Saturday 27th April 2024 Workshop - From the Mouths of Babes: Children and Psychical Experiences

In this Saturday workshop, we are joined by a team of scholars from three different universities all having conducted research on psychical experiences of children in recent months. Perhaps a first for the SPR, in having an all-female group of speakers at one event, which complements recent lectures of the Parapsychological Association – and past, by the Parapsychology Foundation – which have celebrated the work of women in parapsychology. Talks for the day range from large scale funded projects on exceptional experiences of children, through to working with therapists, children’s dreams, and reports of reincarnation experiences.

ALL TIMES ARE British Summer Time.

Dr Cal Cooper

Callum E. Cooper is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Northampton, UK. He received a PhD from the University of Northampton for work on thanatology, positive psychology and anomalous experiences, and a second PhD from Manchester Metropolitan University for work on parapsychology and spontaneous case methodology. Some of his professional positions include: Council Member of the Society (and also on SPR Survival Research Committee), a Professional Member of the Parapsychological Association, and a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. He has produced over 100 papers, articles, chapters, and authored/edited 4 books.

Dr Donna Thomas

Dr Thomas is Co-Director of ICreateS International Research Unit at the University of Central Lancashire and leads several funded projects in the area of extra sensory experiences of children and young people. She is the author of ‘Children’s Unexplained Experiences in a Post Materialist World’.

Natalia Lavin

Natalia is a PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Northampton and counselling psychologist. Currently exploring exceptional experiences reported in the funeral industry.

Prof. Kate Adams

Prof Kate Adams is Professor of Education at Leeds Trinity University. She holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow. Kate’s research expertise lies in children’s exceptional experiences, including dreams, ‘imaginary’ friends and their wider spiritual lives. She has been publishing and disseminating her work internationally for over 25 years. Her books include Unseen Worlds: Looking through the lens of childhood.

Kirsty Allan

Kirsty is a PhD candidate and graduate teaching assistant in psychology at the University of Northampton. She is currently exploring psi-conducive imagery perceived within the relaxation process of floatation tanks. She is also involved with research into children's anomalous experiences, with Dr Donna Thomas at UCLan.

Elaine Rycroft

Elaine is a PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Northampton, currently exploring reports of reincarnation type experiences and veridical information obtained from such accounts.