Remember you're not the only one

I had a recent client tell me that he felt "foolish" for calling and thought that we would surely "think he was crazy."

I personally can understand the trials and tribulations dealing with paranormal activity in your own home and not knowing who to talk to because you think you'll get laughed out of the room.

But if you are experiencing paranormal activity in your home and you are looking for answers, never be afraid to contact a paranormal research group for help, whether it is us here at JAM Paranormal or one of the many other groups out there.

You should never be afraid to do this because, trust me, you're not the only one. As I said to the aforementioned client, I receive many e-mails a month delving into paranormal issues. Not all lead to investigations, but it does show that there are other people out there just like you.

So, in short, never be afraid to contact help. That is why JAM Paranormal was formed. We want to help those who are in need, while conducting research in order to better educate future clients on the subject. With every investigation, we can learn something that may help you and/or someone else down the line — someone who, like you, may be hesitant to make the call for help.

There are so many paranormal groups. How do I chose which one to contact?

When you Google "paranormal" and your state, county or town, you're bound to come up with more options that you ever would have imagined.

There are a lot of groups out there, including the groups on TV, but if you're trying to stay low-key and not be on television, picking the right group can be tough. You're dealing with strangers and you're dealing with individuals who you will certainly be wary of from the start.

The first thing you should do is peruse a few of the local groups websites. Generally, the more professional the website, the more likely you are dealing with a group that can legitimately help you. Professionalism is key.

This isn't always the case, but be wary of any group that isn't using a ".com or .org". Any group that is using a free webhosting company is probably not the group for you.

Once you've settled on a group that you believe can legitimately help you, send them an e-mail explaining your situation and ask any questions that you have.

When the response comes, again, be wary if the group is pushing from the get-go to set up an investigation. A group that just wants to investigate may be a group of thrill-seekers and you may not get the answers you are looking for. This isn't always the case, but you should be aware of this and know the warning signs.

When contacting a group, it can be helpful for you if you speak with the group's director and ask them questions about the group's background (How many investigations? Results? Have you ever dealt with a situation like mine?) It also may be helpful to have him or her come over by themselves first for an "interview." You get to meet the person and then show them around the house, pointing out where certain paranormal occurrences have taken place. If everything meets your standards, then you should be safe to move along in the investigation process.

What should I be aware of if I set up an investigation?

1. Many groups have many members. One of the biggest annoyances I hear from clients who have dealt with other groups is the number of investigators.

If you live in a small single home and the group brings more than 3 or 4 investigators, it can be crowded and the results can be skewed. I've had clients tell me that they've had groups investigate their small home with 8 to 10 investigators. That, in my opinion, is overkill, and for you as a client, if you're trying to keep a low profile in your neighborhood and not let anyone know that you're doing this, having 8 to 10 people walking in and out of your house at night can be an issue.

This is why one of your questions should always be, "How many investigators will you have?" And if you happen to live in a medium to small-sized single residence, you should perhaps request to only have 2-4 investigators come.

2. Another question you should always ask (and again, this goes with keeping a low profile in the neighborhood) is to whether the group has a "group vehicle." Some groups have vans or SUVs with their group's name and/or logo on it.

I have no problem with groups doing this, and in fact, if the group has enhanced a vehicle to accommodate the group, I think it only furthers the point that you are dealing with a more legitimate group. Still, you want to ask because if you want to keep a low profile, you may wish to have the group either cover up the decals or come in another vehicle, because I'm sure neighbors may have questions if they see "Joe Schmoes Paranormal Society" van in your driveway.

3. The equipment that a group uses is an important thing to ask about, too. You should always ask what a group is going to use during investigations. At JAM Paranormal, we use only scientific equipment (no dowsing rods, etc.), but some groups do use stuff that you may not want in your home. Be sure to ask what is being used and write down the names of equipment. Do a Google search on it to make sure that it isn't something that could make your situation worse.

4. You don't have to leave your home. The "TV show mentality" is that a group comes in to investigate and you leave for the night. While that does happen and it can be an option for you if you're comfortable with it, you should not feel pressured to leave your home when you have investigators over. In many cases, your presence can be extremely helpful. So if a group is insistent upon you not being there while the investigation is taking place, it may be time to find a new group.