The Julia Possession Case

Julia is the pseudonym given to a woman whose possession case was documented by Dr. Richard Gallagher, a board-certified psychiatrist and professor at New York Medical College. His account, published in peer-reviewed literature, represents one of the most credible modern possession reports.

The Patient

Julia approached Catholic priests seeking help with what she described as demonic attacks. Paradoxically, she was involved in a Satanic cult and had willingly invited possession. She sought exorcism while simultaneously resisting it.

The Phenomena

Dr. Gallagher witnessed Julia levitating six inches off her bed during exorcism sessions. Objects flew across the room without physical contact. She spoke in multiple voices simultaneously. Most remarkably, she demonstrated knowledge of distant events and personal information about team members she could not possibly know.

The Medical Evaluation

Dr. Gallagher’s psychiatric evaluation found no mental illness that could account for Julia’s abilities. She was not psychotic, delusional, or suffering from dissociative identity disorder. She was lucid between episodes. Her paranormal manifestations occurred only during religious confrontation.

The Exorcism Team

A team of Catholic clergy, medical professionals, and lay assistants attended multiple exorcism sessions over several years. All members witnessed phenomena they could not explain through natural means.

The Outcome

Julia’s case remains unresolved. She never fully committed to breaking with her occult involvement. The possession was never completely successful. She reportedly continues to experience episodes.

Assessment

Dr. Gallagher’s credibility as a skeptical psychiatrist lending his professional reputation to a possession diagnosis carries significant weight. His careful distinction between mental illness and genuine possession provides a framework for evaluating such claims.