ON HEARING VOICES. AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS IN THEORY AND CLINICAL PRACTICE - IZABELA STEFANIAK

Izabela Stefaniak's book is a fascinating journey into the depths of the human mind, analyzing the phenomenon of auditory hallucinations, commonly known as "voices." The author, drawing on her rich clinical experience, breaks with stereotypical approaches to this symptom, presenting it as a transdiagnostic phenomenon that can have various causes and manifestations. This publication is a valuable source of knowledge for both professionals and individuals interested in psychology and psychiatry.

• Breaks stereotypes about auditory hallucinations.
• Shows a broad perspective on understanding "voices."
• Addresses the issue of positive experiences related to hearing "voices."
• Presents various therapeutic approaches.
• Proposes a useful manual for therapists.
• Contains plans and descriptions of therapy sessions.
• Offers examples of dialogues with patients.
• Provides guidance on interviewing.

In her work, the author proposes a view in which the experience of hearing "voices" is not only related to the diagnosis of schizophrenia but is a transdiagnostic phenomenon. The symptom seeks elements related to the person's life context, and cognitive mechanisms that condition the emergence and subsequent maintenance of the symptom are diagnosed. The book is interdisciplinary, and a major advantage is the presentation of the author's experience in the therapy of patients with established auditory hallucinations. Another advantage of the work is the treatment of verbal auditory hallucinations as a phenomenon located on a kind of continuum - from mild, transient experiences to overt, distinctive psychopathological experiences.

Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, known for scientific publications at the highest level, guarantees the reliability and high substantive level of the presented work. This book is not only a theoretical analysis but, above all, a practical guide for therapists, psychology and psychiatry students, and anyone who wants to better understand the complexity of the human mind. This publication is a valuable source of knowledge and inspiration for all those interested in mental health and mental disorders.

The book "On Hearing Voices. Auditory Hallucinations in Theory and Clinical Practice" is a must-read for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of auditory hallucinations and their impact on the lives of those who experience them. The author, Izabela Stefaniak, leads the reader with extraordinary sensitivity and professionalism through the meanders of the human psyche, offering a new perspective on this complex phenomenon. This publication will certainly contribute to breaking stereotypes and raising awareness about mental health.