Published 16/08/2026 • Updated 16/08/2026 by Joanne Jones

25 Questions to Ask a Psychic Medium During a Reading

By Joanne Jones | Founder of Trusted Psychics | Psychic Medium | 30+ Years' Experience

Knowing what questions to ask a psychic medium can help you feel more prepared for your reading. But you don't need to arrive with a page full of perfectly worded questions or feel that you have to control where every minute of the conversation goes.

After more than 30 years working within psychic services, I've found that the number of questions somebody prepares often matters far less than understanding why they want to ask them.

That's why, before writing a long list of questions, I recommend asking yourself one first:

Why would the answer matter to me?

Understanding that can tell you far more about what you're hoping to take from a psychic medium reading.

“If you're still deciding whether mediumship is the type of reading you're looking for, our guide to Medium Readings explains more about how telephone medium readings work and what you can reasonably expect from the experience.”

— Joanne Jones, Trusted Psychics

What Are the Best Questions to Ask a Psychic Medium?

The best questions to ask a psychic medium tend to have two qualities: They are open enough to allow the reader, through intuition or their psychic senses, to respond, but meaningful enough to reflect what you genuinely want to explore.

You may simply want to know whether the medium receives anything about the personality of the person they feel they are connecting with. You might be interested in a shared memory, an important family event or something that happened after the person passed away.

You might not have a particular question at all.

Sometimes the most useful starting point is simply giving the reader an opportunity to tell you what they are receiving before you provide too much background.

A psychic medium reading is still a conversation, so you shouldn't feel as though you have to sit silently trying to catch the reader out. Equally, if you explain the person, relationship, memory, and circumstances inside the question, you have given the medium much of the information yourself.

The aim isn't to make your questions difficult. It's to leave enough room for the reader to do their part.

25 Questions to Ask a Psychic Medium During a Reading

There’s no requirement to ask all of these questions when sitting down for a reading. Instead, think of this list as providing inspiration for times when you can’t think of anything to ask, or when you worry that your brain might suddenly go blank.

Simply pick questions that apply to you. More meaningful questions will likely feel natural anyway, so there’s probably no need to force yourself through the whole list.

Start with open questions where possible and allow the psychic medium time to answer. If you don’t understand something they say, you can always go back and ask for clarification later.

1. What Can You Tell Me About the Person You Are Sensing?

You don’t need to reveal who you hope the psychic medium will sense right away. By asking this open question, you give the reader a chance to describe who they believe they are sensing and share why they think this person may be significant to you.

2. What Impressions Are You Getting About Our Relationship?

If you have a particular loved one in mind when you book a reading, chances are you’ll want to know if they have anything to say about your relationship. Instead of explaining your relationship first, start with an open question like this one and leave some room for the medium to share what they think they’re receiving.

3. Are You Picking up Anything About Their Personality?

The little traits that made somebody who they were are often among our strongest memories of that person. Asking this question allows the psychic medium room to describe potential personality traits, habits, or other distinguishing characteristics without you having to explain them first.

4. Is There a Shared Memory That Seems Important?

You’ll likely have countless memories of someone you’ve lost. However, if there’s one particular memory that still stands out to you more than others, don’t feel you have to mention it outright. Instead, ask if a shared memory seems important and then see where the conversation goes.

5. Does Anything Come Through About Something We Didn’t Get to Say?

Not every relationship is perfectly resolved when someone dies. They may have passed away unexpectedly, or maybe there were words left unsaid between you two. If this is something you want to explore, feel free to ask. But remember this can be an emotional topic, so don’t feel you have to delve into it if you don’t want to.

6. Are You Receiving Anything Connected With an Important Date?

Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other significant dates can all hold special memories. If there’s a date that’s important to you for any reason, feel free to ask whether the medium is receiving anything they think may be connected to that date or time of year. Just be sure to start with an open question first.

7. Is Anything Coming Through About Our Family?

Family means different things to different people. If the person you lost had a strong connection to their family that you’re hoping the psychic medium will reference, ask this question first and give the medium time to explain.

8. Is There Any Acknowledgement of Changes in My Life Since They Died?

Life doesn’t stop just because someone we care about has died. In fact, it can often hurt more when life goes on and you know they’re not here to experience things with you. If something significant has happened to you since they died and you’ve been thinking about that person again as a result, it’s okay to ask if the psychic medium picks that up.

9. Are You Picking up Anything Connected With Their Interests?

Whether professional or personal, interests such as hobbies, music, sports, and favourite activities can be strong reminders of someone we’ve lost. By asking this open question, you allow the reader room to mention anything they believe they’re receiving connected to your loved one’s interests.

10. Does a Particular Place Seem Significant?

Family homes, holiday locations, and other places we associate with certain people can hold years of memories. If you’re wondering whether a medium will mention a specific place that’s important to you, there’s no need to tell them right away. Just ask if they’re receiving anything they think might be connected to a location.

11. Are You Receiving Anything Connected With an Object or Possession?

Objects like jewellery, photographs and books can also hold important memories of people who have died. You can frame this question around anything from a loved one’s favourite blanket to the chair they always sat in to drink their morning coffee.

12. Are You Getting Anything About a Name or Nickname?

Names, shortened versions of names, and family nicknames can all mean a lot to us. Instead of telling the psychic medium which name you’re hoping they’ll mention, broaden the question to allow them to explain whether they’re receiving anything around names.

13. Does Anything Connected With a Family Tradition Come Through?

Family traditions can be as unique as the people that shared them. Whether it’s based on holidays, meals you always used to eat together, or something your family did every weekend, this open question gives the medium room to respond without you having to explain your family tradition.

14. What Impressions Are You Receiving About a Difficult Relationship?

Relationships with people who have died can be complicated. Love, resentment, distance, apologies we never got to say; they can all exist together. If you had a difficult relationship with someone who has died, feel free to ask what the psychic medium is picking up. You can then take what they say and decide for yourself if it applies.

15. Is There Anything They Would Want Me to Remember?

Sometimes people aren't looking for an answer to a definite question. They may want to know whether the medium receives anything that brings a memory, or part of that person's personality back to mind. Keep the question open and allow the reader to explain what they believe they are sensing.

16. Are You Receiving Anything About the Circumstances Around Their Passing?

This question can be very sensitive, depending on how someone passed away. You never have to talk about anything you’re uncomfortable discussing with a psychic medium. A professional should also recognise when to handle a topic with sensitivity, rather than trying to dramatise someone’s passing.

17. Does Anything Seem Connected With What’s Happening in My Life Now?

When you have major changes in your life, this can bring back feelings of loss. If you’re looking for a sign from someone who has died, this open question allows the psychic medium to explain whether they’re receiving anything they believe may be connected to your current circumstances.

18. Is There Anything Connected With Children or Grandchildren?

New babies, pregnancies, graduations, and other family milestones can sometimes make someone’s absence even harder to cope with. If there have been recent changes in your family that you would like to explore in a reading, this question gives you the opportunity to do so without having to explain every detail.

19. I’ve Been Dreaming About Someone Who Died. Does Anything Around That Come Through?

Dreaming about people after they’ve died is one reason why some people seek out psychics in the first place. But a psychic shouldn’t tell you your dreams were definitely that person sending you a message. They can offer an interpretation if you want one, but you can still ask this question if you feel the dreams are significant.

20. Is There a Reason a Particular Memory Keeps Coming Back to Me?

Perhaps you and your loved one have a special song, or you suddenly remember them every time you see a certain type of car. If there’s a particular memory that keeps popping into your head lately with no obvious trigger, feel free to ask this question. You can explore it together without assuming why it’s there.

21. What Are You Receiving Without Me Giving You More Information?

If you find yourself stuck and aren’t sure who the psychic medium thinks they’re connecting with, simply ask. There’s no need to quiz them on names or flick through your family tree until you think of someone they may be sensing. Just ask the question and allow them time to continue explaining what they think they’re receiving.

If it’s clear, great! If not, the psychic medium may have more details that can help you recognise who it is.

22. Does Anyone Else Seem Particularly Prominent?

Just because you have several family members or friends that have passed on your mind, a psychic does not guarantee you’ll hear about everyone you hope to hear about in your reading.

23. Do You Work With Spirit Guides?

Spirit guides are used by some psychics and mediums but not all. If spirit guides are something you’d like to ask about during your reading, ask the psychic if they work with them as part of their practice first. You don’t want to assume they will mention them during your session if that’s not something they do.

If they do work with spirit guides, feel free to then ask them what impressions they receive from your guides.

24. Can You Explain What You Mean by That?

Okay, so this one isn’t really a question you’d specifically ask about someone who has died. However, this is probably one of the most useful questions to ask a psychic medium during any reading.

If something they say doesn’t make sense to you, don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify. Let them explain what they meant further and give them a chance to develop on what they’re saying.

You can even say: “I don’t recognise that at the moment. Can you tell me more?”

25. Is There Anything Else You Feel Is Important Before We Finish?

As you near the end of your reading, allow yourself time to see if there’s anything else the psychic feels is important to mention before your time is up. It also gives them a chance to ask if there’s anything else you’d like to explore before the end of the session.

Before You Ask a Medium: Find the “Question Underneath the Question”

One thing I've noticed repeatedly over the years is that the question somebody plans to ask isn't always the question they really want answered.

That's why I think it can help to find what I call the question underneath the question.

Imagine you want to ask whether your dad thinks you should sell the family home. On the surface, that's a question about a house and a decision.

But perhaps your dad lived there for 40 years. It's where Christmas happened, where the grandchildren visited and where much of your family history took place.

Selling it might feel less like a property decision and more like closing a chapter.

The question underneath could therefore be:

“Am I betraying that part of my life by moving on?”

Or perhaps you've recently had a baby and find yourself wondering whether your mum knows about her new grandchild.

The deeper issue may not really be whether she “knows”.

It may be that becoming a parent yourself has made you miss her in a completely different way. You wish she were here to see this part of your life.

This is why I recommend taking the question that matters most to you and asking:

Why would this answer matter to me?

Now you're much closer to understanding what you are really bringing into the reading.

You don't necessarily have to explain all of that to the medium. This exercise is for you.

It helps separate the question you're planning to ask from the reason the answer feels important.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Psychic Medium Reading

Don’t choose a reader because their profile contains the longest list of abilities; look at whether their actual experience matches what you're hoping to explore. Maybe you should consider a love psychic reading if your questions involve love and relationships, especially if your lost loved one was your partner and you are struggling to find a way forward.

Does the reader specifically offer mediumship? Does their profile clearly explain their abilities? Does their style sound right for you? Would you prefer somebody gentle and conversational, or are you more comfortable with a reader whose approach is direct?

The distinction matters because a psychic, a medium and a clairvoyant are not necessarily interchangeable labels. If you're finding the terminology confusing, our Psychic vs Medium: What's the Difference? guide explains those differences in more detail.

Choose the reader whose experience best matches the reason for your call.

Should You Prepare Questions Before a Mediumship Reading?

Writing down three things that genuinely matter to you is often more useful than preparing 20 questions you feel obliged to work through.

A simple framework can help:

Before the Reading

What made me book this reading now?

During the Reading

Do I understand what the medium has actually said?

Before the Finish

Is anything unresolved for me?

Very often, asking for clarification is more useful than asking another question.

Questions to Ask a Medium About Deceased Loved Ones

If you're having a mediumship reading because a deceased loved one has been particularly on your mind, it's natural to have questions you'd like to explore.

You may be interested in your relationship with them, shared memories, aspects of their personality or significant family connections. An anniversary, birthday, wedding, new baby, or another life event may also have made that person particularly present in your thoughts.

Some people consider having a mediumship reading after experiencing dreams or coincidences, or when searching for messages of hope from their deceased loved ones. If that's part of what brought you here, our guide to 15 Signs a Deceased Loved One Is Near You explores some of the experiences people commonly interpret in that way.

Your questions don't necessarily have to relate only to deceased loved ones. Depending on the reader's ability, you may also be interested in spirit guides or other forms of spiritual guidance. Not every psychic medium works in the same way, so read the reader's profile to see if they are the best match for you.

During the reading itself, however, you don't need to tell the medium every detail before they have had an opportunity to respond.

If you are interested in what the medium brings to the conversation independently, start with less and allow the detail to develop.

How Much Information Should You Give a Psychic Medium?

Some people become so concerned about “giving something away” that they feel they should answer every question with yes or no.

That's not necessary.

A telephone psychic medium reading is still a human conversation.

The useful distinction is between responding to the reader and building the reading for them.

If a reader mentions a strong impression around music and it immediately makes sense to you, you can say that it does.

Give the reader an opportunity to continue.

Joanne's “One Detail at a Time” Approach

When somebody isn't sure how much information to give, my advice is very simple:

Recognise → Confirm → Pause → Let the reader continue.

• If something makes sense, acknowledge it.
• If something is clearly wrong, say so.
• If you don't understand, ask the reader to clarify.

You don't need to fill every silence with more information or find the connection on the reader's behalf.

I call this “one detail at a time”.

It keeps the reading conversational without accidentally making you the one supplying most of the story.

And importantly, you don't need to become suspicious or deliberately difficult to do it.

You can be open to the experience while still leaving enough room for the reader to say what they actually have to say.

What Questions Should You Avoid Asking a Psychic Medium?

There is no forbidden list of questions you can ask in a mediumship reading. But there are questions that place too much responsibility on a reading.

Asking for an exact date of death, guaranteed proof that a particular person is communicating, certainty about what will happen next or instructions about an important life decision asks the reader to provide something a responsible reading cannot guarantee.

The distinction I would make is between asking for perspective and asking for certainty.

A reading can be an opportunity to explore impressions, possibilities, and personal meaning. It should not become a substitute for your own judgement or for appropriate professional advice.

That is particularly important with medical, legal, financial, or mental-health matters. A psychic or medium should never replace a suitably qualified professional in those areas.

Instead of asking… Consider asking…

• Can you guarantee Mum is here? What are you receiving that you associate with the person coming through?
• Tell me whether I should move house. What impressions are you receiving around this change in my life?
• Will everything definitely be okay? What themes or possibilities are you picking up around my situation?
• Prove that you're speaking to Dad. What can you tell me without me giving you more information?
• Tell me exactly what happens next. What direction or possibilities are you sensing at the moment?
• What decision should I make? Is anything coming through that might give me another perspective on the decision?

You still get to ask about what matters to you, but you retain ownership of how you use the answer.

That is an important distinction.

Should You Test a Psychic Medium During a Reading?

People sometimes approach a medium reading from one of two extremes. At one end, somebody is determined to reveal absolutely nothing because they want to test the reader.

At the other end, somebody wants the connection to happen so much that they unintentionally provide the reader with names, relationships, memories, and explanations before the reading has really had an opportunity to develop.

If something makes sense, say so; if it doesn't, say that too. If something is too vague for you to understand, ask the reader to explain what they mean.

One of the most useful things you can say during a reading is simply:

“I'm not sure. Can you tell me a little more?”

What If Something a Psychic Medium Says Doesn't Make Sense?

Not everything said during a psychic medium reading will necessarily mean something to you.

If you don't recognise something, say that you don't recognise it. And you don't have to make it fit.

The reader may be able to clarify what they mean or provide more context. Additional information might make the original impression clearer.

What I wouldn't recommend is searching through every relative, neighbour, former colleague, and family friend until you eventually find somebody who could fit what was said.

There is a difference between recognising information and finding a way to make information fit.

That doesn't mean the connection has no personal significance to you. It simply means it is useful to separate what was actually said from what you later interpreted it to mean.

What Should You Not Tell a Psychic Medium Before a Reading?

Don’t go into your reading overloaded with information. You don’t have to withhold information about yourself. And you don’t have to answer unnecessary questions.

If you are interested in what the reader brings to the table on their own, refrain from telling them the entire story before they have had a chance to respond.

You don’t have to start with your loved one’s full name, relation to you and your family, their personality traits, cause of death and the memory you hope the reader will mention.

Give a little information, then let the conversation flow from there. If it makes sense, say so. If it doesn’t- tell them.

Joanne Jones: The Most Important Question May Come After the Reading

Most articles about questions to ask a psychic medium concentrate entirely on what you should say during the call.

After more than 30 years working within psychic readings, I think there is another question worth asking once the conversation is over:

What did the reader actually say?

That sounds almost too simple. But memory is not a transcript.

A statement that felt tentative during a reading can become much more definite when we replay it afterwards. Something that didn't initially make sense can become attached to a person or event once we've had time to think about it.

Equally, a small detail that seemed unimportant during the call might later stand out for a reason you hadn't considered.

So before deciding whether something was accurate, inaccurate, meaningful, or irrelevant, try to remember the conversation as it actually happened.

Remember first. Interpret second.

That doesn't take anything away from the personal experience of a reading. In my view, it gives you a clearer basis for deciding what the experience meant to you.

You might also discover that the part that stays with you isn't the dramatic detail you expected beforehand.

What More Than 30 Years of Readings Have Taught Us About Questions

Trusted Psychics has been established since 1992. Today, we work with more than 400 verified readers and provide 24-hour customer support.

That gives us a perspective that goes beyond compiling a list of popular questions from search results.

We've seen that people can come to readings with very different expectations. Some know exactly who or what they want to ask about. Some have one question they have been thinking about for weeks. Others know that somebody has been on their mind but aren't entirely sure what they want to say once the call begins.

Preparation should make you feel more comfortable, not more anxious about whether you're having the reading correctly.

Can You Ask a Psychic Medium About Other Areas of Your Life?

A psychic medium may work across both psychic and mediumship readings, so it is entirely possible that the subjects you want to discuss will change during a call.

You might begin by talking about someone who has passed away and later find yourself wanting to explore past lives, a new relationship, career decision, or uncertainty about your future.

Questions about attempted communication with someone who has passed fall within mediumship. Questions about your current relationships, circumstances, choices, or possible future directions are more likely to require psychic guidance.

If your main questions are actually about your present life rather than someone who has passed, our guide to What Can a Psychic Reading Tell You? explores the areas people commonly bring to a psychic reading in more detail.

What If You Get Emotional During a Medium Reading?

You may carefully prepare your questions and then completely forget them once the reading starts.

Medium readings can involve people, relationships and memories of deceased loved ones that matter deeply to you. A conversation may affect you differently from how you imagined it would when you were calmly writing questions beforehand.

They are not a checklist you have to complete.

This is one reason I prefer three important points over 30 carefully scripted questions.

You can return to your notes when you're ready. And if you never reach the third point because something else became more meaningful during the conversation, that doesn't mean you had the reading incorrectly.

A mediumship reading should serve the person having it.

FAQs About Questions to Ask a Psychic Medium

What Is the Best First Question to Ask a Medium?

There is no single perfect opening question.

If you want to leave plenty of room for the reader, you can begin by asking what they are picking up around you or what impressions they are receiving.

If you booked specifically because someone who has passed away is on your mind, it is also perfectly reasonable to explain that mediumship is what you are hoping to explore.

You don't need an elaborate opening. The aim is simply to give the conversation somewhere to begin.

Should I Tell a Medium Who I Want to Speak To?

You can tell a medium that there is somebody particular on your mind.

What you don't necessarily need to do is immediately provide their full name, relationship to you, personality, cause of death and your most significant shared memory.

If seeing what the medium receives independently matters to you, begin with less information and allow the conversation to develop.

Can I Ask a Medium a Yes-or-No Question?

Yes.

But a yes-or-no question naturally limits the amount of information that can come back.

If you ask whether Dad is around, the conversation can quickly become centred on a yes-or-no. Asking what the medium is receiving around the person they feel they are connecting with gives them more room to explain.

There is nothing wrong with direct questions. Just consider whether you want a direct answer or a fuller response.

How Many Questions Should I Ask a Psychic Medium?

There is no correct number.

For many people, a few meaningful questions are easier to manage than a long list. They also leave room for subjects to arise that you hadn't anticipated beforehand.

Think about what you would genuinely regret forgetting to ask rather than how many questions you can fit into the call.

What If My Question Isn't Answered?

Not every question will necessarily receive an answer, and a medium shouldn't guarantee that a particular person will communicate or that every subject you want to discuss will arise.

If something important hasn't been covered, you can ask about it directly.

But there may still be occasions when the reader has nothing further to offer on that particular subject.

What Should I Say If Something the Medium Says Is Wrong?

Say that you don't recognise it.

You can be polite without pretending something makes sense when it doesn't.

If appropriate, ask the reader to clarify or expand on what they mean. Then allow them to do so without immediately searching for a way to fit the information.

What's the Most Important Question to Ask a Psychic Medium?

There isn't one question that everybody needs to ask during the reading.

But there are two questions I think are particularly useful on either side of it.

Before the reading:

Why does this question matter to me?

After the reading:

What did the reader actually say?

The first helps you understand what you're hoping to explore.

The second helps you reflect on the experience without accidentally changing what happened.

Final Thoughts: You Don't Need the Perfect Questions

After many years around psychic readings, the advice I'd give is simple: don't worry about finding the perfect question.

Write down the things that genuinely matter to you, give the medium room to respond and don't be afraid to ask for clarification when you need it.

Why would the answer to this matter to me?

Because sometimes understanding why you need to ask something is every bit as valuable as deciding exactly how to ask it.

— Joanne Jones, Trusted Psychics

Ready to Ask Your Questions?

Whether you have one particular question on your mind or simply want to see where the conversation leads, you can browse our live readers, choose a psychic medium to call, or, if you prefer typing, you can choose a reader who is available on Psychic Messenger.

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