ABSTRACT
Part 2 of this book concludes in this chapter with a synthesis of the experiences of people who hear voices and practitioners, reported in the previous two chapters, to present a Tripartite Relationship Theory of voice hearing. According to this theory, it is proposed that voice hearing experiences within mental healthcare are best understood through a relational context involving the voice hearer, their voices, and practitioners. In other words, there are both intra-personal relationships (between the voice hearer and their voices) and inter-personal relationships (between the voice hearer and practitioners) that influence voice hearing experiences. The theory comprises the following themes that contribute towards an active and changeable tripartite relationship influencing voice hearing experiences: personal bully, interpersonal dynamic, who’s making sense?, medication: helping or hindering?, and level of agency. Voice hearing experiences can improve by increasing voice hearers’ and practitioners’ levels of agency, collaboratively exploring ways to engage with voice hearing, developing meaningful understandings of voices, and identifying and reaching agreement on decisions regarding the role of medication (including deciding if it is needed at all). Such an approach acknowledges that power struggles, interpersonal challenges, developing knowledge and establishing agreed decisions are important to the experience of voice hearing and present challenges within a relational context that involves voice hearers, voices, and practitioners.
