How do we determine reality? Determining reality involves a process of knowing. And more than one exists. But what does this mean for the study of UFOs? Should we resort to just one epistemological approach? Or should we apply more than one? One for Investigating the-nuts-and-bolts. Another for investigating, say, a close encounter of the 4th kind? Neither is wrong. And together they can help both sides draw closer to the mystery that lies beyond. Unfortunately, this is not happening. Instead, one side--you guess which--insists that its preferred working definition of reality be utilized to investigate anything related to UFOs. A big mistake, indeed! One that has a terrible name with an equally terrible reputation.

Unusual Phenomena can sound and sometimes look like psychosis. But that doesn't mean it is! Anomalous experiences do have strange components to it, but the process and outcome far exceed a typical psychotic episode. Here, you learn to make a difference between the two. Join me for another evolving exploration.

Mass Hallucination. Sounds rather sophisticated. But is it a legitimate explanation for two, ten, or a hundred people experiencing the same encounter, be it an apparition or UFO? It will not take long to see that mass hallucination is a stretch. This episode is in honor of partners, friends, and communities locally and around the world who witnessed something that has yet to be explained but, nevertheless, felt dismissed when they shared an account of unusual phenomena.

People often use terms they're not familiar with to interpret the experiencer of an unusual phenomenon. Just another way of telling someone who has encountered a genuine Other "You're crazy." In this episode, we look at what is the nature of psychosis and how it differentiates from a psychotic episode deriving from a state of mania, schizophrenia, or some other psychotic mood disorder. We'll even look at Brief Reactive Psychotic Disorder, something often used to pathologize an experiencer. Only when you find out how it came to be a disorder, you'll be shocked.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has served as a guide for treating mental symptoms. But how did it originate and does it have a secure model to explain mental disorders? This episode aims to discuss concerns about the DSM that some psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists have posed. If such a concern has validity, then we must be careful how we apply it to all populations, including the ever growing segment that has reported unusual experiences. What we don't want to do as professionals is quickly pathologize only to recant our decision, something that has happened more than once in the field.

For many, UFOs represent a sense of transcendence or advancement that nudges them to seek this Other. Using a range of spiritual methods such as meditation and prayer, the experiencer or the "wanna be" can utilize the engagement to further personal growth and not necessarily to experience the "wow". Spiritual practice in general has long been understood as a lifelong process, and one that doesn't always offer the most convenient experiences. No! Spirituality can be quite the struggle. This episode shares what some of them are when working with UFOs as a spiritual practice. While the host is a therapist, this podcast is not therapy and does not take the place of any agreed upon treatment between the listener and a mental health professional.

In this episode I share three dreams and explain how I understand them. When working with the paranormal, it is crucial to not minimize dreams as just dreams. While they have something to offer us about ourselves, they can also serve as possible messaging from other dimensions. In this case, UFO conversations. In short, we do not have to choose one or the other. Instead, we can see dreams as multifaceted in keeping with our natures as complex human beings and our interactions with another dimension. While the host is a therapist, this podcast is not therapy or take the place of any agreed upon treatment between the listener and a mental health professional.

A growing population, indeed. More and more people are sharing what was once ridiculed. Today, and with credible testimonies and great minds of research, the subject of UFO is nothing to be laughed at. And this should be true of the mental health field. This episode is specifically for psychotherapists who are interested in the subject but not sure how to jumpstart a practice that includes the unusual. And for those who do oppose it with every professional bone in their bodies, I challenge you to listen. So sit back and enjoy another episode in The Unusual in Human Experience Podcast. While the host is a therapist, the podcast is not therapy and does not take the place of an agreed upon treatment between the listener and a mental health professional.