When we lose hope: experiences from Hearing Voices groups

Abstract

I often think that at the heart of a Hearing Voices group is hope: generating, renewing and offering itself, in a space where we share hope for the future and hope for recovery. It may therefore come as a surprise that for me, one of the strongest themes in groups, particularly in forensic settings, is in fact hopelessness. I’m interested in exploring what this hopelessness has brought up in me, how it has challenged me and what it has given me.

Keywords:

• Hope
• hopelessness
• Hearing Voices groups
• prisons
• Immigration Removal Centres
• forensic