Please remember, this column is designed to help the consumer seeking behavioral-health information, and not intended to be any form of psychotherapy or a replacement for professional, individualized services. Opinions expressed in the column are those of the columnist and do not represent the position of other SelfhelpMagazine.com staff.

Question

My daughter came to me the other night in tears. She said that, at an overnight party, she had fooled around with a Ouija board. She said that someone at church told her that she had allowed the devil into her life and would now have problems unless she undergoes some sort of special prayer. What is she talking about? What can I do to help her?

Answer

There are indeed some groups within various religions who belief that Ouija boards are evil and therefore subject people to various forms of prayer, some of which can be quite traumatic. You might instead consider the following:

1. Ask your daughter what, if anything, she "asked" the Ouija board since "answers" can sometimes be disturbing and frightening.

2. Help her understand that Ouija board responses are not so much projections of the unconscious but more responses to a highly suggestible atmosphere. For example, to ask the board "Who will I marry?" puts pressure on the person operating within a group to come up with something.

3. If your daughter is frightened, you might want to simply pray with her to help her once again feel safe.

4. Finally, you may want to discourage your daughter from any further experimentation with the Ouija board.

03/15/98

Richard B. Patterson is a clinical psychologist in private practice in El Paso, TX. He is the author of three books on psychology and spirituality.