This page describes the contact between you and someone who has either a problem with a ghost or just a story to tell. The first part is basic contact information and can be used as an in person interview, over the phone, or even over the internet if applicable. It is easy to do over the phone and can save you wasted time and money from doing an on site investigation only to find a different problem at hand. These basic questions can help you and the person with the "ghost" figure out if a visit is necessary or if they should contact someone else (psychologist, building inspector, etc.). Recording the interview over the phone is a good idea, just remember to ask for permission from the person before doing so. The second part should be done in person if a visit is warranted. This second section will help you dissect the who, what, when, where, how, of the events and help you get a feel for the phenomenon that are taking place.

In the first interview you are searching for patterns within the answers.

1. You need to know if a visit is necessary or if there is a logical explanation for the events that are occurring.
2. What is their purpose or motivation of contacting you? Mere information? they want you to make it stop? or are they just trying to report it? or possibly pulling your leg?
3. Is there a necessity to perform an on site investigation because of the frequency or current happening of the events? Enough reliable witnesses? or does the person ask you to help them?

The most important thing you must consider with this or any other interview is the person's feelings. In most cases people who come forward may have never had anything like this happen to them. They may have merely misinterpreted something in their surroundings to make them feel that something paranormal is happening. It is also possible they have severe emotional problems that may have triggered hallucinogenic reactions. Whatever the outcome may be the person will almost always say they feel Crazy for saying or believing what they are reporting. You must be quick to tell them they are not. This initial reassurance is vital to the entire interview. You can count on this statement happening sometime in the interview. I usually bring it out to break the ice and they laugh and wonder how I knew how they felt. It's a common reaction, if they feel that way then odds are they are probably not crazy in the bad sense of the word.

(1). Here is a general list of questions that, when carefully reviewed, should be able to point you in the right direction of helping the person out and if a visit is necessary.

• Describe, basically, the events that have taken place.
• Where (specific location of event) and when did the events take place? and the last time it happened?
• Have you (or anyone else involved) considered natural occurrences or ordinary explanations? What gives you the idea this may be paranormal?
• How many people live in the house (area of occurrence)? ages? names? their relationship to each other? occupations? educational background?
• Are there any pets?
• How long have you lived (been in area with the events) there?
• Any previous experiences of this type?
• How did things begin?
• How did you feel about these events?
• Are the events happening frequently? notice any regularity?
• Have the events increased in severity? notice any difference in intensity?
• Who is directly involved with these events?
• Are there any other witnesses outside of the home (place of event)? What was there experience? (Get their personal information and see if they agree to an interview).
• Have you or anyone involved noticed any pattern in the events? (when events occur, objects affected, location, persons present)
• Have you, or anyone else involved, had psychic experiences in the past? have an interest in it?
• Is the person who witnessed events (or in area) under any unusual pressure in their life?
• Has anyone else been contacted about these events? (friends, police, priest, press - remind them the press will only interfere)
• Have you read or gathered any information on the paranormal? What have you learned or felt from what you heard?
• What would you like done to help you?
• Would you permit me, or possibly a group, perform a serious (and free) investigation of the site?

(2). The next set of questions will help you zone in on the pattern of what is happening. These questions should be answered in person if a visit is thought necessary. Some questions may not pertain to particular cases.

• Have you connected the event with any particular person(s) in the location? others?
• If there is an apparition seen, does it represent anyone identifiable? (does anyone know "who" the apparition represents?)
• Is there any activity occurring at the time of the events? (argument, t.v. on) time of day? Describe everything surrounding the event itself.
• Do the events occur in the same place? many? More often in one place than another?
• Are certain people seemingly more affected than others? What reactions do they display when event happens?
• Do all witness have to be present for event to happen? If not, explain incidents of when there were different groups were present (or individuals).
• Have any disturbances occurred when no one was present to witness them? (objects moving)
• Has any one person been close to the starting point of the movement of an object? Is there a chance person pushed or threw object?
• Is there any reason for someone to fake the events?
• Have you thought of normal explanations for the events?

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