Dreams as a Place to Return To: Presence, Suffering, Trauma, & Natural Dreamwork with Dr. Keren Vishny

In this episode of The Dream Journal, host Katherine Bell speaks with physician-turned-psychotherapist, teacher, and writer Dr. Keren Vishny about dreams as a place we can return to again and again. Together they explore how dreamwork can deepen presence, support emotional awareness, and help us stay with difficult experiences rather than avoiding them or rushing to interpret them.

Dr. Vishny shares how dreams invite us into relationship—with ourselves, with others, and with the living images of the dream world. The conversation touches on Natural Dreamwork, Body Soul Rhythms, the difference between experiencing and interpreting dreams, and the importance of slowing down to notice sensory details, feelings, and the “layers” a dream can reveal over time.

Topics include dream sharing, relational presence, grief dreams, suffering versus trauma, recurring nightmares, dream re-entry, and how dreams can help us meet pain with curiosity, tenderness, and agency. Keren also discusses why dreams do not have to be “solved” to be meaningful—and how returning to a dream can open new possibilities for healing and self-understanding.

Guest: Dr. Keren Vishny — physician, psychotherapist, teacher, and writer. Keren will be teaching a six-session experiential class in Natural Dreamwork on Thursdays starting October 22. Learn more at kerenvishny.com, kerenvishny.substack.com, and thenaturaldream.com.

Keywords: dreams, dreamwork, Natural Dreamwork, experiential dreamwork, dream interpretation, dream sharing, presence, trauma, suffering, grief dreams, recurring nightmares, Keren Vishny, The Dream Journal.

This show, episode number 377, was recorded during a live broadcast on August 22, 2026 at KSQD.org, community radio of Santa Cruz.

SHARE A DREAM FOR THE SHOW or a question or enquire about being a guest on the podcast by emailing Katherine Bell at katherine@ksqd.org. Follow on LI, IG, YT, FB, & LT @ExperientialDreamwork #thedreamjournal. To learn more or to inquire about exploring your own dreams go to ExperientialDreamwork.com.

Video podcast available at youtube.com/@experientialdreamwork. Popular playlists: “Dream Journal shorts” and “FULL LENGTH VIDEOS”.

Here are links to some other Dream Journal episodes you might be interested in:

Imagination, Dreamwork, and the Sacred Encounter with Rodger Kamenetz

Healing Relationships One Dream at a Time with Dr. Keren Vishny

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 for also engineering the show and to Erik Nelson for answering the phones.