The HVNI Board would like to invite you to the HVNI AGM 2023, which
takes place on Wednesday 15 November from 13.00 – 13.45.
The AGM venue is Room G04 in UCC’s Brookfield Health Sciences
Complex, College Road, Cork, and takes place during the Annual Critical
Perspectives Conference on 15 and 16 November.
In addition to the formal AGM procedures (annual report, accounts,
nominations, election of Board members), we look forward to hearing from
people involved (facilitators and group members) of various HV Support
groups in West Cork, who will share their experiences of 10 years of HV
support groups in that area. Quite an achievement.
At the Open Forum part of the meeting, attendees will have an opportunity
to share their experiences, ask questions and provide suggestions.
The HVNI is always looking for new Board members, so, if interested,
please complete and return the form. If you are interested, or know of others
who are, but are not sure what being a Board member entails, please email
Harry Gijbels (h.gijbels@ucc.ie).
Nomination for here.
Please share with relevant people in your own networks.
We look forward to seeing you at the AGM.
On behalf of the HVNI Board
Harry Gijbels
Category Archives: News
10th anniversary celebration for West Cork Hearing Voices Group!
The West Cork Hearing Voices Groups are delighted to announce that we will celebrate our tenth anniversary in September 2023.
We started with one group and grew to three groups across West Cork. Our goal is to have a group in every main town in West Cork.
Co-facilitators have been trained by Jacqui Dillon in 2013, new facilitators and group members availed of Training in 2022 and 2023.
The group is a safe, relational and reflective space, it honours the very human experience of voice hearing and other experiences and is grounded in the Hearing Voices Network Ireland (HVNI) ethos of mutual support, self-help, empathy, respect and acceptance.
The group is a place to share experiences and come together to get and give support. We are a partnership of voice hearers, mental health social workers and recovery support workers.
Two facilitators are on the HVNI committee and each of us are connected through shared goals and values to the world-wide Hearing Voices Movement.
We are delighted to have reached this milestone and look forward to continuing on this journey together.
Research Opportunity – Stories of managing trauma, difficulty and unusual experiences
Request for Participation in Research Project
Hello,
My name is Abbie, and I am a Trainee Clinical Psychologist.
As part of my doctorate training course, I am completing a piece of research aiming to learn from those with lived experience of hearing voices, seeing things, having unshared beliefs and/or other unusual experiences. With the aim that the findings will help to enhance our understanding of such experiences, and in turn, inform improved practice within mental health services.
To participate in the project, we ask that the following applies:
1. Have experienced some type of trauma during your life.
2. Following that traumatic experience, you noticed a change and experienced one or more of the following: hearing or seeing things, and holding unshared beliefs.
3. Self-identify as ‘doing well’ and/or ‘managing’ – you feel you’re at a stage in your life where you are doing well and this may include in your personal, professional and/or social life.
Participation in the project would involve a 1-hour interview via MS Teams (or in person if preferred and feasible location-wise). All travel expenses would be reimbursed and all those who participate will be entered into a prize draw to win a £75.00 Amazon voucher.
The following link contains more information and a way to express an interest in the study – https://www.callforparticipants.com/study/YIGGY/stories-of-managing-trauma-difficulty-and-unusual-experiences
Please feel free to forward this and pass on my email address to anyone who this may be of relevance to. I’m also more than happy to arrange an introductory telephone call to answer any questions anyone may have.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you and kindest regards,
Abbie
Hearing Voices Group Facilitation Training with Jacqui Dillon
Following on from two successful online courses last year, we are pleased to announce that Jacqui Dillon (https://www.jacquidillon.org/) is running another 8-week online Hearing Voices Group Facilitation & Network Development Training course this year, from 19 April – 7 June 2023, from 2.00 – 5.00 pm on 8 consecutive Wednesdays.
HV Support Groups offer a space where voice hearers feel safe, accepted and comfortable in sharing their experiences of voices, visions, tactile sensations and other unusual experiences and perceptions.
The course is aimed at people with lived experience, mental health staff and others who want to develop the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to facilitate a Hearing Voices Support Group, and who are in a position to set up a Hearing Voices Support Group, or join an existing group. Facilitators will also learn and experience ways to assist voice hearers to help and support each other, to exchange information, and to learn from one another. The course adheres to and works according to the values, principles and practices of the International Hearing Voices Movement.
We particularly welcome applications from people who hear voices. Please note, that we encourage people who have developed a working relationship with their voices to apply, as training and group facilitation can be demanding.
We also welcome joint applications.
The course is also open to individuals from jurisdictions outside of Ireland.
Places on the programme are limited to 20 and will be allocated on the basis of :
- the details provided in the application form
- the ability to attend all (or at least 7) sessions
- start/facilitate/co-facilitate a Hearing Voices group following completion of the course.
Format:
8 x 3-hour weekly online sessions from Tuesday 19 April – Tuesday 7 June 2023 from 14.00 – 17.00 IST/UTC+1
Cost:
- €200 Euro – Waged/Professional (payments by instalments possible)
- €50 Euro Unwaged/Voice Hearer (payments by instalments possible)
- Limited number of Scholarships available (inquiries to info@hearingvoicesnetworkireland.ie
Application forms to be returned either by email to info@hearingvoicesnetworkireland.ie or by post to:
Harry Gijbels, 115 Atkins Hall, Lee Road, Cork T23 EA06
The closing date for applications is Friday 7 April 2023.
If you would like to discuss making an application and/or would like more information about the programme, please contact Harry at info@hearingvoicesnetworkireland.ie or on 085 7554220.