Mary Ann O’Neill

This case study focuses on the role that After Death Communication (ADC), between Dr. Mary Ann O’Neill and her decease spouse, Bill, played in grief and trauma resolution. They knew each other for sixty years and Bill died suddenly just short of their twenty-six-wedding anniversary. Two nights after Bill’s death, he initiated telepathic visit. In a thought-voice (TV), he told her that he “was with family; she was OK; listen to her heart and follow her heart.” A week after his death, in responding to his emails, she discovered his secret multiple long-term romantic and sexualized cyber affairs. Four months later, after an extensive search, she could not find a clinician that was knowledgeable of ADC; however, she completed three years of therapy, for complicated grief, with a licensed psychologist that did not label ADC as psychosis. This case study is descriptive research, that aligns ADC journal content with cyber emotional affair treatment variables and the therapeutic role that ADC played in Mary Ann’s dual trauma (sudden death and betrayal) treatment. ADC dialogue is presented in full in publication, Our Book O’Neill, M. 2025). The purpose of the book and this study is to educate therapists and clients to explore ADC, when it is reported in grief therapy. ADC is described as a conscious telepathic process in which information (thought, visual, auditory, tactile) is transferred between living and deceased. ADC occurrences were documented in MaryAnn’s journal. They usually occurred after meditation, during the hypnagogic state, or in a conscious state when processing feelings and thoughts of rejection and low self-esteem. The literature search addressed conflicting (materialistic and spiritual) views of ADC and treatment goals for the unfaithful spouse to process grief and heal trauma variables resulting from cyber emotional affairs. Their frequencies were categorized and reported in the following: 1) Accepting Responsibility; 2) Apologizing; 3) Expressing Love; 4) Continued Support. Mary Ann stated that, for her, the comments served as vital intermittent replacement thoughts in her cognitive behavior intervention treatment.

Dr. Mary Ann O’Neill is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Educational Psychologist with over five decades of experience in clinical, educational, correctional and community mental health settings. Throughout her extensive career, she has supported individuals, families, students and professionals navigating life’s most complex emotion and developmental transitions.

Mary Ann earned her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology, Masters in Marriage, Family, Child Counseling and Bachelor’s in Social Work—all from the University of San Francisco. Her expertise spans preschool through late-life adult development, family therapy, trauma recovery, special educational assessment. Mary Ann recently retired form her role as Director of Student Support Services at Dr. Lewis D. Stallworth Charter School. There she served as a clinical supervisor, educational psychologist and counselor for over a decade.  Prior to that for twenty-three years, she was as an Educational Psychologist in the Juvenile Justice Division of the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.  Here she provided psychological assessment and therapy to incarcerate youth with special needs.

In addition to her clinical and education experience Mary Ann has taught as an adjunct faculty at National University, University of the Pacific, Hartnell College Sierra College and College of the Redwoods.

In 2025 she published Our Book, a pioneering exploration of grief therapy that embraces trauma-informed approaches and thoughtfully considers the role of after-death communication as part of her healing journey.

Now in private practice, she focuses on late-stage life development, grief integration and spiritual reflection. With deep empathy and decades of professional insight she     creates a safe space for clients to explore profound loss, life transitions’ and  the enduring presence of love beyond form.