This paper aims to investigate whether and how participation in the creative arts helps voice-hearers to manage the emotions and relationships with their voices. While existing research has shown that the emotions associated with hearing voices relate to the kind and quality of relationships that participants have with their voices and the significance of such relationships within an individual’s life context, there is very limited research on how these emotions and relationships with voices are mediated and managed by those hearing the voices themselves.
This paper explores the creative arts as a possible resource for mediating and managing emotions and relationships. The paper draws on three case studies of voice-hearers. Two of these voice-hearers underwent in-depth interviews with the author.
This paper shows how the participants use the arts themselves to explore and learn about their voices. Such encounters enable a process through which they can more effectively manage their emotions when relating to their voices and feel empowered through exercising a greater sense of control.
There is real potential in using creative practices with voice-hearers, and particularly for voice-hearers to use them themselves to gain understanding which helps them to manage their relationships with their voices.
