Erika Annabelle Pratte

Anomalies Research, Counselling, & Consultation, London, UK

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Introduction: Near-death experiences (NDEs) are spontaneous, exceptional psychological events characterized by perceptions of movement through light and darkness, encounters with spiritual beings, intense emotions, and a profound understanding of the universe. These experiences can occur during life-threatening situations or unexpectedly without physical trauma. Common features include hearing one’s own declaration of death, out-of-body experiences (OBEs), encounters with a dark tunnel or radiant light, meetings with deceased individuals or spiritual beings, panoramic life reviews, feelings of tranquility and boundless love, and ineffability of the experience.

Near-death experiencers (NDErs) may seek therapy for various reasons, including difficulties in personalizing emotions, integrating new spiritual values, navigating social relationships, and processing the demarcation of life before the NDE and life after near-death. They often face challenges in communication, relationships, and adjusting to a radical shift in reality. Therapists should aim to help NDErs process both primary and secondary aftereffects of their experiences. Primary aftereffects include personality changes directly caused by the NDE, while secondary aftereffects involve struggles related to these changes, such as social isolation and rejection. Addressing social challenges, improving life satisfaction, and discovering life purpose are crucial for effective integration.

Integration – The Goal of Psychotherapy: Integration is the process of fully embracing and organizing an NDE into one’s life, maintaining health and well-being. It involves ongoing development and achieving a balance where the experience is consciously acknowledged without hindering present functioning. The exploration of how mental health professionals may best aid in integration has been nodded at by the research community but never fully embraced. Literature is very much lacking and therefore, so is support for NDErs.

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Erika Annabelle Pratte is a researcher and counsellor at Anomalies Research, Counselling, & Consultation in London, UK, specializing in the intersection of psychotherapy and near-death experiences. She is a recipient of the Schmeidler Outstanding Student Award (2021) from the Parapsychological Association.

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The Parapsychological Association is an international professional organization of scientists and scholars engaged in the study of psi (or ‘psychic’) experiences, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, psychic healing, and precognition. The primary objective of the PA is to achieve a scientific understanding of these experiences.

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Published on March 31, 2026