In recent years, research has begun to explore the psychological effects of sensing the presence of deceased loved ones, including experiences facilitated by psychic mediums. These occurrences, often referred to as “after-death communication,” have been shown to provide emotional relief and aid in coping with grief.
A growing body of evidence suggests that a significant proportion of bereaved individuals—estimated to be around 60 percent—report sensory or quasi-sensory experiences of those they have lost. These experiences may include auditory or visual perceptions, a sense of presence, or even olfactory cues. While skeptics frequently dismiss such phenomena as hallucinations or illusions, grief therapists focus on their potential therapeutic value rather than their supernatural validity.
Studies conducted across various countries involving thousands of participants have found that people who sense contact with deceased loved ones often describe such encounters as emotionally restorative. A comprehensive review of 14 psychological studies, encompassing more than 1,900 subjects, reinforced the notion that these experiences contribute to individuals’ ability to manage grief and find comfort amid loss.
Despite the positive effects reported, many individuals who undergo these experiences express hesitation in discussing them openly. Fear of being dismissed or stigmatized often leads to silence, a concern echoed in mental health circles where some professionals may inadvertently undermine these experiences. Historical and contemporary psychological frameworks have sometimes categorized these perceptions as “hallucinations,” a classification that continues to influence attitudes toward bereavement phenomena.
Nonetheless, clinical practitioners have increasingly adopted an agnostic stance toward the objective reality of after-death communication. Instead, they prioritize the impact these experiences have on their patients’ emotional well-being. For example, Dr. J. Kim Penberthy of the University of Virginia recounted a case in which a patient grieving intensely found solace following a meditation session that elicited what he described as a visitation from his deceased spouse. The therapist emphasized that the significance lay in the therapeutic outcome rather than the literal truth of the experience.
Innovative therapeutic techniques are also emerging. A 2023 study in Adelaide, Australia, involving 43 participants utilized a form of treatment called Induced After-Death Communication. This therapy, adapted from Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), encouraged patients to engage with profound grief through controlled sensory stimuli. Nearly 80 percent of participants reported sensing the presence of the deceased during sessions, with many noting a marked decrease in sadness afterward. Lead researcher Dr. Tom Nehmy described the approach as a powerful and rapid intervention for severe grief.
Similarly, Italian psychologist Fabio D’Antoni highlighted that experiences of sensing the deceased during therapy can facilitate what is understood as a transformation—rather than an end—of relationships after death. He observed resistance within the psychological community to fully embracing these encounters, attributing it to prevailing demands for strict empirical explanations that ignore the nuanced emotional realities of grief.
While the field acknowledges the existence of fraudulent practitioners exploiting vulnerable individuals, some advocates emphasize that many mediums operate in good faith and that acknowledgment of continued relational bonds with the deceased may hold genuine therapeutic potential. Bob Ginsberg, whose daughter died in 2002, has been involved in supporting grief communities and promoting vetted mediums, citing his own experiences of continued contact as instrumental in managing his loss.
Notably, those who engage with these phenomena often report subtle signs and moments that carry personal meaning, whether through unusual animal sightings or unexpected symbolic coincidences, which provide comfort and a sense of connection beyond finality.
As research advances, mental health professionals are increasingly encouraged to adopt open, nonjudgmental attitudes toward these experiences. The focus is shifting toward understanding their role in healing, regardless of whether they are grounded in empirical reality, with the ultimate goal of aiding individuals in navigating the complex process of mourning.