March 18 to March 20, 2024, 9am to 5pm

@ Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA

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”.

Continuing Education information: This program has been approved for 18.5 Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number D 91991. This program has been approved by MaMHCA/MCEAP for 18.5 CEs for LMHC. Please contact us at info@wildfloweralliance.org for questions regarding CE accreditation.