Extreme States of Mind

Helping the developmentally different.

by Dan Edmunds, Ed.D., D.D., B.C.S.A.

He Hears Voices: Validating the Experience

Working with, rather than suppressing, the experience of hearing voices.

Published on January 27, 2012 by Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D., B.C.S.A. in Extreme States of Mind

I encountered a young man, around 12 years old, who was hearing voices. Prior "treatment" included: prescribing psychotropic drugs to suppress the voices or telling him to ignore the experience. During my consultations with him, I sought to journey with him, to build a connection where he would feel safe to share his experience. The young man heard two voices, one male and one female. And as he began to relate his past experiences and the recent loss of a relative, it became obvious that these voices filled a need in his life. His issues with grief had never been processed and information had been concealed from him; family dynamics are often shrouded in secrecy. He had been very close to this relative. Therefore, it was obvious that he needed to hear from this relative in some way, to know that things were okay. And that is exactly what the young man told me, that this was the voice of that relative. The other voice represented his mother.

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I was pleased that I was able to journey with this person and come to a breakthrough and discovery but was saddened that no one had thought of doing this before. So often, when health professionals encounter those who hear voices, it becomes so terrifying that they do not want to delve into it. Shutting down the experience is the best alternative for them. But, by doing this, we may be making a grave mistake. Often, experiences like these convey great meaning, as in the case of this young man.

In another case, a woman came to me with the thought that she was Mary Magdalene. Many in the mental health system would dismiss this thought, labeling it delusional and recommending that she be placed on an antipsychotic drug immediately. My approach: I wanted to know why this person felt she was Mary Magdalene. What is it like to be Mary Magdalene? Why the need to be Mary Magdalene? Over time, I learned that this woman had used illicit drugs and supported her use through prostitution. Later, she had a religious revival, and felt guilt about her past. Over time, she came to realize why she felt the need to connect with the story of Mary Magdalene; and over time she came to a greater awareness of her experiences and ultimately of herself.