Hearing Voices Network Information Booklet Edition 11, 2012 First edition editors: Theresa Hewlett & Lyn Mahboub 2007 HEARING VOICES NETWORK AUSTRALIA Auspiced by Richmond Fellowship of WA 32 Burton St, CANNINGTON WA 6107 PH: 08 9350 8800 FAX: 08 9258 3090 PO Box 682, BENTLEY WA 6982 www.hvna.net.au email: [email protected] www.rfwa.org.au email: [email protected] Hearing Voices Network Information Booklet The development of this booklet was has been made HVNA Supporters possible thanks to the visionary leadership of Richmond Fellowship WA‘s CEO Joe Calleja, along with RFWA Publishers Board and management support. Joe, and the board, This booklet is proudly designed and produced by the has stayed strong allies and supporters of the Hearing Hearing Voices Network Australia, Richmond Fellowship Voices Approach and backed the development of the WA as an in-house publication. It‘s printing is made Hearing Voices Network Australia (HVNA) through thick possible thanks to donations from Hywel Davies of the and thin. Welsh Hearing Voices Network UK. It is intended to be distributed to professionals and voiced hearers alike. Over the past 6 and a bit years, the HVNA has had input and support from a range of people, many have NB Where possible material within this booklet is gone above and beyond the call of duty to advance the referenced; however, some information may have been hearing voices approach. We would like to express our inadvertently reproduced without adequate thanks to our ongoing supporters: citation/acknowledgement. If so we apologise in advance; it is the case that certain well-known elements Richmond Fellowship WA Board or aspects of the literature on the hearing voices approach has been traditionally shared among Hearing RFWA staff and in particular CEO Joe Calleja who has Voices Networks, Voice Hearers and their allies been a mammoth HVN champion, but also Marlene (particularly in this age of online forums and blogs) and Janssen HVNA Coordinator from 2008 - 2012, Ros its original source is not always easily identified. Some Bowyer Voices@Work Project Manager, Amanda of this learning has been absorbed within the halls of Waegeli (nee Olsen) HVNA trainer, project worker learning institutions, some in conferences, workshops and and Voices@Work project officer, David Rivett HV gatherings, some in hearing voices groups themselves. Recovery Group Facilitator, Rosi Dunstan, and all RFWA group facilitators. Editors Hywel Davies Cymru HVN Wales UK generous donations The first edition of this booklet was the result of a hearty Our current volunteers and supporters - both experts effort from myself (Lyn Mahboub) and my esteemed by experience and experts by profession Mandy, colleague and co-editor, Theresa Hewlett; whose quick Phil, Dayle, Donna, Maranda and Chris wit, perseverance, late night coffee and cigs sustained us As of 2012 the WA Mental Health Commission (along with her family's tolerance of us burning the midnight oil). Our ongoing supporters at INTERVOICE: (the International Network for Training, Education and Editions Research into Hearing Voices) such as Ron Coleman First edition May, 2007; This current edition (May 2012) (our patron) & Karen Taylor from Working to is the 11th incarnation of this booklet. Recovery Ltd, Paul Baker, Peter Bullimore, Rufus May, Jacqui Dillon, Eleanor Longden, Rachel Waddingham, Acknowledgements John Watkins, Tevor Eyles, Dirk Corstens, Marius In writing this booklet we have relied on a number of Romme, Sandra Escher and many others from the experts by experience, and experts by profession, all of Hearing Voices Community round the world. whom have responded swiftly to my call for inspired We would like at this point to make special mention of input and support. A good number of individuals over our early contributors / supporters who helped us during the past several years have generously shared their start up way back when. Our thanks to: ideas, thoughts and words of wisdom along with their time proofing versions, sourcing references and Lotterywest & Myer Foundation (financial support) gathering gold to include. Hearing Voices Network Development Working Party We dedicate this booklet to all those lost lives for whom the system failed. We commit to strive for change always. 2 Hearing Voices Network Australia Supporters continued Our adage: “Accept that the voices are real and belong to Members: inaugural chair Jen Stacey, Dr Mike Wise- you. Accept that the voices may have meaning Miller, Paula Edwards, Virginia Pulker, Georgie (metaphoric or literal) based on your life experiences.” Paulik, Warwick Smith, Helen Vlais, Sheree A, Hollie Intervoice online. B, May G, Sanna, Dean B, and Chris P and Will. RFWA staff (particularly Dr Bill Bennett, Theresa In particular, we would like to pay homage to those Hewlett, Rob Rowe, Susan, Natalia & Kirsty) who have gone before us and treaded the boards of Mental Health Council of Australia: website development Hearing Voices Network Organisation development Pathways Bunbury (Jocelyn & Mick) around the world, your steps inspire us. ‗The Haven‘ Scottish Hearing Voices Network Dundee Indeed we are jubilant to see the development of two Members (thanks Pat and the crew especially to HV Networks in Australia, since we came into being. It is Maria, Audrey and Tig for their wisdom and thanks to the many dedicated individuals who have kindness). persevered; people like Indigo, Sandi, Janet, Doug, John Robinson Deptford Hearing Voices Service, UK Bruce, Georgie and their supporters (Prahran Mission Julie Downs, Micky Da Valda and Chris Stirk and many others) that Voices Vic and HVN NSW have Manchester / UK HVN been born. Thanks too to the many individuals, too Aotearoa NZ Hearing Voices Network (John Read, numerous to mention, who have developed the numerous HV Groups around the country—there are Arana, Adrienne, Deb Lampshire and Vanessa) groups in NT, NSW, Victoria, Tassy, QLD, ACT, SA and Mark Rapley, Professor of Clinical Psychology, School WA in urban and rural areas. of Psychology, University of East London, whose courage kick started critical understanding and awareness of the HV Movement in WA. Warm Regards Lyn Mahboub Prahran Mission Melbourne (Sandi Noble, Harriet Strategic Recovery Advisor & Dance and Jacqui Stewart) Manager Hearing Voices Network June O'Connor Centres (June herself, their board and May 2012 workers across sites) And to those too numerous to mention Voices Network Australia with wonderful monetary support / donations. Hywel, you are a star, your generosity has made the publication of this information booklet and subsequent updates a true reality. On behalf of voices hearers, their families We are very grateful to Hywel Davies (Welsh and friends, we say HVN, UK) who continues to support the Hearing THANK YOU! THANK YOU! HVNA team Hearing Voices Network Australia: www.hvna.net.au 32 Burton Street P O Box 682 Ph: (08) 9350 8800 Cannington Bentley Fax: (08) 9358 3090 WA 6107 WA 6982 Email: [email protected] 3 Hearing Voices Network Information Booklet Index Welcome .......................................................................................................... 5 A word from our patron .................................................................................... 5 HVNA—Role, vision and key principles ........................................................... 6 About hearing voices ........................................................................................ 7 A new approach to understanding voice hearing ............................................ 8 Hearing Voices Network Australia (HVNA) ...................................................... 9 Three phases of voices hearing ...................................................................... 10 Hearing Voices Groups ................................................................................... 12 Hearing voices groups and networks ............................................................. 13 HVNA group guidelines .................................................................................. 14 Positive voice hearing experiences ................................................................. 15 INTERVOICE 2008 .......................................................................................... 16 Coping strategies poster ................................................................................. 18 The Soldier and the Advocate ......................................................................... 20 Stepping stones to recovery ............................................................................ 21 Silencing my voices forever ............................................................................ 26 Links of interest ............................................................................................... 28 HVNA publications available ......................................................................... 31 Voice hearing bibliography ............................................................................ 32 4 Hearing Voices Network Australia hurdles that they encounter. In addition, it is a testament Welcome to the courageous workers and other professionals who Hi, and welcome to our 11th edition of this Information dare to make a difference. Those who, as a colleague Booklet. Due to the increasing demand, we are often says, are ―trained in the Hearing Voices reprinting this booklet again, with more up-to-date Approach and not afraid to use it‖. information; we hope the