new theory. This exploration underscores the inherent bond between the work of mourning, the work of analysis and creativity.
In the work of the dream, Freud found an instrument for conceptualizing the primary process, the division of the psyche in instances, the origins of psychic life and the immortality of the sexual wishes from infancy.
As unconscious formations, he raised the value of dreams as privileged «doorways» for the analytic work. In further works, Freud expanded this classical version of dreams, and he examines what the experience of dreaming in itself can produce.
Finally, the paper succinctly mentions the rich technical suggestions for the work of interpretation of dreams and the strong clinical captures the author displays in this founding book.