DREAM+3

At the time of the following dream, Doris S. was a happy and healthy 28-year-old woman living in a comfortable Chicago condominium with her husband of 5 years. Both she and her husband had high-paying jobs in advertising (they had met at work) and were generally enjoying life as yuppies. They got along well together and, beyond the usual conflicts over small things, the only problems they had were her overbearing mother (who they perceived as trying to run their lives) and a very stressful decision about whether to move to Los Angeles, where her husband, but not she, had the opportunity for an exciting new job at even higher pay. Beyond these rather routine problems, Doris lived a very normal life and had never experienced serious psychological problems. //Doris's Dream// "I am at my friend Betty's house. I call Ann up to make an appointment to get my hair highlighted. I speak to the receptionist at the beauty parlor. I speak in a Russian accent. She asks when I can come. I say in a couple of days. I think that might be Wednesday. She asks 'Are you sure because we are changing things around here; implying that it won't be good if I change my mind and cancel the appointment. After speaking to her, I realize that I don't need to have my hair highlighted yet, because my hair hasn't grown out yet. But George and I go on the 'A' train to the beauty parlor. It goes through a neighborhood that I have never seen before. The train travels outside. George gets out at a stop as if he nonchalantly is doing something. The train leaves without him. I wave to him and feel bad that he is not on the train." (Ullman, 1986, p. 539).
 * Handout 3**