Morin: What do the traits of the voices indicate?

Corstens: They help us understand what problems these voices represent. A lot of it has to do with Marie being rejected, having no self-confidence, and not being able to make decisions herself. We try to find out when these voices started. In her case, they started when she was 27 and had final exams at university. But, it was all related to the divorce of her parents when she was six, and witnessing violence at home—being bullied, etcetera. All these things come back in the voices.

Morin: You mean that she internalized some of the people in her life?

Corstens: Well, they don’t have names, but we try to find out who these voices represent. The stepfather resembles one of the booing guys, another is a sister, another is an imaginary friend.

Morin: So, it’s a form of relationship therapy as well?

Corstens: Yes.

Michel: It really is. [Dr. Corstens and I] started to work with each other five years ago, or more. I was around 20 years old. It took about two years of work to actually figure out what the relationships were, what the triggers for the voices were, and what feelings are coupled to these voices. Once you start to learn to express yourself and work out these problems on your own, the voices don’t have to act out their part. Now, when I hear voices, I know what triggered them. I ask, “What is happening with me? What am I neglecting in my own emotions?” Does that make sense?

Morin: Because you recognize the voices are a part of yourself?

Michel: Yes. I used to experience them as different entities—not part of me. Now, I actually believe they are just a part of me I have to deal with.

Morin: Can you describe these voices?

Michel: The earliest voice started out as a drill sergeant—very strict, very dominant. I was about six years old. Later on, he developed into a really aggressive shouting voice when I started abusing drugs and alcohol. It got to a point where I couldn’t function well. He was constantly shouting, “You have to hurt yourself! You have to hurt other people!”

Then there is a second voice that came later on. He is actually not bad—actually quite positive. He doesn’t have a name, because in his opinion, a name doesn’t matter. He showed me certain options—certain things I could do to change my situation. He made me realize that I needed to stop drinking and taking drugs.

There is also another voice who would just scream some word and be gone. I call him “El Gringo”: the stranger. I don’t know who or what he is, and I did not understand what it meant. Later on, I would realize that it was triggered by a certain situation.

Morin: Who do you associate the voices with?

Michel: The aggressive dominant voice reminds me of my free-fight instructor. I associate with his anger when people hurt my feelings or when I don’t set my boundaries. The supporting voice is more like a grandfather, and he helps me when I’m in dilemmas. The third one, I really don’t know. The only thing he does is to stimulate me to start thinking outside of the box. He’s someone who helps you explore and seek things out.