Results indicated that half of the 30 participants suffered from frequent nightmares. The nightmares appeared to mimic the circumstances of their violent relationship and, in most cases, interrupted the women’s sleep. Many of the participants (56 percent) also experienced one or more recurring dreams, which is consistent with findings on recurring dreams among clinical populations. The recurring dreams appeared to be representations of their ongoing conflicts and struggles. Half of the participants reported using medications to help deal with their sleep problems, most frequently antidepressants and antianxiety medications. The findings suggest that an understanding of a client’s sleep patterns, nightmares, and recurring dreams can offer a wealth of information about the client’s current emotional state. In order to explore the dreams, nightmares, and sleep patterns of women dealing with the effects of relationship violence, the author developed a three page questionnaire that sought information about the context of the abuse, sleep patterns, nightmares, and recurring dreams. Participants were 30 women, 15 of whom were currently living with an abusive partner and 15 of whom had left an abusive relationship. Participants were recruited from two transition homes for battered women and one family counseling center. The chronic use of medications among this population of women to deal with sleep problems is a concern and deserves future research attention. References