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.

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.