by Karen Frazier


 
Something's happening in your home or business, and you've decided to call in the experts. You've contacted a paranormal team. What next?

Currently, there are no standardized protocols that every paranormal group uses when they investigate. However, there are many commonalities among teams. If it's SSPR you've contacted, here's what to expect.

1. After the initial contact, the investigation lead will call you to set up a time when you can meet with the team. This meeting typically occurs in a public place.
2. At this meeting, you will be asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire. You will also have the opportunity to ask members of SSPR any questions you might have. SSPR members may ask you questions about your situation, as well.
3. If both parties (you and SSPR) agree that your home requires further investigation, then a mutually agreeable time will be set for the investigation.
4. In the days between the interview and investigation, it would be quite helpful if you kept a written log of any activity occurring in your home. Include the date, time, and a description of the activity, as well as what you were doing at the time the activity occurred and who was present. Other family members or business staff should do the same.
5. At the time of investigation, SSPR's team will arrive at your home or business. We generally bring anywhere between three and ten people, depending on the size of the location and the needs of the investigation.
6. While you do a walk through of your home or business with the investigation lead, two or three members of will walk through the location with a device that records EMF, temperature, and other data to take baseline readings. One of those team members will also take photographs to use as baselines for comparison. A third person will be recording the information supplied by team members taking readings.
7. If the team has any sensitives investigating your location, they will do a quiet walk through of your home and write their impressions. They will not share these impressions at the time so they don't contaminate the investigation. If you are uncomfortable allowing any type of psychic reading of your home, please tell us and we will skip this aspect of the investigation.
8. After baselines and walk throughs, the team may set up equipment in active locations. The primary equipment we use requiring setup is a DVR (digital video recording) system. This will require us to run wires from the base unit to the cameras. In some cases, we may feel the DVR system is inappropriate and opt for hand-held equipment only.
9. We will also set up a base away from the action. At the base, we will set up a computer to which we run all of the DVR cameras. A few team members will monitor these cameras at all times during the investigation, writing down any potentially anomalous activity they see. You are welcome to stay with the team at the base station and monitor our activities via the DVR system.
10. Once set up is complete, we will break into teams of two to three people. We find that working in small groups is best in most locations.
11. Unless the location is extremely large, only one group will investigate at a time. These teams will spend about 60 minutes apiece holding vigils in the places where activity is most likely to occur. Vigils may occur in darkness to minimize sensory input, or in a fully lighted room.
12. Investigation teams may use different types of devices to try and spur communication with any entities present during vigil sessions. Common devices you might see include digital voice recorders (essentially, small tape recorders used for capturing EVP), spirit boxes (a transistor radio that creates white noise by constantly sweeping the AM or FM bands), hand held cameras and video cameras, EMF meters or other environmental sensors, and divination devices such as pendulums and dowsing rods. We use all of these in a variety of ways in an attempt to open communication and understand what is going on in your home. Our team members would be happy to explain how each piece of equipment works if you have questions.
13. When each team returns to base camp, they will review their data or monitor the DVR system and log any anomalies while another team investigates. Team members will also log any personal experiences they've had.
14. At the end of the investigation, the team will quickly take down any cameras and equipment. Our goal is always to leave your home or business exactly as it was when we arrived.
15. We will go over the information we've achieved to that point with you; however, it will require further analysis away from the site.
16. While spirit and energy cleansing is not part of our protocols, in some cases we will provide a cleansing or blessing if you so desire. We have members of the team with experience in multiple faiths (including clergy), as well as people who may be able to assist with spirit rescue. We follow the home or business owner's lead in this area, and will only do that which makes you comfortable.
17. We may also provide onsite counseling to help you cope with any activity in your home.
18. After we leave, activity may increase for a short period; however, this isn't always the case. In any case, activity should return to normal levels quickly.
19. Our team will review all of their evidence and data. This process typically takes about two weeks to one month. In urgent cases, we can expedite this process.
20. Once we've completed our data review, we will compile a report and the investigation lead will schedule a time to meet with you to present any findings. At that time, we can arrange follow-up if necessary, as well as helping you make a plan to proceed.
21. SSPR is always available if you have ongoing concerns or questions. You can call or email us if you need more help.

• All of our team members are background checked and fully vetted. We are confident our team members are trustworthy. Our team members hold positions of trust in their "day jobs," such as working for police departments, the US government, and child advocacy organizations.
• It is always our goal to treat your home or business with respect and care.
• You are welcome to be present and monitor the investigation.
• Compassion for souls - both living and dead - is a driving principal of ours, and we proceed accordingly. We never "provoke" or yell at spirits.
• It is very difficult to determine whether a home is haunted or a ghost is present, since there is no definitive proof that ghosts exist or hauntings occur. We don't "certify" hauntings. We can, however, document anomalous activity and attempt to help you understand and live with what is occurring in your home or business.
• We don't guarantee we will get rid of ghosts or spirits. No one can make this guarantee.
• We never charge for an investigation.