21Sep/117
What is the difference between psychics, mediums, clairvoyants, and sensitives?
I was watching a "paranormal" show and they bring in people labeled as all of the above sometimes as consultants but I don't know what the difference is. Some help would be nice. Thanx. 
And if you don't believe in the above, you're entitled to not to but I don't want you ranting on about it as an answer. You don't need to answer then. And please no religious responses.
September 21st, 2011 - 10:35
Supposedly, the difference is regarding what role they play in communication with the “spirits.”
A psychic may or may not be able to contact the spirits directly, but they can definitely sense the energy and they can tell specifically what the energy is – e.g., man, woman, age, etc. Sometimes, they can ask a question or hear the energy and relay that back.
A medium is the person that channels the energy through them so that it can talk to other people (presumably those that are trying to contact it). A medium can communicate with both sides. But when a spirit is speak through him/her, he/she generally does not recall what specifically happened.
A clairvoyant basically is a person with heightened senses and can see or hear things from “the other side.” This is different from a psychic because the senses are very clear. (“Clair” = clear.) There are different kinds of clairvoyant ability.
This is how I understand it to be. But for further reading you might want to check out the link in the source area.
September 21st, 2011 - 11:19
‘Psychic’ is more of an umbrella term which covers any of a number of paranormal abilities.
Mediums talk to the dead. Clairvoyants can see flashes of the future. Sensitives can sense things such as spirits, or events.
September 21st, 2011 - 11:29
A psychic is the general term with anyone who receives information or manipulates the world beyond their normal 5 senses (touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell). This may be through extra sensory perception (6th sense, precognition, etc.) or through psychic influence (telekinesis, pyrokinesis, etc.) It is a general term for all people that show any abilities.
A medium is basically someone who can communicate with the dead. They may visually see the dead person and/hear them. They also may just sense the individual. Some mediums can be channelers in which they allow the dead to manipulate their bodies, a form of limited mutually agreed upon possession. This allows for anything from automatic writing to speaking for the dead.
Clairvoyants are someone which can see beyond normal senses. This typically refers to sight, but is an all encompassing term as well. There is also clairessence (smell) and clairaudience (hearing). This can refer to seeing something such as a ghost that others cannot or seeing a past or future event at the location (pre and post cognition).
Sensitives is a term loosely used for anyone with an extrasensory ability such as ESP or clairvoyance. It does not include those that can perform physical manipulation such as telekinesis.
You can find more information on these parapsychology terms from places like the Rhine Research Center.
September 21st, 2011 - 11:40
The term “psychic” is a generalized term meaning someone who can sense things above and beyond the normal range of the 5 sense. A clairvoyant for example, would be a *type* of psychic.
A medium is someone who can see or communicate with the dead. The term medium literally means “in between”, which is exactly what this person is and does, they are the go between between the living and the dead.
A clairvoyant is a type of psychic. They have the gift of sight, they see things, have dreams or visions, and usually can see spirits.
A sensitive is another term quite a lot like psychic. It means that someone is sensitive to things above and beyond the normal range of the five senses.
September 21st, 2011 - 12:21
you got lots of answers heres my take. clarivoyants see the future clear view clair voyant. mediums communicate with the other side. that is people that have passed on . psychics read thoughts an sensitives have a generalized ability to sense the paranormal . it could be ghosts or a persons energy or health or aura. there can be an overlap . you have people like john edward who is a psychic medium.
September 21st, 2011 - 12:39
Psychic – A general term pertaining to mental forces, telepathy, extra sensory perception
Medium – contacting and being able to communicate with spirits of the dead
Clairvoyance – the ability to see things beyond our normal senses into the future [please note this does not have to be with the dead]
Sensitives: [also, appears to be a bit of a general term] usually refers to those who sense “something” in the here and now, not past or future. Yes, it could have to do with the past or future… but it starts with the here and now] example: walk into a house where the person has never been. Immediately feels they have to leave as something terrible happened]
September 21st, 2011 - 13:34
You have gotten some good answers, but I want to provide a clarifications.
Clairvoyants, as they are defined by parapsychologists, do not see the future. They are able to perceive events at a distance or perhaps see and hear things that others cannot. The skill of clairvoyance is not defined in scientific circles as knowing or seeing the future. The ability to see things that have not yet occurred is called Precognition, and those who know the future before it occurs are called precognizant.
Mediums provide an avenue to communicate between worlds. Sometimes, they are called spiritualists.
Psychics and sensitives are general terms that many people use to describe themselves. It could have many different meanings depending on who is using the term.
Another thing to remember is that these skills seldom appear in isolation from each other. Those who are Mediums typically have some clairvoyant ability and likely some skills with telepathy also. Precognition often occurs with clairvoyant ability as well. Sometimes people with many skills to draw from will describe themselves as psychics or sensitives to avoid being classified into a specific category.
I hope this information was helpful!