LAUSR

INTRODUCTION Hearing voices is a common and distressing symptom of First-Episode Psychosis. Formal and informal conversations about voices are helpful, but service users within Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Services can be reluctant to discuss their voice hearing experiences. There is currently no literature that explores the experiences of EIP practitioners as they try to facilitate conversations about distressing voices. AIM/QUESTION A qualitative methodology was used to investigate how EIP practitioners work with service users who hear voices. Ten practitioners were interviewed, and interviews were analysed using template analysis. RESULTS Two themes that offer novel insights are presented: "starting a conversation about voices" and "continuing the conversation about voices". DISCUSSION Starting and continuing a conversation about voices was considered important but not all practitioners were confident in this respect. The initiation and continuation of these conversations may need to be systematically supported. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE To support the initiation of informal conversations, a standardised interview guide for voice hearing could be introduced and systematically utilised. The continuation of these conversations could be supported by practitioners being given the opportunity to receive training in and the opportunity to deliver brief symptom-specific therapies for distressing voices.