If you have been suffering from a trauma related nightmare for more than several months practice this exercise:

1. Write down the disturbing dream and then change the nightmare anyway you wish and then write down the changed dream.
2. Use imagery to rehearse your new dream scenario for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Next, describe your old nightmare and how you changed it.
4. After this initial exercise, do not write down the old nightmare or the changed version, but establish the process mentally. Rehearse the new dream for at least 5 to 20 minutes per day but never work on more than two distinct “new dreams” during any one week.

After several weeks of such imagery rehearsal there should be a decrease in the frequency and intensity of nightmares.