Humane Clinic Psychotherapy Collective

04/11/2025

Altered states or 'psychosis' are always written about in the MH industry as states that should be changed or got rid of. This reductionist position only exists in century old constructs that have served the discourse of those in moral authority.

Whenever I read on LinkedIn or other sites about psychosis, there is an underlying, even when not overt, sense that 'we just know' about psychosis. This is disempowering and at odds with the rhetoric of compassionate modern discourse of shiny organisations.

Imagine the emancipation, responsibility and freedom that would be available to all if we could shift from the underlying, unsubstantiated religious style ideology about psychosis.

In reality we might observe and value the following reality:

'There is a need for a paradigm shift that sees an alternative reality as a primary function to resist nihilation, rather than being classified as an illness. This allows us not to have “goals” or consider “treatment” and allows the person to be seen as functionally responding to unconscious threat of nihilation. It places the “psychotic” person as having the same basic human insecurity, and response, that is shared and navigated by all beings...

Interconnectedness, that occurs through the process of growth within a loving, nongoal–orientated relationship, leads to a negation of the need for an altered state to exist to defend the threat of nihilation in the person experiencing “psychosis,” and the person in a “nonpsychotic” state to resist the attempt to change the legitimate reality the other person is experiencing. The ensuing changes to the liminal space occupied by a person said to be in a “psychotic” state, when being together in a coexisting same experience, can lead to mutual growth and the evaporation of the so labelled “psychotic” state. This demonstrates the “psychotic” experience is more consistent with a dissociative response to threat in relationship and could be reframed as a “Dissociachotic”—a form of dissociation that has been mislabelled as a unique condition of “psychosis” due to its specific representation of creating safety for a person experiencing threat in relationship.' (Ball & Picot, 2023)

04/11/2025

Just Listening is a relational non-medical therapeutic approach, which emphasizes human connection

Open today and each weekday 10am - 4pm

If you, or someone you love, would value connection, compassion and professional support in a moment of isolation, distress or crisis this free service is available today - No appointment needed, just walk in for immediate support.

We especially welcome those in psychotic or suicidal distress - come and find compassionate connection.

We provide an alternative to other mental health supports.

29 Shepherd Road, Christies beach 5165

Humane Clinic Psychotherapy Collective

02/11/2025

Be welcomed in moments of distress, need for connection or any important narrative to be shared.

Be welcomed when you arrived and welcomed to return as often as you need.

Professional therapeutic support in community.

Just Listening Therapeutic Community:

Open Weekdays 10am - 4pm

Free - No referral needed - Walk in

This is a different approach 💚💚💚

Humane Clinic Psychotherapy Collective port noarlunga south & surrounding suburbs community page Aldinga Community and Surrounds Rotary Club of SeafordHackham West Community Centre Christie Downs Community House fans Walkbeside Su***de Prevention Network Marion Adelaide S.A. ABC Adelaide Mental Health Professionals' Network City of Onkaparinga Onkaparinga Compassionate Communities Community Health Onkaparinga

02/11/2025

We are preparing to share more information about the Just Listening: World Hearing Voices Congress - Noarlunga, South Australia 13-15th Sept 2026.

We have locked in some beautiful humans to come and be part of hosting the space and just checking with a few more that they can come and join us. From US, Europe, Australia and hopefully further afield.

As we prepare to facilitate a community for 3 days seeking to offer justice to each voice and narrative, we are reflecting on the non pathologising / non mental health system wisdom that is inherent in the Hearing Voices experience.

From the paper 'Hearing Voices' (1987): The congress itself was held in a large labor union meeting building not connected physically or administratively to any psychiatric or even medical institution."

Hearing Voices is a common human experience. In recent years, hearing voices approaches have become entwined in MH industry money in Australia. Congress in 2026 will invite all and anyone, but with a focus on hearing voices not being a symptom or sign of any illness, but a narrative that represents a common human reality that any one of us might experience.

More info to be released soon 💚💚💚. Hope to see you in 2026.

Australian Hearing Voices Network Intervoice: The International Hearing Voices Movement Humane Clinic Psychotherapy Collective

31/10/2025

'Love not Labels'

If you would like to be met as an equal human in your community, especially in times of distress, we would welcome you to visit Just Listening Therapeutic Community.

Perhaps you know the experience of hearing voices or other realities that are often referred to as psychosis? You would be welcome here to come and be listened to in justice and compassion. Perhaps you know a wonderful human who knows this distress and would like a compassionate response?

Therapeutic Community can be understood to acknowledge the value in all people who are present contributing to the wellbeing of one another. It is a different approach to mental health.

This professional led service is available:

10am-4pm Weekdays

Walk in - No appointment needed

No referral required

Anonymous if you prefer

No wait times

Immediate connection

29 Beach Road, Christies Beach 5165.

This service is provided free thanks to the generous support of people in our community.

Chris Picton MP Mental Health Commissioner for South Australia Adelaide PHN Human Services SA Christie Downs Community House Hackham West Community Centre Amanda Rishworth MP City of Onkaparinga fans
Humane Clinic Psychotherapy Collective

27/10/2025

If you have ever wanted to find a place of love, kindness and compassion rather than assessment, diagnosis and medication, when you are in a state of distress… then Just Listening Therapeutic Community is here and available to you.
Open Monday - Friday 10am-4pm
No referral, free service, anonymous.

If you experience voices, psychosis, suicidal or other emotional distress - you are welcome here.

Just Listening a complete alternative to systems based mental health supports.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

You are welcome to come along with a friend, family or supporter if that is of value to you. All welcome.

Humane Clinic Psychotherapy Collective
***de

24/10/2025

We are so grateful to be part of the emerging and evolving Just Listening Therapeutic Community as the folk who make this community begin to arrive.

Additionally, we are spending time in London having introduced JL to over 250 people there.
In 2026 we will be running a train the trainer program in London with the aim of training 2000 staff across an entire network.

Beautiful to see what's already happening with Just Listening in London, especially by GP friends.

Although potentially the common practice of many professionals, the nuance and intention of GP's using in JL in London is wonderful.

Even a chronic pain clinic using Just Listening under a GP lead.

Case study: supporting a distressed older adult through Just Listening at their GP Practice -

A GP had an appointment with a 90-year-old woman living alone with a history of psychosis. During their first meeting, she shared distressing beliefs involving surveillance and harm, which she attributed to external forces. Rather than offering medication, a common clinical response, the clinician chose to simply listen, respecting her wish to avoid treatment.

The woman returned for follow-up visits, each time engaging in brief sessions where she was heard without judgement or intervention. Over time, she expressed gratitude and continued to share her thoughts, many of which remained delusional. With her consent, a neighbour confirmed the positive impact of these interactions.

Thanks to Just Listening training, the GP felt confident in offering compassionate presence without escalating to services the patient did not want. A trained coach was later invited to provide additional support, allowing the clinician to maintain oversight while reducing the frequency of visits.

This approach prevented unnecessary referrals and honoured the patient’s autonomy: demonstrating how Just Listening can be a powerful tool in primary care.

See more about what the plans for Just Listening in London:

https://healthcarecentrallondon.co.uk/just-listening/

First research publication here with more to come: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40873512/

An exciting time. Some frustration delivering services with such a small budget, but probably makes the human connection all the more special.

Home grown South Australian group, having local and international impact 💚

Humane Clinic Psychotherapy Collective Mental Health Commissioner for South Australia Chris Picton MP Katrine Hildyard MP Moira Were Mayor City of Onkaparinga National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

23/10/2025

22/10/2025

You are welcome to visit Just Listening Therapeutic Community today and each weekday if you would like to access compassionate, free and community based therapeutic support.

Open 10am - 4pm weekdays

No referral required - Free service - anonymous if required.

16/10/2025

Open today and each weekday - 10am - 4 pm

Based at 29 Shepherd Road, Christies Beach, SA

At Just Listening Therapeutic Community we will meet you with compassion and connection and community. We will not refer you to another service, we will offer you immediate support when you arrive. Just Listening offers a different approach and response to emotional distress - one based in mutuality, kindness and love.

No referral needed
Free service to access
Any member of community can visit
Walk in service

Just Listening Community offers an alternative community based, professionally delivered service for people in psychotic, suicidal or other distress.

Mental Health Commissioner for South AustraliaMental Health Coalition of South Australia National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum Carer GatewayCarers SA Adelaide PHN Fay Fuller Foundation Humane Clinic Psychotherapy Collective Human Services SA Preventive Health SA Christie Downs Community House Hackham West Community Centre Women's Information Service Southern Domestic Violence Action Group Hutt St Centre headspace Onkaparinga Katrine Hildyard MP Chris Picton MP

16/10/2025

Great to see this wonderful book in its new edition.
This book has had a massive impact on the work of Humane Clinic and in a part of the local health service (before bizarrely a medical psychiatrist decided to lead the hearing voices approach!).

We would recommend this book to voice hearers, families and loved ones, professionals and any other person interested in the common human experience of hearing voices, and an alternative approach to drugs,diagnosis and hospital.

Available in paperback and ebook.

https://www.pccs-books.co.uk/products/making-sense-of-hearing-voices-a-practical-aid