Experience focussed counselling with voice hearers: towards a trans-diagnostic key to understanding past and current distress. A thematic enquiry

As it is increasingly evident that distressing voices can be linked to traumatic events across diagnoses, there is a need for new transdiagnostic interventions for persons with voice hearing related distress. Twenty-five interviews with voice hearers and mental health professionals explored the trans-diagnostic suitability of Experience Focussed Counselling (EFC) compared to Treatment As Usual. An Applied Thematic Analysis was used. Themes identified were: intervention applicability; impact of regular treatment before study; impact of EFC process; process of working with voices; impact of regular treatment during study; views on treatment or approach. The EFC focus was considered helpful across diagnoses. The findings support EFC as a transdiagnostic intervention.