The Adlerian approach to dreams differs from the Freudian one. A dream is not the fulfillment of a repressed wish but a "rehearsal" of future action. The dream creates a mood that sustains the client's style of life. Dream analysis helps see which emotional state the client is "preparing" for themselves.
Step-by-step guide
- Ask for the dream in detail — all elements, sensations, feelings
- Ask: what mood did you wake up in?
- Ask: what was happening in your life before this dream?
- Explore: what action does this mood prepare?
- Link the theme of the dream to the client's style of life
When to use
- When the client brings a dream to the session
- To deepen understanding of the style of life
- When the client is in a transitional period
- As a complement to early recollections
Key phrases
Tell me the dream in as much detail as you can — what you saw, what you felt
What mood did you wake up in after this dream?
Follow-up questions
What was happening in your life before this dream?
What decision does this mood help you make?
If this dream were a metaphor — what would it be about?
Alternative phrasings
How is this dream connected to what you are about to do?
What feeling does this dream produce? And what do you need that feeling for?
Warnings
- ⚠️ Do not search for hidden Freudian symbols — Adler worked differently
- ⚠️ Focus on the mood and the function of the dream, not on its content
- ⚠️ The dream is not a prediction but a preparation of an emotional state
Source: Adler A. What Life Could Mean to You
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.