Pocono Paranormal Research
The leading paranormal investigation team of the Poconos and surrounding region
F.A.Q. - The basics
1. Who are you people?
We are a group of various individuals with differing backgrounds all with one common purpose; searching for answers as to what lies beyond our physical world and death. We are all striving to perpetuate the understanding of the sciences associated with parapsychology and the supernatural. Please see our page, "about us" for more of our specific background information. The founding members have almost 15 years experience in dealing with the paranormal.
2. Technically speaking, what exactly is a "ghost"?
A "ghost" can be several different things, to be honest. It may be a restless or lost spirit of a deceased individual, a strong emotional point in history that somehow records and plays itself back like a VCR tape under proper conditions, a possession of an unclean spirit residing in a general localized area, or Dad left the shed door off the latch last fall while he was putting the lawn ornaments away and it's been banging in the wind against the side of the house all winter.
Seriously, no one really knows one-hundred percent exactly what a "ghost" is. That is why you'll hear us use the term "anomaly". An anomaly is termed as "deviation or departure from the normal or common order, form, or rule." This is moreso true when speaking about a curious event happening, because it may be totally explainable. When it's not, then you have an "unexplained anomaly", which could also be a haunting. That's where investigation in the interest of science comes in.
3. When should we contact you?
You may contact us whenever you like! We are always glad to hear from anyone, and will always answer e-mail, under normal circumstances, within 24 hours. In any case, we will always put a family or person in distress first, and try to assist in any way we can.
However...
there are many teams out there! We suggest you practice caution when "hiring" anyone for such a cause, and, when time permits, always interview before coming to a decision. Also, remember that "ghost hunters" are not the same as "paranormal investigators". In our experience, ghost hunters simply go looking for a thrill to a legendarily haunted area. (Yes, we do this ourselves for leisure, but not for serious research!) Paranormal Investigators are usually, by nature, more serious about helping those in need and getting to the bottom of things to the best of their abilities.
Also, any team asking for money up-front is not a team you want to deal with. Remunerating or donating to a team for travel, expenses, etc. is always a nice gesture, but fees should not be a factor. The Pocono Paranormal Research Society NEVER charges for any of our services. We consider our results and data enough and will never demand payment of any way, shape, or form. We do accept donations however, and put them right back into our society for use in helping others with similar issues.
If you're uncomfortable with your anomaly, please don't hesitate to drop us an e-mail. Make sure you do a routine check of your home/business surroundings first to make sure you simply can't explain if what you're hearing could be explainable. (I.E. Banging in the attic due to an unattached shutter.) If you're seeing translucent milky-white children running around your kitchen at midnight, then I'd say it's a safe bet that you've got a haunting.
All kidding aside, I will state this as our paramount creed; we want you to feel comfortable with us.
4. What should we do if our house/establishment is deemed haunted?
That's totally up to you. We cannot "get rid of ghosts", per se. Sometimes we can "talk them down" enough to make them leave, but we guarantee nothing. We can, however, determine, with a certain degree of educated accuracy, that your locale may be experiencing unexplained events when all other possibilities are ruled out.
Depending upon the outcome of any given investigation, depending on your religious beliefs, you may want to have a priest or minister bless your home, a psychic try to help, etc. We can offer sound advice, but again I must stress that we can not guarantee alleviation of a haunting. We are not "witches", "satanists" or "shaman", and we are not ordained ministers or priests. We are simply paranormal investigators.
WARNING!!! - Anyone claiming to be a trained "parapsychologist" is full of bunk. As of 2009, no college offers such accrediting. There are no formal training courses for what we do!
5. How much does your investigation cost?
Flat out? Nothing. Zip. Nada. We are a totally non-profit venture, plain-and-simple. Donations, however, will of course be heartily accepted. All this does, unfortunately, cost us money. Between travel, equipment, etc., it's not an inexpensive endeavor. Just so long as it's understood that no offer of money is required at any point whatsoever. It will never be requested for upon the completion of an investigation. Any offer of a donation will always be totally at your discretion, and never prompted by us.
It should be understood, however, that any pictures, images, video, information, or audio of anomalies captured or collected in the duration of our investigation at your place of ownership is understood to be our intellectual property and may possibly be included on our web site and used to further our research. The data and information will, of course, be presented with relative anonymity using nothing more than generalizations when stating where the anomaly is located with no discerning outside pictures. We know admitting you have a "problem" in your home to your friends and neighbors can be quite embarrassing and unnerving to all concerned. We want you to feel comfortable and totally at ease with our efforts. On the other hand, some businesses feel that having an advertised "in-house ghost" will actually draw business. To that end, if you would like your name and address given, we'd be more than happy to do that as well. It's all up to you.
6. How long does a normal investigation take?
This is a tough one considering that paranormal activity is difficult to gauge as to when anomalies may occur. What we would request from you would be to keep a watch as to what times things tend to "heat up" with your disturbance. This will give us, as investigators, a start into researching what might be happening on your property and why. If you can do this, fine. If not, it's not an issue. Anomalies usually occur 24/7, but are more prominent at night because things are dark and quiet. That's when it's best to do research, plain-and-simple. So, again, whatever you're comfortable with is fine with us, as long as it fits in our schedule. We've spent many-a-night awake into the wee hours of the morning just waiting to hear or see something. This type of research requires patience!
Usually an investigation can wrap-up within a few sessions if we can figure out what is causing it, (I.E. an explainable circumstance such as "pipes banging in the basement" or the sort). If we don't determine what it is and you'd like us back, fine. If you feel uncomfortable with it and want to call it after the first time we set-up, that's fine. Whatever you're comfortable with.
7 . How can we contact you?
Simply drop us an e-mail.
8. Can you get rid of our anomaly?
Let it be stated here that every case is different, and there is no such thing as a textbook case!. Any one claiming to be "able to get rid of your ghost" is more-than-likely a scam artist looking for money.
Let me put it this way; there is no guarantee that we can "get rid" of anything. What we can do is try to figure out why things may be occurring through good, old-fashioned research. A lot of what we do requires detective work and is not glamorous as some TV shows would have you believe by showing the "best bits" while overlaying dramatic music. This is not the case 99% of the time. Most times when you find out why something is happening, half the battle is already won. We can then try to communicate with your anomaly. This is not always successful, and sometimes a more malevolent force requires personal religious intervention.