Sandgropers turn to Psychics

by Jessica Naidos

April 11, 2008

A PERTH psychic says people unable to afford psychotherapy are turning to soothsayers instead. 

“After years in the industry, I’ve noticed that many people turn to psychics as the first approach to solving their problems,” says psychic Lesley Wai, who’s currently plying her trade at Fremantle Town Hall. “They see us as assistance to those problems and someone that can help highlight the best opportunities available.

“You will find that a lot of people doing psychic readings do have a psychology background as well [and] this helps us to understand individual issues more extensively whilst working.” 

Ms Wai has a Bachelor of Psychology, and more than 20 years in the tarot-reading game.

“Even with an educational background in psychology, if I feel people have a deep emotional issue or mental illness occurring, I will lead them onto professionals, someone who is better equipped to deal with those problems then I am …,” she says. “We will sound out current situations with them, talk them through possible reasons why the situations are occurring and then evaluate potential pathways to where they want to be at in the future.

“I think what seems more appealing to the public is the cost difference between getting advice from psychic readings then going to a pricey psychologist.”

However, Murdoch University psychology professor Peter Drummond reckons people who pay psychics for psychological advice are wasting their money.

 “Physic readers are relying on superstition to supply their answers,” Prof Drummond says. “Psychologists actually work out the problems through a knowledgeable and educational manner with the client.”

“It is simple,” he explains. “Psychology is a scientific study of behaviour, and psychic reading is not at all.

“There is no way it should be seen as the first step to a psychology session.