Starting Your Own Hearing Voices Group Welcome Friends! : Starting Your Own Hearing Voices Group Welcome Friends! “ I look upon all things as being universally equal, I have no favor for this or that,
to love one or hate another.
I am without greed or attachments
and without limitation or hindrance.”
1 the Lotus Sutra
Today’s Agenda : Today’s Agenda 1:00- 1:30
Hearing Voices concepts/overview
1:30-1:45 Q&A
1:45-2:30 Voice Hearer’ s group
Slide3 : Why Start a Voices Group?
Why start a voices group? : Why start a voices group? Traditional Method of working with voice hearers:
Voices are symptom of illness
Deny the voices
Deny the experience Professionals:
Our training
We meet only “ill’ people.
We use physiological explanations (I’m ok-you’re not)
Political Influences
For ourselves-to lighten our own baggage (Coleman)
Why start a voices group? : Why start a voices group? “I ask you to do the same in England. Groups need to be established in each country where people can talk about hearing voices…it takes groups of people with the same experience to change attitudes…in America and England at the moment, psychiatrists are conducting themselves as parents. My goal is not to change psychiatry, not to change parents but to offer the hearers of voices an organization through which they can emancipate themselves.”
(Romme 1990)
Benefits for Members of Hearing Voices Groups : Benefits for Members of Hearing Voices Groups “Every experience of voice hearing will be different and a process of trial and error is needed before people gain control.
Each individual has to find what works for them and what suits their needs.
To reach the stage of having a satisfying life takes time, it requires courage and persistence.
This is where voices groups can provide support and encouragement.
Newer members can see and hear what others have achieved and find the strength to carry on.”
- Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
What I get out of HVN: : What I get out of HVN: “This is the only place
where I feel truly understood-why didn’t anybody tell me about Voices Groups before? “
-P
What I get out of HVN: : What I get out of HVN: “ Our group is a place where I found acceptance for some very bizarre problems- the world isn’t very understanding of. ”
-S
What I get out of HVN: : What I get out of HVN: “ I enjoyed the group, particularly realizing that others were in the same position. It was enlightening to understand a bit about the voices and I am pleased I could contribute my poems. The group made me feel safe. I look forward to every meeting. ”
What I get out of HVN : What I get out of HVN The Hearing Voices Group has provided me with a more ‘normalizing’ experience and feeling, than I could possibly get from a counselor, psychologist,meds or any other form of treatment. I feel empowered by the groups support and also, I feel empowerment by helping others ‘wade through some of the tough waters of life’ and being there for them. We work together as a beautiful think tank together. The fact that the group is a ‘drop in’ and that fact that there is no charge helps immensely. We are there because we are getting something healthy and beneficial from it. We have become a family of support for each other.
-K
How can the Hearing Voices Network benefit the happiness of the workers in our mental health systems? : How can the Hearing Voices Network benefit the happiness of the workers in our mental health systems? "It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger for the freedom of all people, white and black. I knew as well as I knew anything that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness . . . . The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity."-Nelson Mandela
Slide12 : What’s
Voice Hearing?
What is Voice Hearing Like? : What is Voice Hearing Like?
Antecedents to the Voices Initial Occurrence : Antecedents to the Voices Initial Occurrence 70% reported voices started after a traumatic event, accident, divorce or death, therapy session, illness, rejection in love, spiritism, moving, pregnancy, intolerable living situations.
For some there is no traumatic cause-but angelic voices, voices of a lost loved one, spirit guides, higher self, aliens, etc.
Voice Hearing is Normal : Voice Hearing is Normal Voice hearing is not an uncommon experience. Many people hear voices and have never been a psychiatric patient, this is already a well known but neglected fact.
More recent epidemiological research in Baltimore, in a population of 15,000 people, found that 10 - 15 per cent of those interviewed reported that they had heard voices over a long period of time, only a third of those interviewed reported experiencing negative effects (Y. Tien).
Slide16 : What is the Hearing Voices Network?
What is the Hearing Voices Network? : What is the Hearing Voices Network?
An international network of enlightened peer support groups,
For those with a variety of sensate experiences, visions etc.
Ideally integrating both ‘patient’ and ‘non patient’ voice hearers
Objectives of HVN : Objectives of HVN “Promoting, developing and supporting self help groups
Organizing and delivering training sessions for health workers and the general public
Making available a telephone line that gives information and help to people who have different experiences.
Produce four newsletters each year
To give men, women and children who have these experiences an opportunity to talk freely about them together
To support anyone with these experiences seeking to learn from them to understand and learn from them in their own way”
From Starting & Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Edited by Julie Downs Director of HVN Manchester
HVN Today : HVN Today Holland --Resonance (Dutch HVN)
HVN- UK
German network
Nest in Berlin
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Palestine, Australia & here in the America
http://www.psychminded.co.uk/critical/hearingvoicesbook/Raising%20Our%20Voices.htm
Where are the HVN groups in the USA? : Where are the HVN groups in the USA? Madison Wisconsin has the only group
that we or The HVN Manchester is aware of
The Freedom Center in Massachusetts
has info and is planning to start a group
www.Freedomcenter.org
National empowerment center article about voice hearing
http://www.power2u.org/articles/selfhelp/voices.html
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/KEN-01-0108/resonance.asp
Slide21 : HVN Philosophy
How Should Voices Groups be Run? : How Should Voices Groups be Run? All groups are different but the aim of the HVN is:
Democratically
HVN Charter-Criteria for affiliated group membership : HVN Charter-Criteria for affiliated group membership The Group:
Accepts that voices and visions are real experiences
Accepts that people are not any less for having voices and visions
Respects each member as an expert
Encourages an ethos of self determination
Values ordinary, non-professional language
Is free to interpret experiences in any way
Is free to challenge social norms
Is a self help group-not a clinical group offering treatment
Focuses primarily of sharing experiences, support and empathy
HVN Charter HVN Charter-Criteria for affiliated group membership : HVN Charter HVN Charter-Criteria for affiliated group membership The Group:
Members are not subject to referral or discharge from the group
Members are not subject to risk assessment in order to join the group
Members are welcome to come and go as they want without repercussions
Members are made aware of the facilitator’s limits concerning confidentiality
HVN Charter HVN Charter-Criteria for FULL group membership-1 : HVN Charter HVN Charter-Criteria for FULL group membership-1 This involves all of the above criteria but in addition,
The Group:
Ethos does not presume people are ill
Accepts people as they are
Is a social group not a therapy group
Is a community to which people belong
Upholds equality between everyone in the group including the facilitator
Makes all decisions collectively
Decides on the limits to confidentiality-not the facilitator
Members join for as long as suits them
Is open to people not using mental health services
HVN Charter HVN Charter-Criteria for FULL group membership-2 : HVN Charter HVN Charter-Criteria for FULL group membership-2 The Group:
Is open to people from other geographic areas
Does not meet within a clinical setting
Facilitator is not under pressure to report back to anyone outside the group
Aims to become facilitated by a member of the group-if it isn’t already
If it works for your group it is the ‘right’ way. -Julie Downs Manchester HVN : If it works for your group it is the ‘right’ way. -Julie Downs Manchester HVN
Slide28 : Myth
Busting
In a world which now includes quantum mechanics-what is definitive reality? : In a world which now includes quantum mechanics-what is definitive reality? “‘Reality ‘ is the only word in the English language that should always be used in quotes”
-unknown
For an easy explanation of quantum physics and how understanding it can help us realize our dreams
Please check out the documentary film:
“What the Bleep Do We Know?”
Conclusions from Paul Baker’s Book: Can You Hear Me? : Conclusions from Paul Baker’s Book: Can You Hear Me? Hearing voices is neither a disease entity, nor does it refer to a specific psychiatric disorder.
For mental health workers it is less of significance to know if someone hears voices (as a so called indicator in schizophrenia) then in understanding if the voices have any detrimental effects on the person’s quality of life.
Because of the presence of voice hearing in healthy people, voices can only be considered a mental health problem when there are other symptoms.
In general, assistance from psychiatric and other psychotherapeutic help is only required if the voices are subjectively experienced as being negative by the voice hearer.
Conclusions from Paul Baker’s Book: Can You Hear Me? : Conclusions from Paul Baker’s Book: Can You Hear Me? Because the voices have meaning, are real to the person and have metaphoric significance, it is clearly the case that, if the voices are causing problems, then talking therapies are a valid if not vital intervention (something that is generally not recognized within traditional psychiatry for so called psychopathological conditions). Specifically, the use of the following techniques are proving effective:
Anxiety management to give more control
Focusing in order to give more control,
Promoting peoples’ social opportunities and self esteem in order to assist them to develop their capacity to live in society.
Myth: Your Dreams Are Impossible Pursue an “Impossible” Dream : Myth: Your Dreams Are Impossible Pursue an “Impossible” Dream Do not focus on becoming well so much as overcoming all obstacles to your happiness.
Do this so that you can see what your mission is and pursue the achieving of your mission in life, so that you will have lived a life without regret.
In this way, you will become so happy that people around you will feel encouraged, simply by knowing you, and knowing what you have overcome & knowing what dream you are actively pursuing.
Myth-Voice Hearers Are Victims Many of Our Heroes Heard Voices: Moses, Jesus, Joan Of Arc…….. : Myth-Voice Hearers Are Victims Many of Our Heroes Heard Voices: Moses, Jesus, Joan Of Arc…….. Who can be a Hero? Everyone of us-- if we choose it “Buddhism teaches us that the individual writes and performs the script for his or her own life. Neither chance nor a divine being writes it for us. We write it, and we are the actors who play it. This is an extremely positive philosophy, inherent in the teaching of 3000 realms in a single moment of life. Your are the author and the hero. To perform your play well, it is important to pound the script into your head so thoroughly that you can see it vividly before your eyes. You may need to rehearse it in your mind. Sometimes it helps to write down your goals, copying them over and over until they are inscribed in your heart.”
(Faith In Action p.35 Daisaku Ikeda)
Myth:You Can’t Win Repeated Failure is How We Become Successful : Myth:You Can’t Win Repeated Failure is How We Become Successful Ever tried?
Ever failed?
No Matter.
Try again.
Fail again.
Fail Better.
-Samuel Beckett
Myth: Your Happiness Doesn’t Affect Anyone Else You Matter, Your Happiness Matters, to the World : Myth: Your Happiness Doesn’t Affect Anyone Else You Matter, Your Happiness Matters, to the World “But what a terrible substitute this anorexic soul is for the female soul we might have if were permitted to claim it. For in that female soul, which is not starving itself to death, there must be hiding all that the dominant culture has driven away from itself. Joy, ecstasy, a feeling of worship, powerful emotion, passion, pleasure in the body, kinship with nature, a knowledge of the animal self and all that unspoken music of existence this soul would sing.”
-Kim Chernin The Obsession
Myth-You Have to Know Why/What /Who in Order to Heal Solve Your Real Life Challenges & Your Truth Will Reveal Itself : Myth-You Have to Know Why/What /Who in Order to Heal Solve Your Real Life Challenges & Your Truth Will Reveal Itself ‘What lies do you swallow day by day until you sicken and die of them still in silence?’
-Audre Lorde
Myth – Acceptance of illness is the end of the line - Andrew Weil’s Seven Steps to Healing : Myth – Acceptance of illness is the end of the line - Andrew Weil’s Seven Steps to Healing One step of Andrew Weil’s Seven Steps to Healing is Acceptance
But please note that while acceptance is a basic step in any recovering- it’s not the end of the process-it’s just a key element to dealing with any given challenge.
Myth – I’ll Just Be a Hermit Hiding Won’t Always Work So it Helps to Know the ‘Enemy’ : Myth – I’ll Just Be a Hermit Hiding Won’t Always Work So it Helps to Know the ‘Enemy’ “If you want to be free study fear in all it’s guises.
One of fear’s guises is a lack of trying in our lives,
but the law of cause and effect is strict
So if you hold back on life-life holds back on you.
If we try everyday-to live without regret,
we are courageous people
& people of sincere faith
because faith and courage are the same thing”
-so I try to challenge my negative tendencies rather than avoid them
-Jenny Branks
Myth-The Concept of ‘Normal’ Has Always Existed - The Tyrannical Concept of ‘Normal’ and it’s Effect on Human Beings : Myth-The Concept of ‘Normal’ Has Always Existed - The Tyrannical Concept of ‘Normal’ and it’s Effect on Human Beings How social theories effect the way disability (and the body) is defined & viewed
Medical Model-
disease in need of a cure
Rehabilitative Model-
Body in need of repair, concealment, remediation, supervision
Constructionist Model-
A social process-with no inherent meaning other than that which a community assigns it ( I decide I’m fine as is)
-from the Tyranny of Normalcy by Professor Lennard Davis
Where does the concept of “normal” come from? & where did it lead us? : Where does the concept of “normal” come from? & where did it lead us? The concept of “normal” regarding the human body, is only 150 years old. It comes from the development of statistics and study of eugenics
(The movement devoted to improving the human species by controlling heredity)
It’s most glaring result was carried out in Germany in WWII. ‘ethnic cleansing’
Currently, the idea of normal is still hazardous to our health and happiness. Medicine will still think that a person born between genders –must be surgically altered so they can live in society, or rather, so that society can live with them.
Working With Voices A Victim to Victor Series Workbook : Working With Voices A Victim to Victor Series Workbook “This book helps a person to overcome three handicaps
The idea that hearing voices is the consequence of an existing illness within the person, most likely schizophrenia, an illness of unknown origin.
The idea that schizophrenia is a diagnosis of an illness, not related in an understandable manner, with the life history of that person.
The idea that the person, as a consequence of the illness concept, is powerless against the voices, that the voices are not owned by the person, while in fact the voices are a person’s own experience and are understandable from the person’s trauma or overpowering problems with life.
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
Facts and Fiction in the Illness model : Facts and Fiction in the Illness model Fiction:
Hearing Voices is a symptom of schizophrenia.
Fact:
80% of people who hear voices are diagnosed as schizophrenic. Hearing voices is also a part of many other mental health problems and found in the mentally well.
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
Facts and Fiction in the Illness model : Facts and Fiction in the Illness model Fiction:
Medication cures people who hear voices.
Fact:
There is no evidence that medication cures. What is can do for some people is to suppress the symptoms. This is not a true cure, rather it is symptom management.
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
Facts and Fiction in the Illness model : Facts and Fiction in the Illness model Fiction:
In schizophrenia, medication is the treatment choice for hearing voices.
Fact:
We know medication works for 33% of people, this is the agreed upon recovery rate from illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
Facts and Fiction in the Illness model : Facts and Fiction in the Illness model Fiction:
Medication is the only effective treatment for people who hear voices.
Fact:
Up to 50% of people with diagnoses of schizophrenia still hear voices when treated with medication.
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
Facts and Fiction in the Illness model : Facts and Fiction in the Illness model Fact:
Dr William Sargent presented a paper in 1966 entitled “the Recovery Rate in Schizophrenia Prior to the Introduction of Neuroleptics”
The research covered that period up to 1938 and Sargent showed that the recovery rate in 1938 was 33%
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
Facts and Fiction in the Illness model : Facts and Fiction in the Illness model Fiction:
Psychotics cannot be treated using talking treatments.
Fact:
There is evidence to show that talking treatments can be effective in working with people who hear voices. However, the number of talking treatments has never been significantly explored, nor is this frequently offered as an alternative for people who hear voices.
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
A Word of Caution : A Word of Caution Stopping your medication is not a wise thing to do without medical advice as sudden cessation can cause tardive psychosis, which for many is worse that the reason they were put on medication in the first place. Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
Slide49 : How Voices Group
‘Works’
How Voices Group ‘works’ : How Voices Group ‘works’ The idea is to use HVN workbooks and the conversation of group to discern when the voices started, what issues and daily experiences trigger them, if the voices are male or female, how many there are, are any helpful, if they are voices of people from your past or present.
The last chapter of Romme’s book Understanding Voices has his questionnaire which is the basis of the work books. Individuals go through phases of Startling to Stabilization, to Organizational (discernment). Some people get rid of voices, or get rid of all but the helpful voices.
http://www.hearingvoices.org.uk/resources18.htm
Phases of Voice Hearing : Phases of Voice Hearing 1. Startling Phase
Fear and anxiety at onset of experience, fear of losing control-just want voices to go away
2. Stabilization Phase
Accepting experience and exploring different ways of coping
3. Organizational Phase
Person feels in control and has regained power
Understanding Voices Marius Romme
Coping well versus struggling to cope : Coping well versus struggling to cope People who could cope with voices
Experienced themselves as stronger
Experienced more positive voices
Experienced less imperative voices
Set more limits to the voices
Listened selectively to the voices
Communicated more often about their voices
People who could not cope with Voices
Experienced themselves as weaker
Experienced more negative voices
Experienced more imperative voices
Did not dare to set limits to them
Tried to escape from the voices by using more distraction techniques
Understanding Voices Marius Romme
Fear : Fear Once a person can get on top of their duress-they can think critically again, and begin to move on their own path to understanding what their experience may mean for them, where it came from, what it is…
JB
Basic Philosophy of HVN : Basic Philosophy of HVN Peer support=absolute equity
w/o Judgment, just a like a very good friend,
because group is a community of friends
Create an environment where people can feel welcome, cared about, and able to define ourselves on our own terms.
Be encouraged and befriended & believed
as we follow our instincts, on our own path
JB
How it ‘Works’ : How it ‘Works’ We come to find that: it helps to know the enemy’-and find a way to make peace.
To hear your perceived enemy’s complaints and work towards resolution (by pursuing our dreams & overcoming our obstacles just like everybody else)
In resolving our own inner conflicts and the problems in our daily lives-we can become more at peace inside & this helps us to understand & master our voice hearing experience
JB
How is a HVN support group different from other therapy or other therapy groups? C.B.T versus A.C.T. : How is a HVN support group different from other therapy or other therapy groups? C.B.T versus A.C.T. #1 it’s not therapy it’s peer support
But it is more like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy than CBT.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. Cognitive-behavioral therapist teach that when our brains are healthy, it is our thinking that causes us to feel and act the way we do.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
How could HVN help any more than drugs and current counseling methods? : How could HVN help any more than drugs and current counseling methods? “In a 2002 study Hayes and a student looked at 70 hospitalized psychotics
(-or shall we say--people who seemed actively psychotic)
Receiving the standard medication and counseling. Half were randomly assigned to four 45-minute ACT sessions; and the other half formed the control. Four months later , the ACT patients had to be re-hospitalized 50% less often. They actually admitted to more hallucinations than those in standard care, but ACT had reduced the believability of their hallucinations, which were now viewed more dispassionately.
Hayes likes to say ACT effectively turned “I’m the queen of Sheba” into “I’m having the thought that I’m the queen of Sheba. The psychotics (again, let’s call them people) still heard voices; they just didn’t act on them as much. They learned to take their thoughts more lightly, increasing their psychological flexibility. “
Happiness Isn’t Normal-What’s the best form of Psychotherapy? How can you overcome sadness? Controversial psychologist Steven Hayes has an answer: embrace the pain.-by John Cloud Time Magazine- Feb 13, 2006
Slide58 : Starting Your Own
Hearing Voices Group
Slide59 : Facilitation
The Facilitators Role Wisdom from Madison : The Facilitators Role Wisdom from Madison 1.Be the broadest minded, most optimistic, compassionate, informed, non-judgmental, resourceful person you can be.
2.Work just as hard on becoming happier as the group members are working on becoming happier
3. When you don’t know-say so
4. When you are being biased-claim it
5. When your ego gets in the way-admit it
jb
If You Facilitate a Voices Group How Do You Define Recovery? : If You Facilitate a Voices Group How Do You Define Recovery? Define it for yourself
but don’t insist that there is only one definition.
—let people define recovery for themselves.
Slide62 : Madison Voice’s Group Facilitator Check List
Created by the Madison Voices group 7/22/05
Madison Voices Group Facilitator Checklist-1 : Madison Voices Group Facilitator Checklist-1 If you find you are ill or for some reason cannot facilitate the group, call jenny at 446-0104 as soon as possible, know who the possible substitutes are and have their phone numbers.
Arrive 15 minutes early
If you have the “traveling suitcase of our Voices Group library & our handouts/articles”, display them on the table and let people know “the library is open”
Leave out a sign in sheet for people’s names & phone numbers & email addresses
Figure out approx. how much time everyone will have to speak (given time available and number of people) and let people know how long this is so everyone has a chance to speak.
Introduce people to one another, if they have not met
Make food and drink easily available to everyone so snacking doesn’t disrupt conversation
Madison Voices Group Facilitator Checklist –2 : Madison Voices Group Facilitator Checklist –2 Give introductory handout to new members, and ask a fellow group member(s) to describe what our group is for and how it works
Leave extra time for new person to tell their story
Introduce new group members to regular group members
Let people know we have the room for two hours but if we need go over time it’s o.k.
Encourage people who need to leave early, to speak first
Welcome everyone as they arrive
Write down who attended, we need the last names of SOAR consumers for funding reasons
If you have group announcements-do so at the beginning
Madison Voices Group Facilitator Checklist-3 : Madison Voices Group Facilitator Checklist-3 Make sure everyone who is there is ‘safe’ in other words, if someone in group is feeling suicidal or like they might hurt themselves, find out if they have a case worker you can call together at the end of group or right away if they want.
Or, go up to crisis stabilization with them and speak to Liz or Lisa or whomever is working. Be certain you stay with the individual until they are on their way to a crisis home, recovery house, met by their worker, met by a family member, or going with a crisis aid to the hospital.
If you do not find satisfaction with Crisis Stabilization, let the Crisis Unit know that you are the facilitator of Voices Group, introduce the individual, and don’t walk away until you are sure the person is 100% safe.
If this fails, and it’s after 5PM call SOAR on their on call pager: 559-8839
Be aware that my cell phone takes calls where ever I am, my number is 446-0104
Keep track of your time including how long it took you to get to group and home again.
Facilitation Skills : Facilitation Skills Social skills
Putting people at ease
Resolving conflicts
Organizational skills
Humor
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
“I’m not a Jungian, I’m a whatever works-ian” : “I’m not a Jungian, I’m a whatever works-ian” How to best assist people on their path?
my philosophy:
Can I have deep enough faith in my fellows to believe that they know what will work for them? YES.
Can I just encourage them on their unique path and help them follow their own instincts?? YES!
Can I have the humility to realize that whenever I’d rather be “right” rather than be a good friend, that I am about to be a jerk? YES!
Can I live the concept that ”Your life becomes the way you encourage another person” so that I and those I encourage succeed & live lives without regret? YES!
Co-facilitating Pros & Cons: : Co-facilitating Pros & Cons: Sharing meetings with someone else forces you to spend more time on plan and assessment
Less pressure on one person
Planning can be easier with two people
Members have two people to identify with or be encouraged by
People in group see your respect for each other despite differences Competition, stress between facilitators
Discuss these before hand
Facilitators may have different ideas about people or pace of meeting-sort out ahead of time
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
Communicating with Group Members : Communicating with Group Members
Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of peace.
-Shakyamuni Buddha
Developing Communication Skills : Developing Communication Skills Don’t dominate the conversation
Make sure everyone gets a chance to talk
Encourage people who are quiet to speak –but very gently
Be open about time and order of speakers—
”S. is going 1st ‘cause she has to leave at 3:00” Help people connect to one another-commonalities
Concentrate on what people say
Take people seriously
Making sense of what people say—assistance with overwhelming feelings, “Been there”
What not to do : What not to do Display boredom, impatience, hostility
Devalue what a person is saying
Make assumptions or draw conclusions too quickly
Pass judgment about people or situations
Talk too much
Favor specific people
Bad body language-fussing
Filling in silences too quickly
Interrupting
Asking too many questions
Insisting your beliefs are “right”
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
Slide72 : Members’ Rights, Expectations, Responsibilities
Power-every group member is uniquely valuable
no ‘shoulding’ on each other
‘take your own inventory’
confidentiality, non-judgemental,
‘no favorites’ personal responsibility for actions and words
The Role of Non-Voice Hearers in Groups
group decides their desires through experience-our group wants a weeks notice
Slide73 : Practical Work With Groups
Never work harder than the person you are encouraging/assisting
Slide74 : Getting Started
Slide75 : Planning and Holding the First Meeting
Planning
Equal Opportunity-creating equity
Mission statement
Ground rules
Group aims
What is the group for and what will it do
Publicity, posters, leaflets,
Planning the 1st meeting
Holding the 1st meeting
Group business-chair treasurer, secretary
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
Equal Opportunity : Equal Opportunity Is your information in different languages?
How will you reach out to varied groups of people, ‘minorities,’ people who live alone, people with different dietary needs (find out before the potluck)
Knowledge of different cultures/religions
Including people who are deaf or blind
Planning the First Meeting : Planning the First Meeting On the bus line & ride shares?
Free space
Handicapped access?
Facilities to make coffee/tea etc?
Pleasant environ?
Is it easy to get outside to smoke?
What time works for everyone?
Bathrooms available?
Create a Mission Statement Together : Create a Mission Statement Together Look at mission statement of other HVN groups
But mostly,
create what you want as a group
And make this effort together
Set Up Ground Rules : Set Up Ground Rules Talk about what you want as a group and create simple guidelines:
What is said in group stays in group
No telling each other what to do
No interrupting
No free advice unless asked for
Group Aims/Purpose of Group : Group Aims/Purpose of Group What kind of group will it be?
Who can come/who is it for?
Is it just for VH or can allies join in as well-or only some meetings?
Is it an open or closed group? Ideals and aims you thought of before hand—ask people for their opinion-but get their ideas 1st.
What would they like out of group? ask this first
Make sure all members share equally in this decision
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary : Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary Chairperson takes leadership role in making sure group fulfills it’s aims
Treasurer looks after finances-make sure you need 2 signatures to write a check Secretary sends out agendas, takes minutes, books rooms and helps Chair person
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
Keeping Going: Madison Voices Group Wisdom : Keeping Going: Madison Voices Group Wisdom
Meet at the same place at the same time-no matter what-if you’re canceling due to weather or national holiday, call everyone and put up a sign
Have a phone number that someone really answers
Keeping Going-2 : Keeping Going-2 Writing your:
Standing orders, rules, constitution
(these are synonyms)
Includes:
1. Name of group
2. Geographic area it will cover
3. Aims and objectives of group 4. Information about when your group meets and who can come
5. What it will do to further it’s aims: bank acct. subscription fees, hold meetings, publicity, receive donations, volunteer as a group
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
What Resources Will You Need? : What Resources Will You Need? Room rent?
Refreshments
Copy machine/access
Publicity equip/access
Office supplies
Stamps
Books/subscriptions to magazines or organizations Attending meetings & conferences about Hearing Voices
Look for likely donors of:
Money
Equipment
Time
& a free room to meet in (Madison Addition)
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
Extending Your Activities : Extending Your Activities Inviting speakers to your group
Starting a library of pamphlets, newsletters books on HVN
Telephone help line for those who can’t attend group
A Yahoo group for those online (Madison addition)
A phone tree (Madison addition)
Newsletter
Attending training sessions
Providing training
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
Madison Voices Group Activities 2006 : Madison Voices Group Activities 2006 Friendship potlucks & socializing
Local Outreach: in person & yahoo group, advocating at Dr’s for one another, assisting each other in various ways.
Local & National Peer Support-by phone and in person
Knowledge Sharing-example: “What the Bleep Do We Know?”, library, articles, links, files
National Outreach: We assist families, consumers and professionals in starting their own groups in the USA (HVN-Manchester connects them to us.)
Publication dissemination: We are allied with the U.S. copyright holder, and send out info to people referred to us. Otherwise one must order from the U.K.
Group Facilitation: We share the job of facilitating group
Group Government: We share the process of governing the group
Madison Voices Group Current Calendar : Madison Voices Group Current Calendar Thursday Voices Group, Room 14 Dane County Mental Health Center Every Thursday 2:00-4:00
Tuesday Voices Group, Gallery Room of Cornucopia at 306 Brooks St (Porchlight) 4:00-6:00
July 7 –presentation to Vermont Psychiatric survivors
July 10 –Learn “5 Breaths” technique of Qi Gong from Don Coleman-film it for website
July 17 Newsletter workgroup (at Jenny’s) 10am-1pm
August 15 6:30-8:30 public talk given by our group’s outreach volunteers at “Invest in Yourself Books” University Ave. Middleton
August- Wednesday radio interview on Freedom Center radio program
September –Outreach to School of Social work (David LeCount’s Class on Monday’s 9-12
Determinations for 2006/2007 : Determinations for 2006/2007 1. August 2006: file 501c3 paperwork for HVN-USA
2. Publications -sold via website in PDF form to raise $ 3. Website developed (we have only a Yahoo Group at the moment) 4. Network/exchanges with Japan consumer groups 2007 5. NEC Alternatives Conf. October 25-29, 2006 in Portland Oregon OR Sept 2006 Hearing Voices Conf 6. Network with NEC Nat’l Empowerment Center & SAMHSA 7.When funded assist community in founding four new groups: a.Veterans b. Very young people (under 17) c. Women d. Second mixed group (we just started this new group)
Campaigning : Campaigning Decide who campaign is targeted at
It can include publicity
Public meetings/petitions
Be sure to consider:
What and why you are doing things
Network with other groups with common goals
Avoid aggression-but be assertive when making a point
Avoid unnecessary and aggressive conflict
Be firm in your resolve & aim.
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
Reviewing your group : Reviewing your group From time to time ask each member what they think they are getting from the group
What do they want from the group?
Does it meet their needs?
What makes it work and why?
What would make it better?
What don’t people like?
Talk to people one on one & in group to be sure people aren’t just being polite
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Published by HVN
Edited by Julie Downs
What Didn’t Work Madison Voices Group Experience : What Didn’t Work Madison Voices Group Experience Facilitator with view that
medical model is the only interpretation
Facilitator who is themselves without hope and courage
Facilitator who is just doing a job
Foisting ideologies on people-create space for group to become what it wants to be. Create a democratic space.
Simple Rules and Tips from Madison Voices Group : Simple Rules and Tips from Madison Voices Group Make a list of ‘what helps and what hurts’ -and print it out for everyone
Compare it to other HVN lists of this kind.
Create a lending library of HVN books and have who ever is facilitating that day bring it to group
Create a flyer
Create and distribute a poster
Create and distribute a “Welcome to Group” handout
Simple Rules and Tips from Madison Voices Group-2 : Simple Rules and Tips from Madison Voices Group-2 Snacks & drinks are a great deal more important to social interaction than we often acknowledge.
Try to be a great HOST/HOSTESS.
A group is
really just a nice get together, where everyone feels heard and appreciated & valuable.
Micro-exercise : Micro-exercise What works for you-what helps with Voices?
1.
2.
3. What makes your Voices worse?
1.
2.
3
Madison Voices Group’s list of what works-1 : Madison Voices Group’s list of what works-1 Creativity
Yoga
Self talk
Music
Sleep
Talking back-aloud
Politely telling voices “we can talk later at __time”
Repeating the same word or chanting
Moderate lifestyle habits
Appealing mental health decisions example: external decisions that effect disability eligibility
Realistic expectations
The help of good voices in negotiating with bad voices
Madison Voices Group’s list of what works-2 : Madison Voices Group’s list of what works-2 Favorite movies that inspire us; Examples:
A Beautiful Mind,
Pay It Forward,
The ShawShank Redemption,
Cast Away
A Vivid fantasy life
Medication
Learning from mistakes
Being kinder to self
Reading
Exercising
Using a cell phone
(-activated or not-) as a tool, when you have to talk aloud to voices in public, but don’t want to attract attention.
Madison Voices Group’s list of what works-3 : Madison Voices Group’s list of what works-3 Comedy Central
Video games
T.V.
Calling friends
Meditation
Art in general
Nature Going outside when it is peaceful and quiet
Cooking
Taking a bath
Better boundaries with people
Encouragement from friends
Praise from friends
Pets
Chocolate
Madison Voices Groups List of what doesn’t work : Madison Voices Groups List of what doesn’t work
Professionals having too high or too low expectations
Labeling
Stigma
Being worried about doing so well you might lose your benefits
Overmedicating-by self or by Doctor
Getting drunk
Skipping meds
Doing too much, over doing it
Staying up late
Wasting energy on fruitless efforts-like fighting
Caffeine
Skipping meals
Too much news in one day
The pessimism of social security disability representatives and of SSI/SSDI itself
Constipation
“verbal constipation” of being unable to speak of emotional issues (alexithemia)
A-Z of coping with Voices-1 : A-Z of coping with Voices-1 Accept the reality of your voices
Break through the victim barrier
Consider all your options
Develop coping strategies that suit you
Enter into a dialogue with your voices
Focus on your voices
Go to a self help group (a Hearing Voices group if possible)
Help others by sharing your experience
Identify areas of your life that you need to work on
Join in activities outside of mental health organizations
Keep a diary
Live your life not your label
Negotiate with your voices
Own your voices
Perseverance is the name of the game
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
A-Z of coping with Voices-2 : A-Z of coping with Voices-2 Question your voices
Reward yourself when you succeed
Small is beautiful
Take your time-haste can mean failure
Use service to your advantage
Victories have to be fought for
Work on your weaknesses
Xperiment with coping strategies
You make the decisions –not your voices
Zap your negative voices by gaining control over them
Working with Voices-Ron Coleman & Mike Smith
Got Voices? : Got Voices? Madison Voices Groups
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
Place: 306 S. Brooks St.
Porchlight Building In the “Gallery Room” of Cornucopia
Day: Thursdays
Time: 2:00-3:00
Place: 625 W. Washington Ave
Mental Health Center of Dane County
Room 14 (downstairs)
For more information:
call Jenny at: 446-0104, or jennybranks@hotmail.com or www.hvn-usa.org
HVN-USA : HVN-USA Founding our National Network
HVN-USA Website Coming this summer! : HVN-USA Website Coming this summer! New Groups:
Please let us know as soon as you have a group started
& we will save a page for you on the HVN-USA website!
We want to represent every HV group in the US on our website and in the newsletter!
We will sell downloadable copies of publications from this site for easy access!
Useful Workbooks and Publications : Useful Workbooks and Publications Working with Voices -Workbook,
Self Harm -workbook,
A Guide to Mental Well Being -work book
Understanding Voices-Marius Romme
Can You Hear Me? Paul Baker
Starting and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups-edited by Julie Downs
These are not available elsewhere in the USA.
These Can be Ordered today
Donations : Donations
If you are so inclined
Please write checks To:
HVN-USA
P.O. Box 259001
Madison WI 53725
Join the HVN-USA! : Join the HVN-USA! Individual rate:
$ 50.00 to HVN-USA
Group Rate:
$100.00 to HVN-USA
Ordering online : Ordering online javascript:ol('http://www.workingtorecovery.co.uk/');
This is a link to the “store” of Ron Coleman & Karen Taylor’s biz
Working to Recovery LTD
Ordering online : Ordering online Julie Downs’ Starting & Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
http://www.hearing-voices.org/HVN%20large%20text.htm#pubs
http://www.amazon.co.uk
Ron Coleman & Mike Smith’s
Working with Voices-workbook
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0954810341/026-5486799-1894856?v=glance&n=26623
Paul Baker’s Can you Hear me
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1903199042/026-5486799-1894856?v=glance&n=266239
Marius Romme
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/026-5486799-1894856
Ron Coleman’s Recovery an Alien Concept
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/190319900X/026-5486799-1894856?v=glance&n=266239
Ron Coleman’s Working With Self Harm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1903199026/026-5486799-1894856?v=glance&n=266239
Alison Reeves’ Recovery a Holistic Approach
Please ask Ron Coleman about the availability of this publication
We’d also like to recommend a newer publication:
Marius Romme’s : Making Sense of Voices: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals Working with Voice-hearers (published in 2000) available at www.amazon.com.uk
Purchasing HVN Publications-TODAY (not currently available) : Purchasing HVN Publications-TODAY (not currently available) Fill it out form (available from Jenny)
Add a check made out to HVN-USA
And hand it to me
Publications will be mailed to you
Links & Contacts : Links & Contacts Deptford voices website-has multi lingual flyers documents:http://www.dhvs.freeuk.com/introduction.htm
European Network of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry ENUSP : European Network of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry ENUSP http://www.enusp.org/index.htm
Deb Wells Document:
Document discussing ‘role strain’ in consumer-providers
http://www.mhc.govt.nz/publications/2001/Recovery_Competencies.pdf
Hello from Ron Coleman & Karen Taylor : Hello from Ron Coleman & Karen Taylor MAKING RECOVERY HAPPEN IN PSYCHOSIS, 31st of May 2006 St Frances Centre, Glasgow first time available on DVD-Includes Marius Romme, Sandra Escher, Paul Baker, Ron Coleman & Karen Taylor
Working to Recovery Ltd 4 The Beehives Kilmany Road Wormit Fife, Scotland UK DD6 8PD Tel & Fax: 01282 542517 ron@roncolemanvoices.co.uk www.roncolemanvoices.co.uk
WORLD HEARING VOICES DAY : WORLD HEARING VOICES DAY Sept 14 2006
is the 1st
WORLD HEARING VOICES DAY
http://www.connects.org.uk/profilenews.cfm?id=10041
‘Your Life Becomes the Way You Encourage Another Person’ : ‘Your Life Becomes the Way You Encourage Another Person’ Q: “With my life the way it is, how can I possibly encourage others?”
A; If you encourage someone to achieve their dreams
you will achieve your dreams as well.
Thank You : Thank You