Even with treatment, a quarter of people with psychotic conditions experience hearing voices, or ‘persistent auditory hallucinations’. You will likely have heard of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a means of treatment for hallucinations. However, Avatar therapy — avariation of CBT — is a new and less familiar approach (invented by Julian Leff in 2008).
During Avatar therapy, participants are shown a digital representation (or avatar) of the voice they hear inside their head. The avatar is voiced by a therapist who engages in a dialogue with the patient. Over the course of the therapy, the avatar (therapist) becomes less hostile and concedes power. For example, the avatar could tell the patient ‘I am now going to go away and leave you in peace’.
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