How to Talk with Voices

UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND - MEDIA RELEASE August 16, 2012

US Psychiatrist to Teach New Zealand Mental Health Professionals How to Talk with Voices

The 8th MAKING SENSE OF PSYCHOSIS Conference takes place August 30-31 at the University of Auckland. This year marks the first joint conference between the Australian and New Zealand branches of the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (www.isps.org). The theme is ‘Valuing Subjective Experience’

For information about the conference, which is open to all, including researchers, mental health staff, people who experience psychosis and families, email: ispsnz@gmail.com

The conference, which will be opened by Mike King (comedian and presenter of the TV show the Nutters Club) focuses on social and psychological causes of, and solutions to, psychosis. It is supported by the Hearing Voices Network Aotearoa NZ, the NZ Psychological Society and the Mental Health Foundation.

The principal keynote speaker is Professor Colin Ross (Baylor University) who will present: Biological Approaches to Psychosis: Promising Areas of Scientific Investigation and Scientific Dead Ends – What is the Role of Vitamin D? in which he will argue that ‘The evidence disproves the core claims of biological psychiatry: that schizophrenia is a genetic brain disease, and antipsychotic medications are effective’.

Dr Ross’ preconference workshop is entitled Talking To the Voices: A Treatment Approach for Trauma, Dissociation and Psychosis.

The other keynote speakers are:

Dr James Scott - University of Queensland:
‘Does Childhood Trauma Cause Psychosis? A Review of the Evidence’

Kellie Comans [expert by experience] - Gateway Community Health, Victoria
‘Making Sense of Voices that are Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know’

Professor Robert Schweitzer - Queensland University of Technology:
‘A Metacognitive Narrative Approach to the Treatment of People with Psychosis’

Dr Melissa Taitimu – Clinical Psychologist, Auckland:
‘Decolonising Psychosis: Kaupapa Maori Healing in 21st Century Clinical Practice’

Debra Lampshire [expert by experience]- University of Auckland
‘What’s Mine is Mine and What’s Yours is Yours!’

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