Hearing voices (also called auditory hallucinations) refers to the phenomenon of hearing one or more voices that other people cannot perceive. These voices can sound very different—for example, like one’s own voice, the voice of someone familiar, or even completely unfamiliar or non-human. They may whisper, shout, speak inside our head, or sound just like any other person.

About 1 in 10 people hear such voices. Hearing voices is not necessarily a sign of mental illness. On the contrary, many people value their voices or at least do not find them disturbing. Only when the voices become distressing do we speak of a mental health condition. This occurs when the voices, for example, insult and belittle, urge us to do things we don’t want to do, or prevent us from living our daily lives as we wish. Such distressing voices are often accompanied by feelings of fear, helplessness, and shame, and they can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life.

In our study, we want to offer AVATAR therapy for the first time in Germany. AVATAR therapy is a therapy for hearing voices in the context of psychosis. The therapy has already been successfully applied in several studies. The treatment comprises several components. The core, however, is that people who suffer from voice hearing create an embodiment of their voice and then, with the support of a therapist, confront it in a dialog. So far, AVATAR has successfully helped other people to gain more control over their voices and reduce suffering.

The department of Digital Psychotherapy is one of the newest and most modern research departments here at the FBZ. Our aim is to use the unique possibilities of modern technology to improve the availability and effectiveness of psychotherapy for all. Our department is headed by Prof. Mar Rus-Calafell, an expert in the field of psychosis research and recent recipient of the prestigious Sofja Kovalevskaja Award (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation). The study and therapy coordinator is Melina Luker.