Press & Media Kit

Dreams, nightmares, sleep, and the emotional intelligence of dreaming

Dr. Leslie Ellis is available for media conversations via podcast, radio, television, print, and digital interviews. She is based in British Columbia, Canada, available for remote interviews on Pacific Time, and is an experienced national radio and podcast guest.

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Expert Insights on Dreamwork

Dr. Leslie Ellis can speak clearly and accessibly about dreams, nightmares, sleep, and the clinical value of working with dream material.

Why Nightmares Repeat

Recurring nightmares are often treated as something people simply have to endure. Dr. Ellis explains why nightmares repeat, how they may relate to emotional processing and trauma, and how careful dreamwork can help them shift.

What Dreams Are Actually Doing

Dreams are often dismissed as random or meaningless. Dr. Ellis speaks about dreams as part of an emotional processing system, helping us work with material that may not be fully integrated in waking life.

Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis can be terrifying, especially when it comes with vivid imagery or a strong sense of presence. Dr. Ellis explains what sleep paralysis is, why it happens, and what can help reduce fear.

The Insomnia Paradox

Trying harder to sleep often makes sleep more difficult. Dr. Ellis can discuss how effort, vigilance, and fear of the night can interfere with sleep, and how a gentler relationship with sleep can help.

Can We Influence Our Dreams?

Dream incubation and sleep technologies are making it possible to shape dream content more intentionally. Dr. Ellis can speak about these practices, her work on the DUST app, and the ethical question of whether we should try to engineer dreams.

Can AI Interpret Dreams?

AI can generate dream interpretations quickly, but Dr. Ellis asks a different question: does the process help the dreamer connect with the dream’s felt meaning? She can speak about what AI may miss, especially embodiment, emotion, and the dreamer’s own response.

Podcast Appearances

Thresholds of Consciousness with Dr. Scott Menasco

Nightmares, Trauma, and the Language of Dreams

Dr. Leslie Ellis, author of A Clinician's Guide to Dream Therapy, on why dreams and nightmares carry more wisdom than we give them credit for, and how embodied dreamwork can help us actually work with them.
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Proactive Mindfulness

Active Imagination: Leslie Ellis and Serge Prengel

I invited my friend and colleague Leslie Ellis to have a conversation about Active Imagination in therapy and in life.
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In This Body

Understanding the Role of Nightmares with Dr. Leslie Ellis

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr Leslie Ellis, a leading expert in the use of experiential and somatic approaches in psychotherapy, for this episode of In This Body. In this episode, Ailey and Dr Ellis discuss the intricate connections between nightmares, embodiment, and trauma. The conversation covers the significance of nightmares, their impact on mental health, including their link to suicide risk, and ways to therapeutically engage with and heal from recurring nightmares. Dr. Ellis shares insights from her extensive research, her therapeutic methods, and the broader implications of dreams on individual and collective well-being. This episode provides valuable information and practical techniques for anyone interested in understanding and working with both idiopathic and trauma-related nightmares.
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In This Body

The Power of Dreamwork with Dr. Leslie Ellis

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr Leslie Ellis for In This Body’s third episode. In this episode, Ailey and Dr Ellis discuss focusing-oriented therapy, the transformative power of dream work, and how dreams serve as profound access points to the unconscious. Dr. Ellis shares her journey from journalism to psychology, her experiences working with trauma, and the importance of embodiment in addressing unfelt experiences. Together they also explore the relationship between dream work and trauma, the often misunderstood nature of nightmares, and their potential for profound healing. We hope you enjoy the episode.
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The Trauma Therapist

Dr. Leslie Ellis Interviews Ailey Jolie

I recently had the honour of an invitation to guest host on Guy MacPherson’s wonderful podcast, The Trauma Therapist. If you are a therapist and not already following Guy, I highly recommend you do so. In my guest post, I interview a former student who is offering refreshing, articulate perspectives on women, trauma and embodiment.
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Beyond Trauma

Dreamwork, Nightmares & the Language of the Unconscious

What if your dreams were trying to show you what you’re not ready to say out loud? In this illuminating conversation, trauma therapist and dreamwork expert Dr. Leslie Ellis joins Lara Land to explore the powerful role dreams play in emotional healing.
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The Intense Mind

Dream Therapy: What Is Your Dream Telling You?

In this conversation, explore the significance of dreams in our lives, how they can serve as a window into our unconscious, and their potential to guide us through emotional healing. Dr. Ellis will share insights into the neuroscience of dreaming, the role of Jungian symbolism, and how dreams can help us process emotions, trauma, and even PTSD.
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The Happiest CEO Podcast

Decoding Dreams with Dr Leslie Ellis: What They Are Trying To Tell You

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Leslie Ellis, a leading expert in dreams and unconscious processes, explores the powerful role dreams play in understanding our emotional landscape. She explains how dreams function as a unique form of consciousness, revealing feelings and experiences we may avoid or suppress in waking life.
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