Lecture Virtual

The Art of Dream Interpretation: Old and New Stops on the Royal Road

Presented by: Deborah Luepnitz, PhD

Freud maintained that dreams provide us with a “royal road” to the unconscious, and considered The Interpretation of Dreams to be his “best and most important work.” Dream interpretation can greatly enhance clinical work with individuals and couples. It seems, however, that fewer institutes are emphasizing this skill. Our workshop will begin with an overview of the basic elements of the classical method, while adding a new “stop” on the royal road by looking at references to color, color change, and race in dreams. Clinical examples will demonstrate how this approach to dreams can be integrated into a Relational practice.

Agenda

  • 7:30 pm Welcome & introduction
  • 7:40 pm Lecture by Dr. Luepnitz
  • 8:30 pm Q&A

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the Classical/Relational method of dream work.
  2. Describe how exploration of colors in dreams can lead to reflection on race, racial difference, self, and other.

Meet the Presenter

Deborah Luepnitz, PhD

Deborah Anna Luepnitz, Ph.D., is on the Core Faculty at the Institute for Relational Psychoanalysis of Philadelphia. For over 20 years, she has taught dream work seminars at the Institute and to fourth-year residents in the Psychiatry Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Luepnitz is author of The Family Interpreted: Psychoanalysis, Feminism and Family Therapy and Schopenhauer’s Porcupines, which has been translated into 10 languages and released as an audiobook. She contributed to the Cambridge Companion to Lacan and Karnac’s The Winnicott Tradition and published “Thinking in the Space Between Winnicott and Lacan” in The International Journal of Psychoanalysis. In 2004, Dr. Luepnitz founded Insight for All, a pro bono project connecting psychoanalysts with unhoused and formerly homeless adults. She received the Distinguished Educator Award from the International Forum for Psychoanalytic Education in 2013. 

References

Bulkeley, K., & Schredl, M. (2022). Dreams, race, and the Black Lives Matter movement: Results of a survey of American adults. Pastoral Psychology, 71(1), 29–41.

Erdelyi, M. (2024). Sigmund Freud’s contributions to dream science. Dreaming, 34(1), 386–401. 

Roesler, C., Kissling, L., et al. (2025). Dreams in psychotherapy: An empirically supported model of the relationship of dreams to the course of psychotherapy. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 42(1), 35–45. 

Disclosures

Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE Eligibility

This program, when attended in its entirety, is eligible for 1.5 continuing education credits. Austin Psychoanalytic will provide certificates of attendance to participants who attend the program in full. Austin Psychoanalytic’s continuing education programs are sponsored through Division 39’s APA-approved continuing education program. It is the responsibility of each licensee to verify that a given program meets the continuing education requirements for their specific license. Participants outside of Texas should consult their own licensing boards regarding CE eligibility.

Accessibility, Non-discrimination, and Privacy

Division 39 is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all continuing education activities and conducts its programs in accordance with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Reasonable accommodations will be made whenever possible for participants with accessibility needs. Questions, concerns, requests for accommodations, or complaints may be directed to info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. Participants are also asked to respect the privacy and confidentiality of others throughout the program.

Financial Disclosure

There is no commercial support for this program. Neither Division 39, Austin Psychoanalytic, nor the presenter has any financial relationships or conflicts of interest that could reasonably be construed as influencing the program content.

Cancellations and Refunds

Registrants may cancel or transfer their registration to another person up to 48 hours before the event from their confirmation email, by logging into their member account if applicable, or by contacting info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. No cancellations, transfers, or refunds will be permitted within 48 hours of the event start time.

Grievances

Austin Psychoanalytic conducts its educational programs in accordance with the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association. Participants with a concern regarding a speaker or a Continuing Education program are asked to submit a written account of the matter to info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. Where a complaint is substantiated, Austin Psychoanalytic will determine an appropriate remedy, which may include placement in a comparable program at no additional cost, a credit toward a future program, or a partial or full refund.