Debra Lampshire Presents

1. Debra LampshirePresents The M.O.D.E.R.N. Voice-Hearer

3. History • Hearing Voices since childhood • Developed unusual beliefs • Long periods in institutions • Stayed inside house for 18 years • Got voices under control began working with Mental Health

4. Personal Perspective • I am engaged in a relationship with my voices • I am in an abusive relationship with some of them • They can only express themselves in unhelpful ways it is my job to interpret their content into helpful ways.

5. I am their therapist at times • They can do nothing without my consent • Addressing them as quickly as possible makes it easier to deal with them • They can misguide me at times but respond well to kindness and respect

6. They are part of who I am. I would never choose to be free of them completely • I only work on my negative voices positive voices require no attention at all • They need my assistance to express themselves appropiately • The only they have is what I give them!

7. What you might not know about voices • They hate to be ignored • They can be witty and amusing • They get away with saying things you would never say • They can make you feel special • They have access to special information

8. M Manifestation • O of • D Distress • E Explore • R Relevance • N Nomalise

9. M. O . D . • Voice hearing experience is viewed as a manifestation of distress alerting the person to the fact that they concerned, worried or troubled by something which may not be obvious initially.

10. Advantages of this view • Allows both client and clinicians to place within the realms of manageability. Voice hearing experience is not pathologies but seen as a coping strategy and legitimate response to stress

11. E = EXPLORE • Participants are invited to explore the experience and also the content of the voices. • We write down the very first thing the voice says • We introduce the 5 part model as a way of gaining an objective component into the process of understanding the voices • Clients determine which approach suits their personal thinking style

12. example You need to kill yourself ! GO! Jump of the bridge !

13. R = RELEVANCE • Using the 5 part model we would examine what had been happening prior to hearing the voices • Going back to any circumstance which may have precipitated the voice. • Look for any links that may indicate that this is related to making us aware of stressors.

14. Focus is on the content of the voices not on the voice itself. • Provides opportunity to be aware of the factors which contribute to stress • Places the voice hearing experience on the response to stress spectrum • Gives an alternative explanation to their intrusion that they are motivated by stress rather than random encounters

15. Example Stop it ! Fix it!

16. Christmas time - extra money needed for children • Only bread winner in large family • Working double shifts • Not sleeping well • Flu going around at work lots of people off sick • Boss told him how much he depends on him and knew he wouldn’t let him down • Dog had been hurt and was with vet • Dog may never be fit for work again

17. N = NORMALISE • Provides a context in which to evaluate situations more broadly. • If you are a voice hearer this is how stress manifests itself – situation seems quite reasonable. • This is not a catastrophe it is a opportunity to learn.

18. Example • Fix it – Your running yourself ragged you need to take care of yourself. If you keep this up your get sick! • Stop it – You cannot maintain this level of functioning. People are taking advantage of you. If you wont take care of yourself then I will!

19. What you might not know about voices. • They hate to be ignoredThey can be witty and amusing • They get away with saying things you never would • They can make you feel special • They have access to special information

20. Tactics of Voices • They like to isolate. Significant relationships are the biggest threat to their existence • They are jealous and interfere with relationships so they can have you all to themselves • The are extreme and always go to the worst possible scenario first

21. They need fear to thrive so will induce as much anxiety as they can into a situation. • They don’t always tell the truth • They know your deepest secrets so can needle you in the mostefficient ways.

22. Common Traits of Voice hearers • Find it hard to tolerate silence • Tend to think symbolically and metaphorically • Prefer their minds to be occupied • Sensitivity to low frequency humming noise • Highly Anxious

23. Tend to be language people who like to communicate • Have a tendency to jump to conclusions rapidly and find it difficult to change their minds once they have formed an opinion • Usually quite intelligent • Experience fear intrusively • Have a sense of over-responsibility and a need to make things right.

24. History of Groups • Groups have been running for 7 years in DHB • Open to all DHB clients regardless of diagnosis or service • Groups are modified to met the needs of the range of participants e.g. Culture, age, gender, time in service • Training provided to staff

25. Approach of Groups • Have an experience-based expert leading the group • CBT/DBT – basic skill set • Elements of Motivation Interviewing • Normalising/Validating

26. Results • Participants reported overall a 50% reduction in frequency and distress of voice hearing over the six week period. These voice hearers had on average 20 years of voice hearing experience. • Current participants are reporting between a 30%–70% reduction in frequency and distress. • Benefits to participations are effective up to 3 months of completion of group without follow-up

27. Where to get more information Debra Lampshire P.O. Box 163-172 Lynfield Auckland New Zealand E-mail address: Debra.L@xtra.co.nz NZ mobile Phone: +64 27 268 6676