Problem:
Before watching the seminar, I thought that hearing voices was mostly a sign of a major mental disorder, such as schizophrenia. I felt that voices were something that could be gotten rid of or managed with medicine or therapy. I did not really think about what the sounds meant or how they might be related to someone's life. I also thought that voices were mainly bad and hurtful. From what I had studied earlier, the focus was more on figuring out what was wrong and making the symptoms better than on hearing the person's story. I now see that this view was too narrow and did not completely take into account trauma or emotional anguish as probable explanations.
Eleanor Longden's talk taught me that hearing voices can be very tied to trauma and personal experiences. She says that the voices she heard were not random; they were her mind's way of dealing with the torture and pain she had been through. She learnt to listen to the voices and understand what they were saying instead of trying to fight them. This greatly influenced how I think, as it indicates that voices can express feelings that are hidden, such as fear, humiliation, or suffering (Longden, 2013). Her story also showed that people can improve when they feel acknowledged and encouraged rather than criticized.
This knowledge would have a big impact on how I work in the future. I would not just label someone right away or try to get rid of their symptoms. Instead, I would try to understand what they are going through and what the voices might mean to them. I would pay closer attention and ensure customers feel safe sharing their thoughts and feelings. Studies show that hearing voices is commonly linked to trauma and that person-centered care can assist (McCarthy, Jones, & Longden, 2015). This implies I would put more emphasis on trust, empathy, and working together than on control.
In the future, I believe we will learn more about hearing voices. There may be less shame and greater understanding that these sensations fall on a range. In the future, medical treatment, trauma-informed care, and psychological assistance may all work together. This change can make people feel less alone and more understood (Burger et al., 2024). This discussion made me realize that healing is not just about getting rid of symptoms; it is also about getting to know the person behind them. Need Assignment Help?
Burger, S. R., Hardy, A., Verdaasdonk, I., van der Vleugel, B., Delespaul, P., van Zelst, C., de Bont, P. A. J., Staring, A. B. P., de Roos, C., de Jongh, A., Marcelis, M., van Minnen, A., van der Gaag, M., & van den Berg, D. (2025). The effect of trauma-focused therapy on voice-hearing: An experience sampling study. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 98(1), 25-39.
McCarthy-Jones, S., & Longden, E. (2015). Auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder: Common phenomenology, common cause, common interventions? Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1071.
Your approach touches on what we learned about in Week 3, "active listening," "unconditional positive regard," and "accurate empathy" as foundational to the process of psychotherapy. You connect with accurate empathy. Accurate empathy allows social workers to connect with clients on a deeper level, making clients feel safe enough to share their experiences and problems when in distress. By accurately understanding and reflecting a client's feelings without judgment, we create a safe space for clients to feel heard and accepted, which motivates them to engage in problem-solving and promotes self-acceptance.
You are truly creating a space for healing to begin.
What is a good follow up response/question to the above comment on my original discussion post? Include in text citations and references