"Research suggests one in four of the population will hear voices at some point in their lives.

"Most people in modern society associate it with mental illness, but not everyone shares this view."

"It is important not to underestimate the distress that hearing voices can cause, not just for the person experiencing this, but also to family members.

"Treatment for psychosis has been aimed at the complete elimination of the voices people hear, but this may not always be the solution.

"People who hear voices often hear more than one. Not all are destructive and some may be helpful.

"My research found that rather than ignoring voices, engagement and dialogue are helpful. There is a view that discussing delusional material is somehow colluding with the person about the voices they hear.

"The psychosis can be a metaphor for their life, so if someone is saying they have been abducted by aliens it may not be best to argue with them, but it is more helpful to talk to them about being frightened and how they can feel more safe and in control of their lives."