Readings. Mediums. Tea Leaves. I never put much stock in any of that stuff. Seemed roll-my-eyes hokey to me. But Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry piqued my curiosity. Nineteen-year-old Tyler Henry, medium and star of the show, is sweet, oddly naïve, unassuming, and appears slightly uncomfortable. Surprisingly, I found the show gripping. And Tyler Henry has a sensitivity when he talks to his clients that doesn’t feel exploitative at all. My interview with Tyler confirmed my change of heart. Hopefully you’ll give it a chance too.
An Interview: Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry
Q: How old you were when you knew you had a special ability?
Henry: I was ten when I had my first experience. I woke up and knew my grandmother was going to pass away. I told my mom, and moments later we got the call.
Q: How does information come to you?
Henry: With my grandmother, it was an awareness. As time went on, I found I was able to receive information through physical sensations and mental images. I rely on clairvoyance, which is clear seeing, but I also have clairsentience, clear knowing.
Q: Did it ever freak you out?
Henry: Absolutely! Growing up, I didn’t understand what I would go through. At times, I’d be woken up in the middle of the night, seeing people standing in my room. And as time went on, I understood that most people couldn’t relate–that’s when I found I started getting a little afraid, because then I felt very different.
Q: Now do you see yourself as playing a role in people’s lives?
Henry: My role is to provide comfort and deliver messages that have the biggest impact, not only for my clients, but their loved ones who have passed away. I find that the connections I make are about healing, compassion, forgiveness and closure.
Q: Do you get to take a vacation? It sounds like it could be exhausting.
Henry: Though I’m always picking up little pieces of information, I disconnect as much as I can. It’s physically, emotionally, and mentally draining, but the benefit is seeing the impact it makes. It really makes it worth it.
Q: When you were younger, was it hard for you socially?
Henry: Middle school was particularly difficult because I was coming to an understanding not only of my ability but the fact that I was different, which I think so many people can relate to and I came to a realization about, and for me that was a whole process where I had to really find an acceptance and, as many people can relate, that can be difficult when people are bullying you or scrutinizing you. That was something I had to deal with.
Q: Did you have support around you?
Henry: I was very lucky to have good support systems and incredible parents. That was in a big way what got me through. I’m an only child, so I had to rely on my parents and I didn’t feel like I could rely on people my own age.
Q: As you hit adolescence, different is cool at a certain point. Did you experience that?
Henry: As I got into high school, people became much more polarized. There were people who were incredibly supportive and people who were not, but that was something I was thankfully able to cope with.
Q: I would worry if I were in your life that you could see my soul, like there’s something about your capacity that will give information that you might not want to share. Do you ever feel that way?
Henry: There are times information comes through and I have to be diplomatic because I’m dealing with people’s personal lives. I focus on clients’ most vulnerable, traumatic moments. I have to be careful and gentle with how I present things. That’s tough to navigate, but the only information I ask for from spirits is information that can help, heal, and eliminate barriers my clients have.
Q: Is that because you set mental limitations or because you’re sensitive in delivery?
Henry: I establish that I only want to receive information that I know can make a difference. It would be a burden to receive negative information that I couldn’t change. With delivery, I am understanding, compassionate, and empathetic to people’s feelings.
Q: Is it time-bound?
Henry: Time isn’t a big focus on the other side. Spirits can come through differently depending on how long ago they passed. Sometimes, if someone’s passed recently, they won’t know how to communicate and have to learn.
Q: The person who passed has to acquire skills?
Henry: They have to familiarize themselves with their environment on the other side and understand how to communicate and give signs. Some are more naturally inclined than others. In our world, we all communicate differently. Not much in that capacity changes on the other side.
Q: Are you able to see people in your own life? Can you connect with your grandmother?
Henry: To an extent, I’m able to connect to my own people, but I haven’t felt my grandmother come through in quite some time because her soul is where it needs to be. I don’t need to stay in touch because I know she’s fine, whereas I need to hear from other people’s loved ones to hear whether they’re fine. I’m a little too biased to interpret my own future. I know too much about myself.[adrotate group=”6″]
Q: Well it could be incredibly freaky, right?
Henry: Yeah, I don’t know if I’d want to know my own life. It’s funny because I see the benefit every single day in readings that I give, but personally, I don’t know if I would want to know things about my future. I give people that option in a reading, to focus on whatever they want.
Q: Do your parents worry about you?
Henry: I have an incredibly close relationship with my parents. They’re incredible and with me every step of the way. My mom has been such a support in living with me part time. They, like anybody else, have concerns, but they know I’ve really found my purpose and I think that’s something they know I can’t go wrong with.
Q: In Hollywood Medium, your work with celebrities. Is that intimidating?
Henry: When I started it was a little intimidating but often, I don’t recognize my clients. As time went on I forgot the celebrity aspect. You see the human side of them by doing a reading. I go into that little world, and it’s a different world where I’m not taking fame into consideration.
Q: Have you had a favorite?
Henry: They’re all so good in different ways, but Margaret Cho was one of my favorites. I can’t wait for you to see that one. So much came through in Margaret’s reading.
Q: Can you do readings over the phone?
Henry: We can. The same way I read celebrities on the show, I build your process an hour before and go through full meditation to connect and then deliver the message. I have a waiting list, but encourage people to inquire at my website, www.mediumtylerhenry.com
Q: I’m hooked and can’t wait to watch!
Henry: Thank you so much. I really appreciate that.
