In a world where young people are often pushed to be productive before they’ve even had time to breathe, the Dragon Dreaming approach invites something radical: pause, reflect, and co-create. It’s not about fixing anyone. It’s about listening to what’s already alive inside, and finding the courage to act from that place.
 

The Dragon Dreaming methodology is more than a toolkit. It's a way of thinking, feeling, and collaborating. Originally developed as a framework for sustainable community projects, it combines elements of Aboriginal wisdom, systems thinking, and deep ecology. But what makes it truly special in youth work is its focus on wholeness: it integrates dreaming, planning, doing, and celebrating, not as separate steps, but as essential, interconnected parts of any meaningful process.

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In the context of the RECOVER project and the Healing Dragons manual, this approach has been adapted into practical methods that support mental wellbeing through creativity, storytelling, and emotional connection. For youth workers, Dragon Dreaming opens the door to a different kind of facilitation, one that welcomes vulnerability, honours personal narratives, and builds group trust through shared rituals and symbolic tools.

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So how does it work in practice?

In a typical session, you might begin with a vision circle, where participants are invited to dream together: “What would a world that supports my wellbeing look like?” From there, the group explores emotional literacy using the Wheel of Emotions, symbolic storytelling based on the Hero’s Journey, and even body mapping, a visual method to trace where feelings live in the body. There’s no rush to solve or fix anything. Instead, the focus is on noticing, naming, and holding space for complexity.

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What makes the approach especially impactful is how it blends structure with intuition. There are clear tools and exercises, but they’re flexible, allowing each group to shape them based on their needs. Dream boards, resilience maps, and co-created rituals all provide ways for young people to explore their inner landscape while feeling supported by the group around them.

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The results are often subtle, but powerful. Participants feel more connected, not just to others, but to their own emotions and strengths. Facilitators report deeper engagement, more honest conversations, and a shift in group energy. As one youth worker put it, “Dragon Dreaming gave me a new lens. It’s not just about what we do, it’s how we hold space for what needs to emerge.”

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In a time where mental health support is often clinical, fast-paced, or out of reach, Dragon Dreaming offers something different: a space to be, to feel, to imagine, and to heal. For youth workers and young people alike, that might just be the beginning of a new story.

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Learn more about the project: https://recover-erasmus.eu/

Project: Youth Wellbeing Recovering Kit 

Reference: 2024-1-PL01-KA220-YOU-000243430