Overcoming Distressing Voices

Practical help for managing distressing voice hearing experiences

Have you ever heard someone talking to you, but when you turned around no one was there? Voice hearing is more common than might be expected. Many of those who experience this phenomenon won't find it distressing, while some may find it extremely upsetting and even debilitating.

Although the causes of voice hearing are many and varied, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be a highly effective treatment for distressing voices. CBT can provide a powerful and positive way of coping with distressing voices, helping people to live well, even though the voice hearing may continue.

Written by experts, this accessible self-help manual takes those affected by distressing voices on a journey of recovery and healing, based on the latest psychological research. Includes:

· Clear explanations of what distressing voices are and what causes them
· Techniques to explore and re-evaluate the links between self-esteem, beliefs about voices and feelings
· Practical steps to reduce the distress that hearing voices causes
· Consideration of the impact on friends and family, and advice for how they can help

Overcoming self-help guides use clinically-proven techniques to treat long-standing and disabling conditions, both psychological and physical. Many guides in the Overcoming series are recommended under the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme.

Series Editor: Professor Peter Cooper

Cassie Hazell is a Research Fellow at the University of Sussex, and Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

Mark Hayward is the Director of Research at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Sussex. Mark has been working with and learning from people who hear distressing voices for the past twenty years.

Clara Strauss is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Research Fellow at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Sussex. Clara has worked for many years with people distressed by hearing voices. She is particularly interested in finding out more about the experience of hearing voices and in finding ways to reduce the distress that voices can cause. Clara is part of a research team, along with Mark, David and others, who have been evaluating a range of therapies for people distressed by hearing voices.

David Kingdon is a Community Psychiatrist and Clinical Director working in Southampton. He is Professor of Mental Health Care Delivery at the University of Southampton. David has published many papers, book chapters and books about cognitive therapy of severe mental illness and mental health service development over the past several decades.