1st Edition

On the Frontline with Voices A Grassroots Handbook for Voice-Hearers, Carers and Clinicians

By Keith Butler Copyright 2016

    This is a jargon-free, user-friendly resource for voice-hearers and their carers, as well as the clinicians and groups who support them both. It offers a new and practical way of looking at voice-hearing as well as a host of practical strategies to assist in recovery. The resource is built around three core sections. Each of the sections speaks directly to voice-hearers, clinicians and carers, in turn. The style and content addresses each group's individual needs in terms appropriate to them and schools them in how to deal with voices from their particular perspective.  The core aim is to provide these three groups with practical techniques they can use on a daily basis. The resource offers a proactive, practical and client-centred framework that is designed to reduce anxiety and increase the likelihood of learning new ways to deal with voices. Keith Butler is a consultant clinical psychologist and an associate fellow of the BPS (British Psychological Society). He was a key player in the development of the Buckinghamshire Early Intervention Service (BEIS) and occupied the position of clinical lead in the BEIS for its first 6 years up to his retirement at the end of 2010.

    1: Approaching the problem of voices; 2: For voice-hearers; 3: For clinicians; 4: For carers and family; 5: In conclusion

    Biography

    Keith Butler

    "The book incorporates recent and novel additions to theory and practice in the treatment of auditory hallucinations by focusing on the interpersonal relationship between voice hearer and the voices, in particular encouraging use of ‘dialogue’ to establish a more empowered and compassionate relationship with voices. This more experiential/interpersonal approach is in my view a strength of this resource." — Dr Tom Barker, Chartered Clinical Psychologist

    "I would recommend this book to someone in any of the three target groups, as I think that it has very useful ways of thinking about what is actually not an uncommon problem in general practice and the community, as well as in the inpatient setting. For each group, maybe especially the carer group it has some really interesting insights into the problems and challenges they face, and would be useful for a carer, but also for a clinician to read and consider. It could potentially be a book which might change clinical practice. The strengths of this book are several and considerable, and include the attractive writing style, the fascinating and clinically useful content, and the ability to use the book and approach to voice hearing with both clients and carers. The author has thought very hard about his intended audience and has produced a book which speaks to all three main groups who are concerned with voice hearing: The voice-hearers themselves; their families and carers, and their clinicians. I admire the principle behind the idea, the separate sections targeted at each group are good and it’s a sensible idea to write in a slightly different tone and for the somewhat different perspectives of these three groups, whilst still maintaining the integrity of keeping these sections all in the same book, particularly in the interests of transparency, so any group could with ease look at how they are being portrayed and represented to the other group and to see that the message they are being given is in fact consistent with that being given to the other groups." — Highly Commended in Health and Social Care in the 2016 BMA Medical Book Awards