October 26, 2006

Local psychotherapist investigates things that go bump in the night

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Ever felt the presence of a deceased loved one? Taken a photograph and an unusual light appears that wasn’t there? Many believe the apparition is real, others question their sanity, but all will never forget the experience.

This photo was taken in a house in Santa Clara under repair. A second photo was taken immediately after with the “ghosts” leaving the area. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

San Jose psychotherapist Dr. Margaret Cochran estimates that 30 percent to 40 percent of the population claims to have had this type of experience. She has counseled approximately 50 clients who have shared “ghost stories” with her since she started her practice in 1981.

“They come to me with a problem in their marriage or childhood or some other issue and during the course of counseling they will share an experience of seeing, smelling, or whispering by a ghost,” said Dr. Cochran. “They are embarrassed to talk about it but it is a very normal experience and very powerful.”

“A person’s reaction to the experience of seeing a ghost really depends on their own boggle threshold—in other words, how predisposed they are to accepting the unexpected. However, even those who have a low boggle threshold often experience concern that they are ‘going crazy’ or at least begin to question their preconceived notions of mortality, life after death, religion and so on,” added Dr. Cochran.

“My Chinese mother-in-law lived in the same small apartment for years,” said Mary Chiao. “She had bound feet and moved with a particular shuffle. My niece lived with her and took care of her. After my mother-in-law died, my daughter and I stayed with my niece in the same apartment. In the middle of the night I heard my mother-in-law shuffling around the kitchen. It didn’t bother me. In fact, it was rather comforting. I knew what it was. When I mentioned it to my niece the next day, she said she often hears her grandmother in the kitchen moving around.”

This is not uncommon. Many people admit to “seeing, hearing and being touched” by recently departed loved ones. Their presence is made known by apparitions, smell, touch or “just a feeling” and many carried messages from the beyond.

“My mother-in-law bonked me on the head one morning,” said Terry Sanislo-Williams. “I saw bright lights and she said to me ‘he’s yours now.’ My husband came in and told me she had just died. I wasn’t afraid; I knew who it was and what she was telling me.”

Dr. Cochran estimates that 90 percent of those who have seen a ghost will eventually view it positively. These clients’ fears of death lessen and they are more open to new experiences. If loneliness was an issue, they feel reassured by the idea of loved ones who have passed away being closer to them than they imagined.

One case involved a client’s concern of her daughter’s diagnosis of Type II diabetes and a message from beyond. She awoke from sleep with a pull on her big toe and saw her Uncle George standing at the foot of the bed in the windbreaker he always wore. “I need to tell you everything will be fine,” said the apparition of her beloved family member. She told him he was dead and he said, “I know.” She woke up her husband and told him what happened and he said he thought she was crazy. But later her daughter obtained a second opinion. The original diagnosis was inaccurate due to a lab error.

“I’m a skeptic, but you have to look at the evidence,” said Dr. Cochran. “Matter deteriorates but energy doesn’t. Most people realize that life is eternal after such an experience and become more loving.”

Dr. Cochran says first all other possible explanations must be ruled out that could cause a perceived mystical experience: drug use, schizophrenia, certain medical conditions, etc. The science journal “Nature” recently published results that said that stimulating part of the brain could generate the sensation of an unwelcome presence. Each time neurologists applied a mild current to an area called the left tempo parietal junction [close to the left ear], the patient who suffered from no known psychiatric disorder, said she felt the presence of a mystery person.

Dr. Cochran recommends individuals who think they’ve seen a ghost to take stock of how the situation is affecting them.

“First, you should know that it’s highly unlikely that you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness,” said Dr. Cochran. “If you continue to feel uneasy about the experience, you may want to consider seeing a professional in order to help you process and understand it.”