Ghost Help

About the Ghost Help director

Brian D. Parsons

Dr. Brian D. Parsons is the Director of Ghost Help (formerly Ohio Paranormal Investigation Network) and has been investigating ghostly claims since 1996. He has also studied under the MUFON Field Investigator's Manual for the various aspects of UFO investigations and is a current member of MUFON as well as the Cleveland UFOlogy Project. He has been a freelance cryptid researcher and investigator studying various cases in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. He is currently a member of the Pennsylvania Cryptozoology Society and has also been associated with the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society.

In March of 2014 Brian became the Executive Director of ParaNexus. He joined ParaNexus Anomalous Research Association in 2009 to help in the cause of creating a professional collection of like minded anomalous researchers to help educate the public and each other about various aspects of research and investigation methods of the various fields. During his time at ParaNexus he served as a member of the Board of Directors, the Director of Research, and the Anomalous News Coordinator.

Brian has written six books, Handbook for the Amateur Paranormal Investigator or Ghost Hunter: How to Become a Successful Paranormal Group as well as a companion book, Betty's Ghost: A Guide to Paranormal Investigation, and follow-up exploring more concepts in paranormal group operation Handbook for the Amateur Paranormal Investigator II: The Art and Science of Paranormal Investigation . His fourth book, The "E4" Method: Breaking the Mold of Paranormal Investigation looks at his unique methodology of client-centered investigation that utilizes a skeptical foundation, psychology, advanced interviewing skills, parapsychology, spiritualism, as well as the "Ghost Excavation" methodology created by John Sabol. It breaks the mold of the current basic methods of looking for ghosts and chasing shadows and instead looks at how to help the client as well as have them help you create repeatable spontaneous events in a specific way. His fifth book, Handbook for the Amateur Cryptozoologist examines the field of cryptozoology with a critical and balanced approach. His latest effort, Handbook for the Amateur UFO Investigator, was released in 2017 and focuses on the cultural and historical references behind UFOs while providing the reader with a solid understanding of interviewing methods as well as onsite investigation and offsite research techniques and observations. Brian holds a Ph.D. in Metaphysical Humanistic Science specializing in metaphysical science from the Institute of Metaphysical Humanistic Science, is an ordained minister, and is a state licensed wedding officiant in the state of Ohio. He is also a public speaker appearing at various paranormal conferences, conventions, library, and other public and private speaking engagements.

Some of the above books are also available as an eBook. Click on the box above to view the entire list of books available in all formats.

More information about Brian, including full bio and appearances please click the logo above.

About Ghost Help

Ghost Help began as Ohio Paranormal Investigation Network in 1996. O.P.I.N. was a paranormal investigation group based in northeast Ohio that was reborn many times over the years. The primary goal and motto was; "Educating the Public, One Person at a Time." We still feel that this motto is critical even after the group is no longer actively seeking cases. In late 2011 the group formally disbanded and the Director (Brian D. Parsons) decided to reinvent the group using former cases, parapsychology, psychology, skeptical viewpoints, as well as other methodologies. Brian ultimately created the "E4" Method of client-centered ghost investigation. He conducted case studies with the help of a network of professionals from mid-2012 until late 2013 using the "E4" Method and is currently on hiatus from active investigation. He is still active in many other aspects of the paranormal and anomalous fields.

Despite the group no longer being active we felt that continuing to provide education to new investigative teams was crucial to our goals. The vision has always been to "alter the culture" by raising the standards of the average group while increasing the knowledge of teams coming into the field. We also feel strongly about leaving our knowledge for others. We also felt that we could educate clients as well on the basics of what is happening to them in addition to how to handle some situations. We ultimately opted to create two distinct websites under one site that would help cater to both sides.

Throughout its history there have been many members of O.P.I.N. The original group was originally made of students of Lakeland Community College as well as friends, and friends of friends, from other areas. Our first goals were to investigate and research local urban legend claims. While many of the group took things seriously there was a large portion that were merely out for the thrill. Those of us who took it seriously branched off from the others and began to do deep research on ghosts, parapsychology, investigation methods, and many other aspects we felt we needed to know to be successful in the paranormal field. The group name did not come about until after we had decided to form the group geared toward helping clients. We had bounced around a lot of silly names and we had made fun of a handful of groups we saw that made acronyms of their names. The status quo has always been surrounding the use of acronyms or abbreviations of words signifying the group name. We had tossed a lot of words around pertaining to potential focus or goals of the group. My idea was to create a group that was part of a vast network of other groups, professionals in various fields, and other resources that would help make the field be taken seriously by science.

During our first client-based case our client, a friend of a next door neighbor's father of one of our investigators, we were asked who was in charge. Our initial statement was that we all shared the responsibility of the group. The homeowner laughed and stated that a successful group had to have a person in charge to provide leadership and direction, someone who had leadership abilities and knew the subject matter the best. All eyes slowly turned to Brian and it was then that he took the reins of the group. It was a few days later that the name Ohio Paranormal Investigation Network (O.P.I.N.) was accepted by a majority vote. The group went without a formal website for its first year or so. A few members had their own sites that served as portals for the group. Ultimately, Brian's site on the free site Geocities would be the last one standing and served as the main site for the group until 2000. A website was then created on Angelfire which still exists, yet is no longer updated.

After a hiatus Brian brought the group back to life in late 2006. Deciding the group needed a permanent identity he moved the group to its current home at Ghost Help.net. The intention was to slowly morph the name of the group away from O.P.I.N. to Ghost Help to steer it away from the mounting number of groups that used "Ohio" and "paranormal", and combinations of, in their group names. However, there was some opposition from within the group as well as the fact it was very well established. In the fall of 2011, as the group continued to celebrate 15 years of existence, Brian suddenly decided to pull the plug on the group due to a number of internal and external issues. While the formal formation of the group no longer existed, Brian continued to investigate under the O.P.I.N. banner for the next couple of years using the "E4" Method with a group of professionals as well as others who assisted in this new style of investigation methodology. Following a couple of case wrap-ups in late 2013 Brian again closed the book on the group. Since then he has decided to move on from group operation, but not away from being a part of the paranormal investigation field.

Halloween has always been a celebrated time of year for all involved in the paranormal community. It is always at time where we speak at libraries and other functions and the general public gives us a lot of attention. While it used to be a special thing the positive attention has now become more year round. O.P.I.N. always celebrated the season by changing its colors from teal and bright green to orange, decorating the site with glowing candles, and changing its logo to an orange color from September through Halloween. Originally, teal and orange were the first colors used for the group. The main color went more to variations of green and ultimately took on blue as a supporting color. The background of the group site has been black for a majority of the time which is one of the reasons for the new Ghost Help having a white background for its new direction.

Ghost Help