Updating Your Metaphors with Alwin Wagener, PhD

Metaphors: they’re not just for dreaming anymore! Evidence shows that we think in them too. Our guest Dr. Alwin Wagener explains his embodied cognition theory of dreaming which explains how dreaming helps us update our metaphors to reflect our changing ideas about what matters to us most. We also talk about why exploring dreams in therapy is helpful and why therapists are often reluctant to do so. He offers the acronym SAFE which reminds therapists to explore dreams by encouraging clients to Share a dream, Appreciate the details of the dream, Find its significance to the client, and Edit the dream however the client would like. We also talk about Culturally Responsive Dreamwork which involves the therapist starting by finding out how the client already relates to their dreams.

After the break, I share some intense dreams I have had since the presidential election involving a conversation on a city bus and a series of dreams about sliding down steep surfaces. Alwin guides me through an exploration of the images and feelings and draws out my associations. Ray from Santa Cruz calls in to offer his own dream of comfort.

BIO: Alwin E. Wagener, PhD, LPC, NCC, is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University. His research focuses on dreams, and he recently published The Embodied Cognition Theory of Dreaming and created Culturally Responsive Dreamwork, which centers clients’ cultural beliefs in dreamwork.

Find our guest at: DreaminginDepth.com

This show, episode number 2, was recorded during a live broadcast on November 13, 2024 at KSQD.org, community radio of Santa Cruz.

Intro and outro music by Mood Science. Ambient music new every week by Rick Kleffel. Archived music can be found at Pandemiad.com. Many thanks to Rick Kleffel for also engineering the show and to Tony Russomano for the phones.

 

SHARE A DREAM FOR THE SHOW or a question by emailing Katherine Bell at katherine@ksqd.org. Follow on FB and IG @ExperientialDreamwork #thedreamjournal. To learn more or to inquire about exploring your own dreams go to ExperientialDreamwork.com.

The Dream Journal aims to: Increase awareness of and appreciation for nightly dreams. Inspire dream sharing and other kinds of dream exploration as a way of adding depth and meaningfulness to lives and relationships. Improve society by the increased empathy, emotional balance, and sense of wonder which dream exploration invites.

The Dream Journal is produced at and airs on KSQD Santa Cruz, 90.7 FM. Catch it streaming LIVE at KSQD.org 10-11am Pacific Time on Saturdays. Call or text with your dreams or questions at 831-900-5773 or email at onair@ksqd.org. Podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms released the Monday following the live show. The complete KSQD Dream Journal podcast page can be found at ksqd.org/the-dream-journal/.

Note that closed captioning is available on the YouTube version of this podcast and an automatically generated transcript is available at Apple Podcasts.

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