Should Scientific Teams Handle Severe Residential Cases?

By far most paranormal investigation teams are science based and looking for proof of the paranormal. Part of this may be because of all the TV shows, and many just emulate these techniques and theories. The one good thing TV has done for this field is it has brought paranormal to the mainstream. It has made it much easier for the general public to talk about experiences, letting go some of the taboo.

On the other hand, if a family or individual is having an issue with paranormal activity in their home; the list of teams, researchers and investigators to sift through is now enormous. Some teams have experience while others do not. Some are purely technical and can only offer proof of a clients claim, while others use spiritual and/or psychics and mediums to try and help resolve the haunting. So how does a member of the general public choose a team for help? Should they automatically think the teams on TV are experts and ask them for help? This is a problem I feel can damage the credibility of our field in the long run.

Coming from a family involved with helping others with the paranormal on a spiritual level (even before "paranormal investigating" was a term). I seriously question the morality of purely technical teams (and those with little experience) getting involved with residential cases in which the family or individual is frightened. Or the nature of the haunting is negative. In these cases what can a purely technical team provide as a positive outcome to help the family? They can capture evidence to validate the clients claims, but how is that going to help with the problem of dealing with the haunting? The family or individual is still scared and has to live in the environment.

I feel it's almost like telling the family "Well, thanks for not lying about your experiences here, and thanks for this evidence we now get to keep and use to promote ourselves. Good luck with that." This has even been portrayed on TV shows, where a family has to go through multiple teams before they find one who can actually help them. This is why unity in our field is absolutely essential...

I'm not saying technical teams should never be involved with residential cases. But I do believe it is paramount if you are a purely technical team, to network with other teams who either have more experience and contacts, or have spiritual tools that may be able to resolve a haunting. I personally wish that paranormal investigating would shift from the objective of proof, to understanding the causes and nature of this phenomena. That might not make great TV, but the focus of an outcome should be on helping others living or deceased, before anything else.

Fate of the Paranormal Field

A thought came to me recently that I feel very moved to share, even though some may not agree with what I have to say. But regardless, looking at the current path of the paranormal field I think this deserves some attention.

Due to the countless charlatans, fakes, and frauds, those of us with "psychic" abilities are all lumped into one group and discounted by the majority of society. This stands true even by many in the paranormal field. We can ask for no money, uphold a solid reputation, and have the greatest of intentions to help others, but the negative stigma surrounding all psychics is still there.

With the ever growing trend of fraudulent paranormal teams; over time this fate is destined to befall the paranormal field as well. Just as it is with psychics, it won't matter how experienced, skilled, or ethical you portray yourself. The air of distrust will loom over everyone involved in the field. The mudslinging between rival groups calling each other fake, not for ethical reasons, but jealousy, just adds to this as well. Just as it has happened with psychics, it will appear that everyone is just trying to make money by getting on TV and/or becoming famous. Do we really want greed to be seen as the main motivation behind what we all do? The TV craze will eventually fade away, and those of us that love this field will want to continue our work... but by then, what credibility will be left?

For myself, like many others in the psychic community, we have to live most of our lives with a taboo of even talking about our heightened senses with most of society. No matter what we do or how righteous our intentions, we still have to endure notions of being "fake", "frauds", or even "crazy". For those of you involved in the paranormal field, no matter how scientific and technical your practices, these terms may become the bulk of society's impression of you as well. Though it would be quite ironic for those involved in the paranormal field who bash psychics to see what it's like to be treated that way... But investigators have the option of walking away from the field, psychics cannot walk away from what we are.

If this field becomes completely discredited, and all paranormal investigators and researchers are treated much the same as the psychic community, how many of you will remain involved? I'm sure there will be a mass exodus from the field and only a fraction of those involved today will stand up to the constant scrutiny. I'm not saying this will be an overnight process, but with the current state of the field and the direction we are heading, I can see things beginning to spiral out of control.