Deborah L. Erickson, MBA, PhD
Executive Director
Deborah L. Erickson, MBA, PhD, is the AAPS Executive Director. Her PhD is in Psychology with a concentration in consciousness and spirituality from Saybrook University. Her dissertation research was the first mixed-methods parapsychological study exploring telepathic interspecies communication with companion canines. Her most recent research was a telepathic animal communication project engaging therapy horses who work with PTSD and brain trauma injured military veterans (journal article link below). The significance of this research directly relates to the study of horse-human interaction, specifically on the positive impact of horses supporting therapeutic healing methods for wounded military veterans.
Dr. Erickson’s technical background includes over 30 years in technology management as an IT Director and Technical Project Manager. She was Adjunct Faculty with University of Phoenix for eight years teaching technology, internet, and quality principles to graduate students. She is Honorary Website Manager for the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) based in London, England. Founded in 1882, the SPR was the first society to conduct organized scholarly research into human experiences that challenge contemporary scientific models. From the SPR website:
She is also a Research Associate with the University of Arizona, College of Science, Psychology Department Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness & Health (LACH). In the planning stages is an expanded animal communication research with equines that will build on her earlier pilot, to continue exploration with therapy equines who work with PTSD veterans. This will be a much larger study, with at least 10 PTSD equine therapy facilities across the United States, at least 50 PTSD veterans, and 10 or more animal communicators. The pilot study also documented the state of the horse’s mouth health prior to a veterinarian’s examination. This effort will attempt to duplicate the 100% accuracy rate of equine mouth health as published in the PTSD study, but at a much larger scale and number of equines involved.
Dr. Erickson is a telepathic interspecies communicator, Reiki Master, and Healing Touch for Animals practitioner. Other volunteer work supports the American Rose Society as Consulting Rosarian, Horticulture Judge, Arrangement Judge, and Webmaster for the ARS Pacific Northwest District. She also builds backyard fences with Fences for Fido, an all-volunteer organization working to “unchain” dogs in their backyards. More information is available at www.deborahericksonphd.com.
Selected Scientific Papers
Deborah L Erickson, PhD
Kuhlwein, Delores (2020). Straight from the Horse’s Mouth. Interviewed for Animal Communication article in Chrome Magazine, a publication of the America Paint Horse Association, Winter Edition, p 34-38.
Erickson, Deborah (Sept 22, 2020). Zoom presentation for Society for Psychical Research, Can you hear me now? Current research in telepathic interspecies communication Video password: ANIMALS2020
Erickson, Deborah L. (2016). Integrating Body, Mind, and Spirit: An Essay Reviewing the Physiological, Psychological, and Spiritual Benefits of Meditation. Journal of Transpersonal Research 8(2), 147-159.
Erickson, Deborah L., (2016) Can You Hear Us Now? Human-Animal Communication Research. Society for Psychical Research Paranormal Review 80, 16-17.
Erickson, Deborah L., et al. (2016). A Mixed Methods Study of Telepathic Interspecies Communication with Therapeutic Riding Horses and Their Recovering Wounded Veteran Partners. NeuroQuantology Journal 14.2
Interview with Dr. Zohara Hieronimus on 21st Century Radio online (Feb 28, 2016).
Erickson, Deborah L. (2013). Anthrozoology: Quantifying the positive effects of human-animal interactions and relationships.PhD Qualifying Essay, Saybrook University.
Erickson, Deborah L. (2011). Intuition, telepathy, and interspecies communication: a multidisciplinary perspective. NeuroQuantology Journal 9.1