Voices, Visions & Unusual Beliefs: Innovative Support Strategies (Wed, Thurs, Fri)

In current Western medical paradigms, hearing voices is often a deeply marginalized experience. Those who hear voices and/or see visions are typically given a poor prognosis. Suggested coping strategies tend to be limited to distraction techniques or heavy neuroleptics. Clinicians, voice-hearers, and family members have often felt frustrated by the limitations of this model.

Another world is possible. This training is for anyone who is interested in learning the current research, strategies and supports that are being developed by people with lived experience of voice-hearing world-wide. We will explore:

• How trauma, culture and social factors influence voice-hearing
• Common myths about voices & visions and how to shift these paradigms
• A new dialogue framework to discuss non-consensus reality states in a supportive way
• Dozens of real-life strategies that are used by voice-hearers to cope with a distressing experience

This event will be co-facilitated by Cindy Marty Hadge and Caroline Mazel-Carlton, both of whom have extensive personal experience with voices, visions, and navigating the psychiatric system. Both have well over a decade of professional experience supporting other voice-hearers in community settings, clinical environments and online. Caroline and Cindy have had the privilege of both learning from and supporting system change in the international community, from the Netherlands to Brazil to Israel to Australia. Their work has been featured in mainstream media outlets, academic articles, and books, including the most recent work from NYT best-selling author Daniel Bergner, “The Mind and the Moon”.

All three training days will run from 9AM to 5PM with a full hour for lunch. Admission price will cover space rental, training manual, and compensation for the voice-hearers who design and facilitate this curriculum. Coffee and tea will be provided. Admission price does not include lodging or meals. This is an in-person training. If you are interested in bringing this training to another area please submit a request form here: https://wildfloweralliance.org/request/