A Phenomenological Study on Participation Experience in the Hearing Voice Group Program for Individuals with Schizophrenia

The purpose of this study was to explore participation experience in the Hearing Voice Group program for individuals with schizophrenia. To do this, in-depth interviews were conducted with five individuals with schizophrenia who had participation experience in the Hearing Voice Group, and the data were analyzed using Giorgi’s phenomenological research method. As a result of data analysis, the experiences of individuals with schizophrenia who had participation experience in the Hearing Voice Group program were categorized into 20 meaningful units, 10 sub-themes, and five main themes. The five main themes derived from this study were ‘my story I could not share with others’, ‘my story that is accepted without prejudice’, ‘healing through talking’, ‘confidence in my life’, and ‘the life goal I want to share with others as a proactive individual.’ Centered around these themes, the essential meaning of the experience of participating in the Hearing Voice Group program, which is ‘coexistence’ was revealed. Based on these research findings, this study discussed practical and policy implications for social welfare aimed at the recovery of individuals with schizophrenia.