Description
Book SynopsisYoung People Hearing Voices is a unique, innovative book providing support and practical solutions for the experience of hearing voices. It is in two parts, one part for voice-hearing children, the other part for parents and adult carers. Escher and Romme have over twenty-five years experience of working with voice-hearers, pioneering the theory and practice of accepting and working with the meaning in voices. The children's section: This book has mainly been written for children who hear voices. The information in this book is largely derived from a three-year study amongst 80 children and adolescents who were interviewed about their experiences; children who ranged in age from 8 to 19 years at first contact. Little is known about voice hearing in children. Most people still have this notion that it is a disease for life. In this book, readers will find extensive information about how to look differently at voice hearing; learning to deal with it and discovering what might help to cope with the voices.The parents'/adults' section: It became increasingly clear to us how little information parents of children hearing voices were getting and that if parents found information, it was almost always based on the assumption that voice hearing was a serious disease. We noticed that the children of those parents who dared to search and go their own way were doing better. This book is for these parents.
Trade ReviewThrough its combination of research, clinical insights, and first-person accounts, Children Hearing Voices provides its readers with extensive guidance and information not only for understanding voice hearing, but in reframing it as a meaningful experience that can be lived with rather than an unfortunate medical abnormality to be endured. The book equips parents and professionals with the necessary skills, confidence, and knowledge to explore and understand a child's voice hearing experiences and, most importantly, outlines the necessary resources for children to cope with their voices, any attendant emotional difficulties, and ultimately lead fulfilled, productive, and happy lives. Eleanor Longden, Bradford Primary Care Trust (UK) survivor-activist and trainer. The information and experiences presented in this book have broadened my understanding of voice hearing and how to support young people (and all people) who hear voices, in my counseling practice. The book is rich in information and examples of experiences that break down fixed medicalized views and stereotypes, nomalizing the experience and helping frame voice hearing in a broader context - they effectively re-frame voice hearing as 'a human characteristic and an indication of problems that need to be solved, instead of a psycho-pathological problem'. For anybody who supports children who hear voices, this is the book to read. Caroline Rosta, Counselor and psychotherapist (UK) in Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, 2011.
Table of Contents1. The History of Hearing Voices 2. Current Theoretical Explanations Within Mental Healthcare 3. Non-medical Explanations of Voice Hearing 4. Children Who Hear Voices: The role of psychiatric treatment - Prof Sami Timimi 5. The Maastricht Interview for Children and Adolescents Hearing Voices: Research results 6. Exploring the Experience with the Maastricht Interview 7. Completing 'Voices' Jigsaw Puzzles - Jeanette Woolthuis 8. Children Hearing Voices and Trauma 9. Voice Collective: Learning from parents who've been there - Rachel Waddingham 10. 'Resonance Association' Advice for Parents - Thea Boom-Legierse 11. Parents' Experiences - Anne, Marie Louise and Karin
