title: The speaker behind the voice: therapeutic practice from the perspective of pragmatic theory.
abstract: Many attempts at understanding auditory verbal hallucinations have tried to explain why there is an auditory experience in the absence of an appropriate stimulus. We suggest that many instance of voice-hearing should be approached differently. More specifically, they could be viewed primarily as hallucinated acts of communication, rather than hallucinated sounds. We suggest that this change of perspective is reflected in, and helps to explain, the successes of two recent therapeutic techniques. These two techniques are: Relating Therapy for Voices and Avatar Therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Philosophy, Durham University Durham, UK.
authors.forename: Felicity
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deamer
authors.affiliation: Department of Philosophy, Durham University Durham, UK.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
keywords: avatar therapy; communication; pragmatics; psychosis; relating therapy; voice-hearing