According to Freud, it may not be what you think — We’ve always been fascinated with dreams — especially the ones that surprise and confuse us. And probably none are as striking as dreams about nakedness: whether it’s showing up to work in our underwear, or standing in front of our class butt-naked. What does a dream like that mean? In…

ِAnd how it guides the composition of verses — Poetry is the jewel of Arabic culture, an ancient and refined tradition which developed over thousands of years, leaving the modern Arabic speaker with volumes of beautiful descriptions, heartfelt expressions, and upbuilding wisdoms. But besides its content, one of the most remarkable qualities of classical Arabic poetry is its adherence…

How hijacking our immune response could lead to future medical treatments — At chemotherapy treatment centers, healthcare professionals tell a common anecdote. Patients will often experience nausea while being treated with chemotherapeutic drugs. But for some, the nausea comes prematurely: the simple act of sitting down for the treatment can trigger it. The explanation for this ‘anticipatory nausea’ is most likely conditioning…

The dream interpretation method of Clark Moustakas — There are two common, but completely opposite, views on dreaming. The first sees dreams as random fluctuations, the product of an erratic and uncensored mind. The second sees dreams as meaningful phenomena, wise inspirations from which we can learn and grow. The psychologist Clark Moustakas subscribed to the second view…

An existential description of being Muslim — We hear a lot about the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’ — the testimony, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage — and these are often used to give an introduction to the faith. But any understanding of Islam derived from them remains superficial, if not misleading, so long as it neglects its…

Using five specimen dreams — Dreams are among the strangest aspects of the human experience. They appear during our deepest moments of rest and reclusion, seemingly out of nowhere, transporting us to a kaleidoscopic world of images which defies explanation. They are everyday, or should we say everynight, miracles. Despite the mystifying nature of dreams…

How this emerging treatment may represent the future of mental healthcare — Repetition, fixedness, being stuck — these are the words that psychotherapy clients often use to describe their situation. Whether they’re experiencing bouts of depression, unshakable memories of trauma, or conflicts in their relationships, they often feel that no opportunities for change are possible. Psychotherapy challenges this view, helping people integrate…

4 connections between Heidegger and clinical psychology — The German philosopher Martin Heidegger — exploring, as he did, a topic as deep and far-reaching as being itself — hoped that his insights would span well beyond his native discipline of philosophy, finding applications in various other fields of study. Nowhere are Heidegger’s aspirations as valid as they are…

Carefully designed by a German psychiatrist — Mindfulness — the word conjures up an image of perfect health: a smiling, cross-legged practicioner who, as research show us, benefits from decreased blood pressure and improved tolerance to stress, all thanks to this ancient Eastern practice. But our proverbial practitioner earns more than just the physiological benefits of his…