Extraordinary Book About Extra-Ordinary Experiences

MEDIA RELEASE September 8, 2011

An Extraordinary Book About Extra-Ordinary Experiences

‘Experiencing Psychosis: Personal and Professional Perspectives’ (Geekie, Randal, Lampshire & Read; Routledge, 2011) brings together 27 contributors from 8 countries who either have personal experience of psychosis or have researched the topic (or both).

Chapters are presented in pairs providing information from both a personal and research perspective on specific aspects of psychosis such as hearing voices and delusional beliefs, etc. All the authors recognize that first and foremost psychosis is a human experience and that those who experience psychotic episodes must have some contribution to any genuine attempts to make sense of the experience.

The book is edited by four New Zealanders, coordinated by Dr Jim Geekie, a Clinical Psychologist working in an Early Psychosis Service for Auckland DHB. The others are:

• Dr Patte Randal – a doctor working in rehabilitation psychiatry who has personal experience of recovery from psychosis;
• Debra Lampshire - an internationally renowned ‘experience-based expert’;
• Professor John Read – Psychology Department, University of Auckland.

Dr Paul Fink, Past President, American Psychiatric Association:
“This book reminds us that we must recognize the personhood of every patient and try to understand the personal meaning of experiences such as hallucinations and delusions.”

Dr Jim Geekie:
“I find the stories clients share with me profoundly moving and enlightening; but the voice of subjective experience has been sadly neglected in the research literature’

Dr Patte Randal:
“My clinical practice is more effective as a result of reading and editing these chapters. I hope others will find the same healing resonance in these pages.”
Debra Lampshire:
“For decades I waited for the people who were allocated to help me, to listen. To listen with their hearts and minds, without judgment. To help unravel the mysteries of an inner world of which the code breaker can only be the person who has had the experiences.”

Dr John Read: “It is just so much more interesting than most books on the topic – precisely because it places first-person accounts centre-stage.”

The book will be launched on September 22nd (6pm) at The Women’s Bookshop, Ponsonby, Auckland.

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