Psychic Services: Buyer Beware
This week’s news included a story of a US man who is suing a psychic. The psychic’s website advertises her services as a “psychic love specialist” and Ph.D. life coach. Her credentials engendered his confidence. The suit alleges that the psychic promised to remove a curse but did not do so. His ex-girlfriend had hired a witch to curse his marriage, and he had paid $1,000 of the $5,100 requested to the psychic, who promised to save his marriage by exorcising the spell. According to the psychic, if he did not lift the curse, he and his family would be unhappy and in danger. He is now seeking $25,000 for damages, including negligence, civil conspiracy, and infliction of emotional distress. He found that her services did not help his marriage, and he suffered from sleepless nights, anxiety, and anguish.
Okay, but really? Come on now. Clearly, the psychic oversold herself, and the client was naïve. Personally, I believe there is a place for intuition and otherworldly exploration. However, we need to be aware that there are no guarantees. Don’t believe false advertising that offers 100% accurate readings. Some psychics are more gifted than others, and some are patently scammers. If I read of a psychic who is highly qualified, trained, and experienced, I wonder what standard they are using to make this claim. If I read about 100% accurate readings and predictions, I call foul.
The psychic services industry includes fortune-telling, energy healers, aura reading, mediumship, tarot card reading, astrology, palmistry, and other metaphysical services. It’s a very long list of practitioners who use different modalities.
I am one of 22% of US adults who has consulted a psychic or medium. I had a Magic 8-ball and an Ouija board as an adolescent. I’ve had tarot readings and consulted with mediums as an adult. I’m not alone. One-third of people in the US believe they’ve had some sort of psychic experience, more often women (40%) than men (29%). And 38% of US adults have had the feeling of a spirit sometime in their lifetime. Nearly half of US adults (47%) think that most people who advertise as psychics or mediums are fakes. Individuals over the age of 55 are more skeptical than other age groups about the authenticity of those who claim to have special powers. The psychic service industry grew over the past five years, reaching over $2.2 billion in revenue in 2018 from activities like readings and public talks. The stress of the Covid pandemic, rising unemployment, and financial constraints spurred many clients to turn to psychic services.
Why do we do it? Sometimes, it’s just fun. Or we may seek advice during uncertain times. We want hope. It can be a self-care tool and a means of coping with distress. Psychic services can be utilized as a tool for self-reflection. Some psychics are now working in the general field of wellness, calling themselves “intuitives” or “intuitive healers,” who channel “energy” that helps people discover what they want out of life. Some are focused on teaching people how to trust their own intuition.
A variety of local and state laws restrict fortune-telling, require the licensing or bonding of fortune-tellers, or make necessary the use of terminology that avoids the term “fortune teller” in favor of terms such as “spiritual advisor” or “psychic consultant.” Some laws outright forbid the practice in certain districts.
What’s the harm? A large amount of fraud has occurred in the practice. It is dismissed by the scientific community and skeptics as being based on magical thinking and superstition. There are many religions and communities that regard all things “occult” as something evil, dangerous, unpredictable, and something to be feared. Furthermore, there are many skeptics who are scientifically credentialed, who give no credence whatsoever to anyone claiming to have any gifts in the psychic industry.
Rose Alexander (everydayhealth.com) warns that mental health and medical problems are best treated by a licensed professional. She recommends that you report fraudulent claims or unprofessional behavior to the Better Business Bureau. Take a friend with you and compare notes afterward. Don’t let yourself be persuaded to buy supplemental items such as candles or talismans unless you believe they are needed. Don’t pay exorbitant rates to a psychic medium, especially for questionable services. Don’t say a lot about yourself or answer any questions; let the psychic do the talking. And don’t be led to believe things about yourself or others without supporting facts.
If you have mental health struggles and take comfort in psychic readings or tarot or some other form of metaphysical exploration, I recommend that you also see a therapist regularly and take medication if warranted. You don’t have to choose between readings, professional therapy, and medication. It’s not a replacement for therapy but could complement it. As with any treatment, psychic exploration will help some people and not help others. The litmus test is simple: Does it make you feel better? Is it helpful? If not, it’s not for you.