In Conversation With: Anders Sørensen, Crossing Zero
2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Zoom
Crossing Zero: Psychosis, Trauma, and Coming Off Antipsychotics – In conversation with Anders Sørensen and Jacqui Dillon Hosted by ISPS UK.
What if psychosis isn’t a disease to be suppressed or managed, but a story to be understood? What if extreme states can be explained entirely through psychological and social – not biological – mechanisms? Join psychologist and researcher Anders Sørensen, PhD, in conversation with Jacqui Dillon, for a powerful dialogue on trauma-informed, non-pathologizing approaches to psychosis – and how to safely navigate withdrawal from antipsychotic medication through hyperbolic tapering.
Despite decades of widespread prescribing, most clinicians receive little to no formal training in how to safely discontinue so-called antipsychotics. Clinical guidelines often detail when to start medication but rarely how to stop – even though long-term use carries well-documented risks, from metabolic and neurological adverse effects to emotional and cognitive blunting.
At the same time, emerging research reveals that withdrawal symptoms from antipsychotics are common, can be severe, and are frequently misinterpreted as relapse due to a overlap in symptoms. This confusion perpetuates unnecessary long-term treatment and misunderstanding of what psychosis – and recovery – truly are.
In this live conversation, Anders Sørensen, a Danish psychologist and researcher specializing in psychiatric drug withdrawal and psychotherapy for severe cases, joins Jacqui Dillon, survivor, activist, and author, to explore:

How to understand psychosis through a psychosocial, trauma-informed, and relational lens rather than a pathologizing one.
What so-called antipsychotic drugs actually do – and don’t do – to the brain and mind.
How to safely reduce or discontinue antipsychotics using evidence-based hyperbolic tapering principles.
How to differentiate between withdrawal reactions and genuine relapse, and how to support people through either.
How coming off medication is not the end of treatment, but the beginning of true healing.

Further information about Crossing Zero can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/8797625906
For details and registration, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-conversation-with-anders-srensen-crossing-zero-tickets-1965114796255
Please contact events@ispsuk.org with any queries.

Family & Friends Group
2025-12-11 18:30 - 20:00
ISPS UK are delighted to introduce a free online group for family members and friends of people with lived experience of ‘psychosis’. Helping to care for someone who has experienced or is experiencing psychosis can be challenging, confusing and emotionally draining. And dealing with mainstream mental health services can be often make things worse, leaving you feeling frustrated and exhausted. At ISPS UK we recognise that the particular needs and concerns of friends and family members are often overlooked in the urgency of a crisis situation; we also know how important it is to be heard and to feel supported. This journaling group will offer a space in which to explore the issues that are relevant to friends/family members, and to connect with others who have had similar experiences. Facilitated by ISPS UK Trustees Julia Macintosh and Jen Kilyon.

How do I get involved?

This group is free to attend for ISPS UK members. Non-members can attend for a £5 donation per session. Please get in touch in cases of financial hardship if you want to participate.

For details and registration, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-friends-group-tickets-1349599671949

Please contact events@ispsuk.org with any queries.

Raising Our Consciousness: Lived Experience Reflective Group
2025-12-17 18:30 - 20:00
This monthly reflective group is a space for people with lived experience of ‘psychosis’ to get together and explore the ideas, beliefs, values and philosophies we use to explain and make sense of our lived experience of distress and ‘psychosis’. Facilitated by ISPS Trustees Neil Caton and Jacqui Dillon.
How do I get involved?

This group is free to attend for ISPS UK members. Non-members can attend for a £5 donation per session. Please get in touch in cases of financial hardship if you want to participate.

For details and registration, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/raising-our-consciousness-lived-experience-reflective-group-tickets-1349583162569

Please contact events@ispsuk.org with any queries.

Raising Our Consciousness: Lived Experience Reflective Group
2026-01-28 18:30 - 20:00
This monthly reflective group is a space for people with lived experience of ‘psychosis’ to get together and explore the ideas, beliefs, values and philosophies we use to explain and make sense of our lived experience of distress and ‘psychosis’. Facilitated by ISPS Trustee Neil Caton and guest facilitator Dina Poursanidou.
How do I get involved?

This group is free to attend for ISPS UK members. Non-members can attend for a £5 donation per session. Please get in touch in cases of financial hardship if you want to participate.

For details and registration, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/raising-our-consciousness-lived-experience-reflective-group-tickets-1981115468697

Please contact events@ispsuk.org with any qeries.

Family & Friends Group
2026-02-12 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-03-12 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-04-16 18:30 - 20:00
ISPS UK are delighted to introduce a free online group for family members and friends of people with lived experience of ‘psychosis’. Helping to care for someone who has experienced or is experiencing psychosis can be challenging, confusing and emotionally draining. And dealing with mainstream mental health services can be often make things worse, leaving you feeling frustrated and exhausted. At ISPS UK we recognise that the particular needs and concerns of friends and family members are often overlooked in the urgency of a crisis situation; we also know how important it is to be heard and to feel supported. This journaling group will offer a space in which to explore the issues that are relevant to friends/family members, and to connect with others who have had similar experiences. Facilitated by ISPS UK Trustees Julia Macintosh and Jen Kilyon.

How do I get involved?

This group is free to attend for ISPS UK members. Non-members can attend for a £5 donation per session. Please get in touch in cases of financial hardship if you want to participate.

For details and registration, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-friends-group-tickets-1981162910597

Please contact events@ispsuk.org with any queries.

Raising Our Consciousness: Lived Experience Reflective Group
2026-02-25 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-03-25 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-04-22 18:30 - 20:00
This monthly reflective group is a space for people with lived experience of ‘psychosis’ to get together and explore the ideas, beliefs, values and philosophies we use to explain and make sense of our lived experience of distress and ‘psychosis’. Facilitated by ISPS Trustee Neil Caton and guest facilitator Dina Poursanidou.
How do I get involved?

This group is free to attend for ISPS UK members. Non-members can attend for a £5 donation per session. Please get in touch in cases of financial hardship if you want to participate.

For details and registration, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/raising-our-consciousness-lived-experience-reflective-group-tickets-1981115468697

Please contact events@ispsuk.org with any queries.

Member's Networking Event: Creating Common Ground
2026-03-18 18:30 - 20:00
We’re thrilled to invite all ISPS UK members to an online networking event to get to know one another better, learn more about ISPS UK’s work and vision for the future, share your stories and feedback with trustees, and connect with members across our network – workers, carers, family & friends and those with lived experience all welcome!

We want to work with our members to create an active network of allies, empowering each of us to do meaningful work in our own areas and make a bigger difference together. We look forward to seeing you there!

Discussion topics this quarter:

TBC

For details and registration, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/isps-uk-members-networking-meeting-tickets-1981163496349

Please contact events@ispsuk.org with any queries.
