The term After-Death Communication, or ADC, refers to the spontaneous experience of perceiving the presence of a deceased loved one. This may be a felt presence, the sense of a touch, a familiar smell, seeing or hearing the person you love, dreams that feel like "more than dreams" and are perceived to be visitations. These communications can involve any of the senses, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, knowing. These experiences are frequently-reported and naturally-occurring phenomenon. In my book The Chakras in Grief and Trauma, I share many stories clients have told me as well as some of my own experiences in sensing and perceiving connections with loved ones.
The IADC Process
IADC Therapy generally involves two ninety minute sessions on two consecutive days. Sometimes a third session is agreed upon between client and practitioner. The process focuses on reducing and processing the emotional distress (fear, anxiety, deep sadness) associated with grief by using a modified protocol of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) therapy. Once a degree of resolution of distress is achieved, a state of openness and receptivity is cultivated. In this state, most clients perceive a deep and loving connection with their beloved dead through one or more of the five senses mentioned above or through some other sense-of-presence perception. The experience is highly personal and individual.
IADC has shown to be most effective for those whose loved one has died at least a year prior to the session. In some cases, a person who experienced a loss 6 to 12 months prior to treatment can have a successful IADC session depending on your unique circumstances. If you have experienced your loss within the last 6 months, please wait to pursue IADC. Support and grief counseling will still be helpful and I encourage you to seek out and take advantage of those supports at any point in your grief journey. Conversely, it also makes no difference if a lot of time has passed since the death of your loved one, IADC can be helpful. Clients who undergo successful IADC experiences report significant reduction of their previous levels of distress associated with the death of their loved one. They frequently report resolution of unsettled issues in the relationship with their beloved, and feeling reassured of their loved one’s wellbeing. Perhaps most meaningfully, however, clients report experiencing a deep sense of connection with their loved one and a transformation in the painful and persistent sense of separation. Although most clients believe in the authenticity of their ADCs, existing beliefs play no role in the efficacy of the treatment, and IADC Therapy does not suggest a source for the experience. A client who believes the phenomenon is spiritual in nature can receive the same healing benefit as one who believes it is neurobiologically—based or otherwise explained.
Beginnings: Now retired, Dr. Allan Botkin first developed IADC Therapy in 1995 while working at the Chicago Veterans Administration Hospital. Learn more about his pioneering work at induced-adc.com. Dr. Botkin’s book, Induced After Death Communication: A Miraculous Therapy for Grief and Loss, offers an in-depth account of the discovery and development of IADC Therapy.
Documentary Film: The award-winning documentary film Living With Ghosts, by writing and director Stephen Berkley, following a widow's grief journey as she finds her way to participating in IADC therapy as part of the research study mentioned above at the University of North Texas.