Supporting a client experiencing auditory or visual hallucinations can be one of the most challenging aspects of mental health work. Should you acknowledge the voices? Should you ignore them? How do you know if the “invisible conversation” is becoming dangerous?
In this 40-minute professional development session, we move past the clinical definitions and focus on the real-world skills needed to support clients safely and compassionately while they are experiencing hallucinations.
- No entry requirement
This session provides a practical roadmap for managing complex sensory experiences:
- Mapping the Voices: Not all hallucinations are the same. Learn to distinguish between “Friendly/Command” hallucinations and “Derogatory/Hostile” voices, and why the character of the voice changes your safety approach.
- The “Validation without Agreement” Technique: Master the art of acknowledging your client’s distress without confirming that the hallucinations are real.
- Decoding “Command” Cues: Learn the specific red flags that indicate a client is being told to harm themselves or others.
- The Threshold of Safety: Clear guidelines on when to stay and de-escalate versus when the “invisible conversation” has become a crisis requiring emergency intervention.
- Grounding Strategies: Practical tools to help a client “return” to the present moment and the physical environment.
Students must attend the training session.
By the end of this 40-minute session, you will be able to:
- Assess the emotional impact of a hallucination on a client in real-time.
- Communicate effectively with a client who is distracted by internal stimuli.
- Identify when a hallucination has crossed the line from “symptom” to “immediate risk,” requiring a call for help.
- Certificate of attainment
- Mental Health Support Workers
- NDIS Psychosocial Recovery Coaches
- Disability Support Workers in high-intensity environments
- Anyone supporting clients with Schizophrenia, Bipolar, or PTSD
Course Info
- Course Duration: 40 Minute
- Course Delivery: This program is delivered online.
- Total Course Fees: $39