Research
A LOOK AT THE RESEARCH THAT INFORMS OUR WORK AND GUIDES THE FIELD
Why Research Matters
IADC Therapy has always been rooted in strong clinical outcomes, reported consistently across diverse client populations and therapeutic settings. As awareness of the method grows, research plays a vital role in deepening our understanding, demonstrating effectiveness, refining best practices, and ensuring client safety.
We believe grief deserves both compassion and rigor, and that meaningful experiences of healing and connection deserve to be studied with care, openness, and scientific integrity.
Current Research Projects
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, DIVISION OF PERCEPTUAL STUDIES (DOPS)
A newly launched study exploring IADC outcomes and phenomenology is underway at UVA’s DOPS, a leading center for research on consciousness and extraordinary experiences. This study aims to examine the therapeutic impact of IADC across multiple domains.
PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH AS AN IADC CLIENT
U.S.-based, English-speaking adults who have already scheduled IADC sessions may be eligible for a University of Virginia pilot study on grief and IADC therapy.
Participation involves two short online questionnaires—one before therapy and one after.
Published Studies & Book Chapters
Botkin, A.L. (2000). The induction of after-death communications utilizing eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing: A new discovery.The Journal of Near Death Studies, 18(3), 181-209
Botkin, A.L. and Hannah, M.T. (2013) Brief report: Psychotherapeutic outcomes reported by therapists trained in induced after-death communication. The Journal of Near Death Studies, 31(4), 221-224.
Hannah, M.T., Botkin, A.L., Marrone, J.G., & Streit-Horn, J. (2013). Induced after-death communication: An update. The Journal of Near Death Studies, 31(4), 213-220.
Holden, J. M., St. Germain-Sehr, N. R., Reyes, A., Loseu, S., Schmit, M. K., Laird, A., Weintraub, L., St. Germain-Sehr, A., Price, E., Blalock, S., Bevly, C., Lankford, C., Mandalise, J. (2019). Comparative effects of induced after-death communication and traditional talk therapy on grief. Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement.
St. Germain-Sehr, N. R. & Maxey, G. A. (2019). Case studies in induced after-death dommunication (IADC). Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement.
Valdez, C., Jordan, J. R., & Botkin, A. (2021). Induced after-death communication. In R. A. Neimeyer (Ed.), New techniques of grief therapy: Bereavement and beyond (pp. 280–283). Routledge.
Nehmy, T. J., Daniels, J., Williamson, P., Stegall-Rodriguez, S. E., & St. Germain-Sehr, N. R. (2026). Efficacy of induced after-death communication therapy for grief: A single-group wait-list controlled trial.OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying.
For Researchers: Collaborate With Us
We welcome collaboration with researchers, clinicians, and students interested in studying IADC Therapy. If you are planning a study, have questions about the protocol, or would like to speak with our research team, please reach out.
From the Field
“For over 30 years, I have researched, provided counseling for, and taught about grief. My own study showed what I and other IADC therapists have observed: IADC is significantly more effective in reducing painful grief symptoms than is traditional grief counseling. This powerful counseling approach is both deeply meaningful and exceptionally effective for those who experience it.”
— Janice Holden, EdD, LPC-S, Professor Emerita of Counseling, University of North Texas
Research at a Glance
Professional Engagements
IADC Therapy continues to gain visibility in clinical, academic, and hospice-related settings. The Institute’s leadership team has shared the method through live conferences, webinars, and continuing education events across the globe.
Selected Professional Presentations Include:
Researcher FAQs
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Yes. Researchers do not need to be formally trained in IADC Therapy in order to study it. In fact, we welcome external researchers and value independent inquiry. However, for any study that includes IADC as an intervention, the actual implementation of the therapy must be done by a clinician who has been trained by the IADC International Institute.
This ensures that the treatment is delivered with fidelity to the protocol, including appropriate screening, preparation, and pacing. To support this, we are happy to collaborate with research teams by helping identify qualified therapists, offering guidance on treatment fidelity, and clarifying aspects of the protocol to strengthen methodological soundness.
Our goal is to foster rigorous, ethical, and replicable research. We encourage multi-site studies and diverse partnerships—as long as the therapeutic component remains consistent with the standards set by the Institute.
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We welcome collaboration with researchers who are committed to integrity in implementation. Ethical alignment means that IADC is delivered as designed—by clinicians trained by the Institute—using the full protocol and within a trauma-informed framework. As a researcher, you do not need to be trained in IADC yourself, but it’s essential that you work in close partnership with a trained provider and ensure fidelity to the method. We’re happy to offer guidance, review materials, and support alignment so that your research reflects the true nature of the therapy and honors the safety and dignity of clients.
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Yes. The IADC International Institute maintains a detailed training manual that outlines the full protocol, clinical considerations, and troubleshooting guidance. While the manual is available only to clinicians who have completed official training, researchers may request a reference copy for study design purposes. We’re happy to collaborate to ensure your research reflects the protocol accurately and ethically.
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Publishing on IADC carries an ethical responsibility to protect participant dignity, emotional safety, and public understanding. We encourage researchers to:
Ensure your research is approved by a relevant institutional review board or university human research ethics committee. The oversight of independent review / ethics committees is necessary to ensure research into IADC is conducted in a way that protects the welfare and rights of participants.
Honor client meaning without asserting metaphysical or materialist explanations. Describe experiences neutrally and emphasize that meaning belongs to the client.
Frame findings with care. Avoid sensationalism or sweeping conclusions about consciousness or the afterlife.
Address limitations transparently. Acknowledge sample size, potential expectancy effects, and the complexity of working with subjective experience.
Collaborate with us. We welcome review and consultation to support fidelity and contextual framing, and to ensure your work aligns with trauma-informed and client-centered values.
Responsible research helps expand understanding while safeguarding the integrity of the work and those it serves.
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You’re warmly invited to contact the Institute. We welcome inquiries from researchers at all levels and are happy to connect you with colleagues who are studying IADC or exploring adjacent themes. While we do not currently maintain a public directory of researchers, we facilitate introductions when appropriate and encourage a spirit of collaboration and shared learning.