Snapshot: Monica the Medium

Twenty-two-year-old Monica Ten-Kate is a Penn State student who happens to have a very special gift. She is a spirit medium with the ability to communicate with those who have “crossed over.” Her ability is chronicled in the reality TV show, Monica the Medium, which premiered August 2015 on Freeform, formerly ABC Family.

After 10 episodes, it was announced in October 2015 that the network was picking up the show for a second season. Freeform has yet to set a premiere date for season two, but it is currently being filmed in San Diego, California. The season will focus on Ten-Kate and her best friend, Krista Gray, and their decision to move to San Diego. Ten-Kate will continue to take online courses as well as attend classes at a college in San Diego, which will transfer credits toward her Penn State degree in communications.

Raised in a Catholic family, Ten-Kate says it was difficult for her to reveal her ability to her parents and sisters. When asked about how a spirit communicates through her, she explains that it’s hard to describe the feeling she gets, but she can distinguish that the thoughts in her head are not her own, and she can sense other emotions that are connected to the spirit that is trying to come through.

“I sometimes have trouble breathing. I get a little flushed in the face. I feel the energy come through, and I know that someone is here — I can feel it,” she says.

When asked about her thoughts concerning death and the afterlife, she says, “Growing up in a Catholic family, I have always believed in Heaven and, although I don’t place myself in a specific religion, I am more spiritual now than I have ever been because of what I do. How can I not be? I have spirits coming through every day, communicating how they are so happy in this beautiful place and they are at peace. So I am not afraid of dying because I know that everything will be okay. There is life after death, and it’s a beautiful place. I call it Heaven, but you can call it whatever it is for you.”

She understands that there are skeptics, and if she didn’t experience this firsthand as a medium, she would be one, too.

“It’s hard for people to wrap their heads around how this is even possible, but because I am the one experiencing this, I know that this is a spirit coming through, and all I can do is share my gift with those who are open to receiving and helping to bring them peace, closure, comfort, and healing,” she says.

Outside of being a medium and having a television show, Ten-Kate just wants to enjoy life in her twenties. She loves going out with her friends, spending time with her family, and adores her dog, Luna, a pug-Chihuahua mix. She also is in the process of writing a book about her experience as a medium.

“One thing that people don’t know about me is that as much as I enjoy social interaction and I am very outgoing, I crave alone time,” she says. “I went on vacation to Hawaii for a week by myself, and I would go to the movies by myself. What people don’t understand is that doing readings can be very draining, and all that emotion and sadness that comes up, I need time to mediate and be alone.”

For more information, follow Monica the Medium on Facebook or her Web site at monicathemedium.com.