Compassion and hearing voices ... learning how to better care for yourself

[glenn roberts]

Dear all

Eleanor Longden is justly famous for her TED talk on 'The voices in my head' (2013) which has now clocked up over 5million views.

She has gone on to become a research psychologist and worked with fellow psychologist Charlie Heriot-Maitland over many years to bring compassion based approaches to the voice hearing experience and more broadly to promote understanding, kindness and acceptance for voice hearing and voice hearers.

They've just produced a self help companion that promotes a compassionate approach to 'Relating to Voices' which I've not read it yet but looks to be a gem. 

https://balancedminds.com/product/book-relating-to-voices/

It's advertised as promoting, 'The Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) approach suggests that we can learn to relate to both voices and ourselves in a way that is less about conflict and more about cooperation. This book will be a useful companion for voice-hearers as well as for their supporters and allies in their journey of self-help. It will also be of use to mental health and social service workers.'

Its specific content sounds of great value but I wonder if it also models a future and emerging example of 'recovery' or 'person-centred' publications ... These are guides, or companions co-produced by people who combine personal and professional experience and offered as a support for self management ... with which 'supporters' ... be those formal or informal could themselves be enabled to help people to find their way towards enhanced ways of supporting themselves ... a 'companion' to learning about managing their experiences and supporting themselves?

worth a look.

all good wishes 

Glenn