A client came to me convinced she was possessed. I get these requests all the time. When someone reaches out looking for an exorcism, it usually comes with a mix of fear, desperation, and... certainty. They have already made up their mind that they are under supernatural attack. When they come to me, they want confirmation of what they already believe.
But I do not work that way. I do not perform exorcisms just because someone asks me to. My job is to listen, to feel, and to assess. If I do not detect the presence of an entity, I will not fabricate one to meet expectations. That would be unethical and it would not help anyone in the long run.
During this intake, I sat with her, listening to her story, feeling around, and searching for anything external that could be influencing her. I take these cases seriously because I am specifically sought out due to my sensitivity to entities. If something was there, I would have known. But there was nothing. No attachment. No possession. No external force manipulating her energy.
That was when I suspected something else was at play. Based on what she was describing, I had a strong feeling she might have Dissociative Identity Disorder. Of course, I am not a doctor. I do not diagnose. That is not my place. But I can recognize when something seems more psychological than spiritual. In those moments, my role as a witchdoctor shifts from that of an exorcist to that of a guide. I am someone who can point people toward the right kind of help.
So I did what I could. I explained to her that I did not detect any entity and that there was no possession. I suggested that she seek a professional diagnosis because what she was experiencing did not align with a spiritual affliction. It aligned with something medical and that required a different kind of healing.
As expected, she was upset. She was even angry.
This is the part that always stings. When I tell someone they are not possessed, when I tell them that what they are experiencing is not supernatural, I suddenly become the bad guy. My credibility vanishes in an instant. I was reputable enough to be sought out for an exorcism, but the moment I say it is not warranted, my legitimacy is questioned.
I understand. No one wants to feel unheard. She is obviously suffering. What is happening to her is very real.
I hate that she felt my supposition of what is happening is all "in her head," and at the same time it is real and vibrant. Just not the way she thinks. Sometimes you go to a doctor believing what is wrong with you in one thing, but they (the expert) inform you it is something else. This is that case.
When someone is suffering, they want answers. They want validation for what they are going through. But the truth matters more than their expectations. I cannot and will not perform a ritual for something that does not exist. That would be irresponsible. My goal is to help people find peace, whatever that looks like for them, but it has to be real peace and not just a temporary solution that keeps them trapped in a false belief.
So she hung up on me and the call. I wished her well. I hope she finds the relief she needs.
That part is entirely up to them.
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