Susan LaRae, Brandt (1997) The perceived impact of counseling involving dream interpretation for women exploring their sexual orientation. UNSPECIFIED.
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Text (Dissertation)
BrandtS-PerceivedImpact-diss-1997.pdf - Published Version Restricted to RUG campus Download (9MB) |
Abstract
This study employed a qualitative design to examine the perceived effects of dream interpretation and the counseling process in general for five women {18 or older) who were exploring their sexual orientation. Participants were given 3 quantitative measures prior to counseling and one week after termination of counseling: the Brief Symptom Inventory {BSI), the Attitudes Toward Lesbians (ATL) scale, and a self-description of sexual orientation measure (SOM) created for this study. Clients also were asked to complete a Gains from Dream Interpretation Questionnaire at the end of sessions involving dream interpretation. For data analysis, each individual's preand post-counseling scores on the BSI, ATL and SOM were descriptively compared. One week after termination, participants met with the therapist they did NOT have counseling with to complete the follow-up interview, in which they were asked to respond to a variety of openended questions about the experience of counseling and dream interpretation. The interview was audio-taped and responses to questions were transcribed. Categories were developed using the Consensual Qualitative Research method. Findings showed no significant overall changes in quantitative measures of internalized homophobia or identification of sexual orientation. The three of the five clients who had above average symptomatology before counseling showed a significant decrease in reported symptomatology, so that all five were in the normal range after treatment. Qualitatively, clients typically (3 of 5) reported changes in their relationships, had become more self-aware, and felt more accepting of their sexual orientation after counseling. In the follow-up interviews, clients indicated helpful/unhelpful aspects of counseling and of dream interpretation, and their general sense of the impact of counseling involving dream interpretation on their sexual orientation. All clients reported that counseling was helpful due to a positive relationship that was supportive and affirming and because they felt their counselors' sexual orientation allowed them to understand and relate to clients. Dream interpretation was helpful in that clients gained insight through the process and their counselors' collaboration. All five clients found it helpful that counseling permitted exploration of and increased awareness of sexuality issues and that dream interpretation related to increased acceptance of their sexual orientation. Limitations to the findings of the study include limited generalizability due to heterogeneity of a sample that was very small and the potential of demand characteristics influencing the results.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | UMI Number: 9909044 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | dream interpretation, sexual orientation, counseling |
| Status: | Published |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | dream interpretation, sexual orientation, counseling |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Mar 2025 11:15 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Mar 2025 11:15 |
| URI: | https://ebooks.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/415 |
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