Examining dream content and meaning of dreams with English and Italian versions of the storytelling method of dream interpretation

Abstract

This study extended previous research by comparing dream content and discovery passages from the dreams of Canadian and Italian patients who were undergoing psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy.  Thirty Italians and 30 Canadians (17 males and 13 females) completed The Storytelling Method of Dream Interpretation in either Italian or English.  Dream and discovery content was analyzed via the Hall and Van de Castle method and then compared between the two groups, and, between genders.  Results support previous findings and provide new insight into the differences in both dreams and discovery between the two groups.  Results also support the hypothesis that The Storytelling Method is useful and appropriate for use in therapy with both Canadians and Italians in the English and Italian language.