Dreams have a long history of being regarded as divine messages in almost every religious tradition. At the Haden Institute we use the foundational psychological concepts of Carl Jung to teach that dreams can hold the key to greater health and wholeness.
The Dream Work Training teaches that working with our dreams opens a communication channel between the conscious and unconscious worlds, allowing us to translate the metaphor and symbol in dream language into a language that is helpful for problem solving in our waking life.
What You’ll Gain
Two Locations
Hendersonville, NC
Kanuga Conference Center
Our North Carolina program has influences as varied as our participants! This program meets for 6 intensives, each one Thursday-Sunday.
New students begin twice each year, in February and August.
Fully Remote
Your Location
Our fully remote program includes the same excellent curriculum, speakers, and small group experiences as the in person program but spreads it out into bi-weekly live online sessions.
New students begin once each year, in August.
More Info
About
“The Dream Work Training program led me to healing, health, and wholeness in a thorough and gentle, yet exciting way. I found rich rewards for the intentional work that I did, and find the dream world to be a thin place for encountering the Divine in all aspects of my life. The dream group experience is both intimately connecting with others, and an important piece of my own personal inner work.”
Dream Work Training graduate, Asheville, NC
Dreams have a long history of being regarded as divine messages in almost every religious tradition. At the Haden Institute we use the foundational psychological concepts of Carl Jung to teach that dreams can hold the key to greater health and wholeness.
The Dream Work Training teaches that working with our dreams opens a communication channel between the conscious and unconscious worlds, allowing us to translate the metaphor and symbol in dream language into a language that is helpful for problem solving in our waking life.
Sharing the stories our nightly dreams tell is an age old practice, one that has provided inspiration, entertainment and revelations throughout history. Dream work offers a method for healing old wounds, living more fully and joyfully each day, increasing self-awareness, improving understanding of our life purpose, and integrating new understandings. Each of these leads, in turn, to greater empathy and compassion.
Carl Jung developed language and methods for better understanding dream meanings – concepts like projection, archetypes, collective unconscious, anima, animus, and shadow. Because it is often difficult for the dreamer to analyze and understand messages from their own dreams, projective dream work is helpful for grasping dream meanings.
This two-year course is for individuals, therapists, and clergy who wish to gain competence and skills in the world of understanding dreams. In addition to individual dream work, creative embodiment, studying the history of dreams, dream symbolism, Jungian psychology, dream group participation and facilitation, the Dream Work Training Course will allow participants to:
- Develop knowledge of Carl Jung’s analytical psychology, including concepts such as archetype, complex, individuation, and personality typology.
- Gain an appreciation of the dynamic nature of dreams and how they reflect the totality of self.
- Deepen inner awareness with regular personal dream work practices and through work with a dream counselor.
- Develop understanding of the symbology of dreams through amplification, poetry, fairy tale, dream theater, active imagination, role play and myth.
- Learn to work with individuals to translate their dream messages into conscious meaning.
- Learn the basics of the science and psychology of dreaming and dream work.
- Gain experience and skill in group projective dream work through facilitated and self-led practica.
- Expose participants to Zen meditation, active imagination, journaling, poetry, guided imagery, creative expression, embodiment and energy awareness.
- Explore the nature of dreamwork within and across cultures and religious traditions.
Three four-day intensives are held each year either online or at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC. (All intensive are being held online while Kanuga is closed due to the pandemic.) Each intensive includes lectures and discussion with faculty and mentors, as well as staff-led dream practicum groups and one-on-one case studies, demonstrations, dream theater, socials, embodiment practices, creative art space, relaxation and fun. Mentor-guided small group meetings, reading and writing assignments between intensives enhance skills and understanding. Faculty members, who are recognized as the best in the nation in dream work, rotate through the curriculum, allowing participants to experience the entire faculty.
Those who successfully complete the course work will be awarded a certificate of completion.
Our teachings often prove to be therapeutic for our participants, however we are not offering therapy, nor do we certify our graduates as therapists after their training. As a participant we encourage you to seek out a licensed therapist if you need additional support for issues that rise and need therapeutic intervention.
Dates & Rates
Entry Times
February and August every year.
Intensives Dates
There are three four-day weekend intensives per year. All intensives will be held online until Kanuga reopens. When registering you may choose to take the course Online Only or Online Now and In Person Later.
- Aug 26-30, 2021
- Dec 02-06, 2021
- Feb 10-14, 2022 (spring 2022 start)
- Aug 18-22, 2022 (fall 2022 start)
- Dec 01-05, 2022
- Feb 16-20, 2023
- Aug 24-28, 2023
- Nov 30-Dec 4, 2023
Cost:
- Application Fee: $100 (non-refundable), payable to the Haden Institute.
- 2022 Tuition: $3000 per year, due in 8 equal payments of $750
(multiple smaller payments may be made by prior arrangement) - For in-person cohorts only: Room & Board for each Intensive – rates to be determined by Kanuga Conference Center (typically around $630 per Intensive)
Online Intensives held using the Zoom platform. We use a combination of large group and small group meeting rooms to host our intensives.
In Person Intensives held at Kanuga Conference Center
Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC. is one of the best conference center settings in the U.S. It is located on a 1400-acre campus in the North Carolina mountains with a lake, hiking trails, tennis courts, and good accommodations with many fireplaces and rocking chairs. Kanuga is closed because of the pandemic and we look forward to gathering there once again when it is safe to do so.
What are the common topics covered?
The major topics covered are individual and group dream work methodology; the science, psychology and principles of dream work; the history of dream study; the role of dream work in the process of individuation; and the basics of Jungian psychology as it relates to understanding dream messages.
Who is this training for?
The training is open to all, and can be especially helpful for therapists and helping professionals who wish to enhance their therapeutic skills; parishioners, lay leaders, and clergy who wish to lead church dream groups; and others who wish to learn the benefits of group dream work in the journey to greater health and wholeness.
What happens at an Intensive?
The major portion of each Intensive is spent in large group teaching and small group dream work practicum groups with faculty support. There are also socials, drama, demonstration, sharing, relaxation and fun in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
What about distance learning?
All the requirements outside of the intensive weekends are completed in your own home setting. They include writing a spiritual autobiography; seeing a dream counselor or analyst; practicing group and individual projective dream work; submitting written case studies according to the Haden Institute guidelines; and writing reports on the assigned reading and other topics.
Does the Haden Institute Dream Work Training offer certification?
Yes. Those who successfully complete the training are awarded a diploma certifying that they have completed the two-year Dream Work Training at the Haden Institute. Those who already have a professional degree or state certification can use this practice in their vocation. Others can offer dream work through locally formed groups, a church, or other organization supporting dream work groups.
Who can receive a Certificate?
Participants who attend all the intensives, complete all the assigned work, and have had a final interview with their mentor will be awarded a certificate and a plaque from the Haden Institute. Participants who attend all intensives without completing all the distance learning work receive the Haden Institute plaque.
How long is the program?
The Dream Work Training Program is a two-year program, which includes six on-site intensives and distance learning.
When can participants enter the program?
Participants can enter the program in February or August of any year. The group with which you enter will be your core group for the two years.
How often do the intensives meet?
There are three intensives per year, usually in February, August and early December. If you miss an intensive, due to sickness or other reasons, you can make it up by attending a later intensive. The intensives normally begin late afternoon Thursday and conclude with breakfast Monday.
Where are the intensives held?
Intensives are held at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC. Kanuga is one of the best conference center settings in the U.S. It is located on a 1400-acre campus in the North Carolina mountains with a lake, hiking trails, and good accommodations with many fireplaces and rocking chairs.
