ABSTRACT
Researchers found group therapy tailored to voice hearers could be quite effective in helping the population manage their symptoms—even after psychotropic medications have failed. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis is a formulation-driven treatment which focuses on decreasing distress related to a client’s beliefs/appraisal of their voices, visions, and unusual beliefs. Sessions covered a variety of topics: psychoeducation, content of auditory hallucinations, behavioral analyses of auditory hallucinations, identifying situations which increase or decrease auditory hallucinations, and coping skills for auditory hallucinations. Psychological flexibility or cognitive shift responses include acceptance, mindful awareness, defusion, and values-based behavioral activation. L. Butler conducted a qualitative study exploring the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for psychosis with therapy groups. The researchers hoped to help clients engage in activities which fostered personal meaning and to increase their ability to better relate to distressing psychosis-related symptoms rather than attempting to reduce or eliminate them.
