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01-02-2020 | Original Paper

“I’m Not Telling an Illness Story. I’m Telling a Story of Opportunity”: Making Sense of Voice Hearing Experiences

Authors: Stephanie Clements, Francesca Coniglio, Lynette Mackenzie

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 2/2020

Abstract

This study aimed to explore how adults with lived experiences of voice hearing, who have participated in hearing voices groups based on approaches of the Hearing Voices Movement, understand their voice hearing experiences (VHE). A phenomenological approach guided the study design. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants who attended a hearing voices group. Participants experienced a journey of understanding VHE. The overarching theme ‘tension and recalibration’ permeated five themes: beliefs about voices; navigating the relationship with my voices; learning to live with my voices; rediscovering myself with my voices; and, influences to understanding my voices. This study highlights how voice hearers’ understanding can evolve over time and throughout phases of recovery. Implications regarding intervention to support individuals to explore VHE are discussed.

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Title: “I’m Not Telling an Illness Story. I’m Telling a Story of Opportunity”: Making Sense of Voice Hearing Experiences
Authors: Stephanie Clements
Francesca Coniglio
Lynette Mackenzie
Publication date: 01-02-2020
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 2/2020
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00465-x

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“I’m Not Telling an Illness Story. I’m Telling a Story of Opportunity”: Making Sense of Voice Hearing Experiences

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