This information will be very unpopular we are sure.
But, it has to be said.
Because our job is to offer relief and safety and not create distress.
And, you only know what you know.
Here’s what the latest research and field studies do show, across psychology, environmental science, and parapsychology-adjacent work:
What people describe as “dark energy” almost always correlates with one (or more) measurable factors:• prolonged stress or trauma in occupants
• suggestion and expectation (priming) from watching YouTube shows about hauntings.
• poor sleep and circadian disruption
• infrasound, EMF irregularities, mould, or air quality issues
• unresolved grief or emotional charge tied to a location
When those are addressed, the “energy” often disappears — without rituals, mediums, or smoke.
That’s not dismissal.
That’s pattern recognition.
It happens more than anything nefarious from a ghostly or demonic perspective.
If you are unaware of how to deal with the people involved in the haunting then it is really important to educate yourself.
That is not to say that there are not unusual cases that do not fit the normal issues that can lead to people believing that they are involved in a haunted experience.
There are and we do understand that.
In most cases though, there is a combination of things happening and we are investigators owe it to our clients to be honest and thorough.
Now, about psychic mediums — this is where nuance matters.
Mediums can be useful, but not in the way people think.
The research-backed value of mediums (and this includes studies looking at anomalous cognition and counselling crossover) isn’t that they “remove” anything.
It’s that they:
• provide narrative closure
• reduce fear and uncertainty
• give people language for experiences they can’t articulate
• help individuals emotionally disengage from a perceived presence
When fear drops, activity drops.
Consistently.
That’s not magic — that’s human psychology regulating the environment.
Where mediums don’t help?
• When they reinforce fear
• When they label everything as dark, evil, or attached
• When they escalate the situation with drama or authority theatre ( those exist, watch YouTube to find them)
That can actually make things worse. And I’ve seen that happen more times than I care to count.
If you’re asking what genuinely works based on current understanding, it’s this:
✔ Change the emotional temperature of the space
✔ Restore a sense of control and safety
✔ Reduce environmental stressors
✔ Stop reinforcing the narrative of threat
✔ Ground the people involved — not the building
When those conditions shift, whatever people were experiencing either stops… or becomes manageable enough that it no longer matters.
So are mediums useful?
Sometimes — if they’re grounded, ethical, and understand their role is to calm, not conquer.
Are they necessary?
Almost never but they can have a great insight to add and I would not disregard them totally. A well educated medium can be an amazing asset as long as they are prepared to tell you what they are seeing or feeling without the ego issue of NEEDING to find a demon every single time.
And anyone promising guaranteed removal of “dark energy” is selling certainty where none exists — which is usually the biggest red flag of all.
You are most welcome to respond.
Again, our job is to quieten and ally the fears of the client and focus them towards the real problems that are occurring.
Written for Frightfully Good Paranormal by Renata Daniel.