Also in May, Rachel Waddingham will be joining us from England to offer workshops on two areas of voice hearing that we've not yet explored.
Free and open to the public! Continuing Education Credits will be sought for both LCSWs and LMHCs. Space will be limited for both workshops, so please contact us at 413.539.5941 x 339 to reserve your spot!
May 8: Taboo and Violent Voices
9:30am to 4:30pm @ Holyoke Community College, Kittredge Center, Holyoke, MA
About the Workshop: There are some kinds of voices that are even harder to talk about - ‘taboo voices.' Taboo Voices may include ones that say violent or sexual things. They can be extremely graphic, sometimes overlapping with violent thoughts, impulses or disturbing visions. Taboo voices can feel very powerful and overwhelming, but they are also the kind of voices that many find very hard to talk about with others - for fear of judgement.
This one day event explores:
• The experience and its impact on people who hear voices and their wider network.
• Understanding our own reactions and feelings about ‘taboo’ voices and the way this impacts on our actions/decisions.
• Re-framing ‘violent’ and ‘taboo’ voices and exploring personal meaning.
• Ways of thinking about, and minimizing, risk of violence.
• Working with taboo/violent voices in a safe and supportive way.
May 9: Children and Voices
9:30am to 4:30pm @ the Holyoke Library, 250 Chestnut Street, Holyoke, MA
Come just for the morning or stay the whole day!
About the Workshop: Around 22% of 11-13 year olds, and 8% of older teens hear voices that other people don’t. For some these experiences are transient or pleasant, perhaps giving support or encouragement during times of stress or insecurity.
For others, the voices can become overwhelming - bullying, threatening, distracting, commanding or criticizing them. These distressing voices can leave young people feeling isolated, frightened and struggling at school. It can be such a stigmatizing experience that many hide it.
Morning Goals (9:30am to 12:30pm):
• The experience and its impact
• Different ways of making sense of distressing voices and visions
• Links between voices, visions, emotions and trauma
• Ways of challenging the stigma surrounding ‘voices’ in youth services
Afternoon Goals (1:30pm-4:30pm)
• Building supportive alliances with young people who hear distressing voices
• Safe ways of talking with young people about voices and visions
• Developing a toolbox of practical and creative youth-friendly coping strategies
About Rachel (Rai) Waddingham: Rai manages an innovative project supporting young people who hear voices / see visions (Mind in Camden’s Voice Collective - www.voicecollective.co.uk). She has also pioneered the first network of peer support groups for people in prison who hear voices.
Rai is a trustee of the English Hearing Voices Network & vice chair of ISPS UK. She is a media spokesperson, writer & trainer. Rai is also a voice hearer.
See: www.behindthelabel.co.uk
