Table of Contents
- How We Evaluated These Local Psychic Reading Reviews
- Quick Comparison: Readers, Specialties, and Session Lengths
- 1. David Robison: Straightforward Intuitive and Tarot Readings
- 2. Dawn Barker: Astrology, Channeling, and Medical Intuition
- 3. Deanna Gloyd: Akashic Records and Energy Clearing
- 4. Vanessa Lee: Tarot, Numerology, and Psychic Life Coaching
- 5. Carol White Bear: Tarot, Palmistry, and House Clearings
- 6. Shari Peterson: Intuitive Counseling and Meditation Teaching
- What to Expect During a Psychic Reading
- Questions to Ask a Psychic Reader
- How to Spot a Fake Psychic
- Post-Reading Integration: Making the Guidance Stick
- Specialization Matrix: Matching Your Question to the Right Reader
- Safety and Scam Prevention: A Quick Checklist
- Comparative Pricing Guide: What Sessions Cost
- Choosing a Reputable Reader: What Actually Matters
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: September 12, 2026
How We Evaluated These Local Psychic Reading Reviews
A psychic reading is a session with an intuitive practitioner who uses tools like tarot, astrology, or channeling to offer guidance on relationships, career, health, and personal growth. At For Heaven's Sake, we've hosted professional readers and psychic fairs since 2000, so we judge local psychic reading reviews by verified client testimonials, years of practice, and range of specialties over marketing language. The six readers below all work out of our Lakewood location at 2680 Youngfield Street in Lakewood, Colorado.
Quick Comparison: Readers, Specialties, and Session Lengths
Session lengths run 15 to 90 minutes, with most appointments at 30 or 60 minutes. For a first session, 30 minutes usually covers one or two questions in depth.
| Reader | Primary Specialties | Typical Session Length |
|---|---|---|
| David Robison | Intuitive readings, tarot, spiritual counseling | 15-60 minutes |
| Dawn Barker | Astrology, channeling, medical intuition | 15-60 minutes |
| Deanna Gloyd | Akashic Records, energy clearing, mediumship | 15-60 minutes |
| Vanessa Lee | Tarot, numerology, psychic life coaching | 30-90 minutes |
| Carol White Bear | Tarot, palmistry, house clearings | 15-60 minutes |
| Shari Peterson | Intuitive counseling, meditation teaching | 15-90 minutes |
1. David Robison: Straightforward Intuitive and Tarot Readings
David emphasizes empathy over theatrics. He works through intuitive readings and tarot, with a background in energy work and spiritual counseling, and helps clients think through relationship and career decisions rather than delivering sweeping predictions. His conversational style suits people prepared to talk through real situations.
2. Dawn Barker: Astrology, Channeling, and Medical Intuition
Dawn's range is unusually wide: astrologer, channel, psychic medium, and medical intuitive, plus dream interpretation, power animals, and gemstones. She describes her style as straightforward and no-holes-barred, with humor woven through, and studied astrology and channeling with the internationally renowned Michael channel Emily Baumbach. She channels the Michael Entity along with spirit guides and loved ones on the other side. If you want a reader who can move between an astrology chart and mediumship in one session, she's the pick.
3. Deanna Gloyd: Akashic Records and Energy Clearing
Deanna focuses on the Akashic Records, which practitioners describe as an energetic record of a soul's journey, pairing each session with energetic clearing and practical action steps. Her clients often come feeling stuck in recurring patterns around relationships, health, or money. One client, Shonda, described waking the next day after her first session "feeling like a million pounds lifted." Deanna also works as a dowser and medium, clearing spirits from homes and businesses. Sessions are fast-paced, so bring your main intention.
4. Vanessa Lee: Tarot, Numerology, and Psychic Life Coaching
Vanessa has read for clients for over 30 years, mostly through referrals, and only recently stepped into public practice. She studied under award-winning psychic Suzanne Wagner, and her detailed tarot readings identify which chakras need attention, the current path you're on, and subconscious blocks in the way. Her numerology work identifies your personal year and when it shifts, including the "dark night of the soul" phase. Palmistry, Feng Shui, and astrocartography round out her practice. Longtime client Vickie Blume calls her "the real deal, so gifted."
5. Carol White Bear: Tarot, Palmistry, and House Clearings
Carol brings a broad toolkit: tarot, oracle, palmistry, clairvoyance, clairsentience, clairaudience, Reiki, hypnosis, NLP, spirit animals, and aura work, plus house and business clearings by request. One Denver client, Katie, described her as "such an amazing energy, kindness, and a really great reading." Her sessions are warm and grounding rather than analytical.
6. Shari Peterson: Intuitive Counseling and Meditation Teaching
Shari's story is the most unusual of the group. After surviving the United 811 event in February 1989, she began a decades-long study of personal development, wrote "The View From 13F," and appeared on Oprah, Turning Point, and It's a Miracle. She now works as an intuitive, tarot reader, and meditation teacher. Her sessions lean toward counseling: expect a conversation about where you are and what's blocking you, with meditation practices you can take home. She also offers online consultations.
What to Expect During a Psychic Reading
First readings make people nervous, mostly from not knowing what the hour will look like. Here's the honest version, start to finish.
Before you sit down
You'll be greeted, shown to a private room, and given a minute to settle. At our Lakewood location, readings happen in a quiet room with the door closed, no walk-through traffic, and no one listening in. A notebook and pen help, and many clients record with the reader's permission. Ask first; some readers prefer not to be recorded.
The opening conversation (about 5 minutes)
Most readers start by asking what you want guidance on. This is not a test; you can say "I'm not sure, I just feel stuck" and the reading will still work. If you'd rather not lead with your question, ask the reader what they're picking up first. Many experienced readers prefer this because it lets them demonstrate accuracy before you color their impressions with details.
The reading itself (the bulk of the session)
What happens depends on the reader's tools. A tarot reader shuffles, lays cards, and narrates what they see. An astrologer may work from your birth chart and talk through timing and cycles. An Akashic Records practitioner will often close their eyes and dictate impressions rapidly while you write. A medium describes who they're sensing and asks you to confirm or deny. In every case, you're allowed to say "that doesn't land" or "I don't recognize that." Good readers adjust; if a reader gets defensive when you push back, that's information about the reader, not about you.
What it feels like emotionally
People cry, laugh, and sit silently saying "huh" a lot. All of that is normal. A reading can surface something you've been avoiding, uncomfortable in the moment even when it's useful. If you feel overwhelmed, say so; a reputable reader will slow down or pause.
The wrap-up (last 5 to 10 minutes)
This is your window for follow-up questions, so save your most important one for here if you didn't get to it earlier. Ask what the reader suggests you do with the information, and whether there's anything they want you to write down. Many readers, including Shari Peterson and Vanessa Lee, suggest a practice like journaling on a theme or a short meditation to carry the session forward.
After you leave
Give yourself an hour before making any big decision based on the reading. Write down the three things that struck you most while they're fresh. Some of what you hear won't make sense until weeks later, a normal pattern rather than a sign the reading failed.
If you're wondering how to get the most from an intuitive session, the general advice from counseling professionals is to treat it as a reflective conversation rather than a prediction service. That framing holds up well in practice.
Questions to Ask a Psychic Reader
The best questions are specific and open-ended. "What should I know about my career right now?" works better than "Will I get the job?" Bring questions about the area where you feel most stuck. If you're unsure where to start, ask the reader what they're picking up before you say anything, which lets you gauge accuracy for yourself. You can also ask about their training, how long they've been reading, and what tools they use; a confident reader will answer all three without hesitation.
How to Spot a Fake Psychic
A legitimate reader never pressures you into a second session, never predicts death or disaster to scare you into booking more time, and never asks for large sums to remove a curse. Those are the three biggest red flags in this field. The FTC's consumer guidance on psychic scams is clear that demands for escalating payments are a hallmark of fraud. Real readers work with you on what you bring, and they're comfortable when you say no. If a reading leaves you feeling frightened rather than clearer, that's your signal to walk away.
Post-Reading Integration: Making the Guidance Stick
A reading is only useful if you do something with it. The most common mistake is treating a session as entertainment and forgetting everything within a week. Write down the three most striking things the reader said, then revisit those notes after a month; some will make sense immediately, others may only click later. Several of our readers, including Shari Peterson and Vanessa Lee, build follow-up practices like meditation or journaling into their sessions for exactly this reason.
Specialization Matrix: Matching Your Question to the Right Reader
Different questions suit different readers. For timing and life cycles, Vanessa's numerology and astrology work fits. For a recurring emotional block, Deanna's Akashic Records sessions go deeper. To connect with someone who has passed, Dawn, Carol, and Deanna all work in mediumship. For counseling-style support with meditation tools, Shari is the match. For a clear, grounded tarot reading on a decision you're facing, David is the easiest starting point.
Safety and Scam Prevention: A Quick Checklist
Before you book anywhere, run through this list:
- The reader has verifiable reviews or testimonials from named clients
- Session rates are published upfront with no pressure to add services
- No one has told you that you're cursed or in danger
- You're booking through a physical location or established business
- You feel free to end the session at any point
If a reader fails any of these, walk away. Our readers all work through a brick-and-mortar shop, which gives you a paper trail and a place to ask questions before you book.
Comparative Pricing Guide: What Sessions Cost
Most psychic reading listings online bury their rates behind a booking form, making it hard to compare readers before you commit. Here's how pricing works at our Applewood location.
How rates are structured
Every reader on our list works on a time-block model rather than a flat per-question fee, so your cost scales with session length, not with how many questions you ask. A 15-minute and a 60-minute session with the same reader are the same rate per minute; you're simply buying more or less time. This is the most common structure in the field and the fairest for first-timers because you can start small.
Psychic fair rates vs. standard store rates
We run regular psychic fairs, and fair pricing is the lowest-cost way to try a reader for the first time. Fair sessions are typically capped at 15 or 30 minutes, and readers rotate through the schedule, so you may not get your first-choice reader on a given fair day. Standard store sessions run longer and are booked directly with the reader, so you pay for the extra time but choose your practitioner and slot.
What drives the price up or down
Three things move the number:
- Session length. The single biggest factor. Doubling your time roughly doubles your cost.
- Reader experience. Practitioners with decades of practice and long referral lists tend to sit at the higher end of the range. Newer readers often price lower to build a client base.
- Specialty. Akashic Records and mediumship sessions are often information-dense and may run longer than a straightforward tarot pull, which affects your total even at the same per-minute rate.
How to compare two readers fairly
Don't compare total session cost; compare cost per minute at the same session length. A reader who charges more for 60 minutes than another charges for 30 minutes may actually be cheaper per minute. Ask two questions when you call: the rate for a 30-minute session and the rate for a 60-minute session. The ratio tells you whether longer sessions are discounted or priced linearly.
A realistic first-session budget
If you've never had a reading, book the shortest session a reader offers. You'll learn more about whether their style fits you in 15 minutes than from any review. If it clicks, book longer later. This keeps your first spend low and lets you sample two or three readers for the cost of one long session with a single practitioner.
Rates change as readers adjust their schedules and availability, so confirm current pricing when you book. Call the Applewood store at (303) 284-3470 to check what each reader is charging this month and which fair dates are coming up.
Choosing a Reputable Reader: What Actually Matters
Credentials in this field aren't like licenses in medicine, so the signals that matter are different: years of practice, named client testimonials, a clear specialty, and a physical location where you can walk in and ask questions. Our six readers have all built their practices through repeat clients and referrals, the strongest evidence a reader can offer. Trust your own reaction during the first five minutes; if the reader's style doesn't suit you, try someone else on the list.
Finding a reader you trust takes a little trial and error, and the six professionals above all work out of our Lakewood shop at 2680 Youngfield Street, where you can walk in, ask questions, and book in person. For Heaven's Sake has served the metro area since 2000 as a minority woman-owned metaphysical center, offering crystals, jewelry, books, ceremonial supplies, and regular psychic fairs alongside our reader services. Browse our reader profiles, check upcoming fair dates, and book with the practitioner whose specialty matches your question.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should you pay for a psychic reading?
Rates vary by session length and reader. At For Heaven's Sake, psychic fair sessions run $30 for 15 minutes, $50 for 30 minutes, and $100 for an hour. Standard store rates are higher: David Robison charges $30 for 15 minutes up to $120 for 60 minutes, while Vanessa Lee's regular sessions run $77 for 30 minutes up to $197 for 90 minutes. Start with a short session before committing to a longer one.
How can I verify the reputation of a local psychic reader?
Look for reviews tied to a named reader rather than a generic store listing, and check whether the shop publishes session lengths and rates up front. For Heaven's Sake has over 900 5-star reviews on Google Marketplace, and individual reader pages include client testimonials, like the one from Katie in Denver about Carol White Bear. A reader with a fixed schedule, published rates, and named reviews is easier to trust than one with none of those.
What should I look for in psychic reading reviews?
Prioritize reviews that describe a specific session: the length, the reader's name, and what the person came away with. Vague five-star ratings tell you little. Reviews mentioning a reader by name, like the testimonial from Sarah about Dawn Barker, give you something to cross-check against the reader's listed specialties. Also note whether the reviewer mentions being pressured to book again or buy extra services.
How do I prepare for a professional psychic reading?
Write down two or three questions before you arrive, since a 15 or 30 minute session moves quickly. Bring your date, time, and place of birth if you are booking astrology, numerology, or astrocartography work, because readers like Dawn Barker and Vanessa Lee need it for accuracy. Skip alcohol beforehand, arrive a few minutes early, and keep an open mind without handing over decisions about medical or financial matters.
What is the difference between a psychic reading and a mediumship session?
A psychic reading focuses on your current life: relationships, career, health patterns, and the energy around a decision. Mediumship centers on connecting with loved ones who have passed, which is a distinct skill. Some readers do both, such as Dawn Barker, who channels spirit guides and loved ones alongside astrology work. Tell the reader which one you want when you book so the session format matches your goal.