College of Humanities and Social Sciences staff

Miss Laura O'Sullivan staff profile picture

Contact details +6469516610

Laura O'Sullivan BA, MA, AFHEA

Assistant Lecturer

School of Psychology

My research interests include non-ordinary or extraordinary human experiences, such as unusual or spiritual end-of-life experiences and deathbed phenomena, near-death experiences, sleep and dreaming experiences (i.e., sleep paralysis, out-of-body experiences, lucid dreaming, and pre-cognitive dreams), after-death communication, and other altered states of consciousness. Additionally, I am interested in the psycho-social-spiritual impacts of the experiences. 

My PhD explores unusual or spiritual experiences at the end-of-life and how they impact grief for bereaved loved ones. I currently have a survey open at the moment, that bereaved loved ones can participate in: https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_29KbSTWtSnDfZau

Active research surveys:

1. Unusual or Spiritual Experiences at the End of Life

My PhD explores unusual or spiritual experiences at the end-of-life and how they impact grief for bereaved loved ones. I’ve created a survey to explore these experiences and how they relate to grief. Even if you haven’t had any such experiences yourself, your participation is still incredibly valuable as you’ll help form a comparison group.

🔍 Who can take part?
- Aged 18 or over
- This survey is open worldwide 🌎
- Have experienced the death of a loved one (this could be a family member, friend, or someone else close to you, and the loss can have occurred at any time)

🕒 The survey should take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete. 

🔗 You can find more information and take the survey here: https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_29KbSTWtSnDfZau

2. NDE and sensory processing and interpersonal sensitivities.

Have you had a near-death incident? Have your sensory processing or interpersonal sensitivities changed since your event? Or perhaps they haven’t - either way, we want to hear from you!

Everyone is welcome to participate - even if you haven’t had a near-death incident. Your input helps us build a valuable comparison group.

🕒 The survey should take no more than 15 minutes of your time
🌎 This survey is open worldwide to those aged 18+
👉 https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Dee1f8ctii9OIK

My research interests include non-ordinary or extraordinary human experiences, such as unusual or spiritual end-of-life experiences and deathbed phenomena, near-death experiences, sleep and dreaming experiences (i.e., sleep paralysis, out-of-body experiences, lucid dreaming, and pre-cognitive dreams), after-death communication, and other altered states of consciousness. Additionally, I am interested in the psycho-social-spiritual impacts of the experiences. 

My PhD explores unusual or spiritual experiences at the end-of-life and how they impact grief for bereaved loved ones. I currently have a survey open at the moment, that bereaved loved ones worldwide can participate in: https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_29KbSTWtSnDfZau

More about me...View less...

Professional

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts - Massey University (2019)
  • Master of Arts - Massey University (2022)

Fellowships and Memberships

  • Member, Higher Education Academy (Associate Member/Fellow) (2023)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

  • End-of-life experiences (ELE) or deathbed phenomena
  • Other non-ordinary or exceptional human experiences, including near-death experiences (NDE) and after-death communication (ADC)
  • Dreaming experiences (lucid dreaming, out-of-body experiences, sleep paralysis, precognitive dreams, etc.)
  • Spirituality

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Psychology (170100): Psychology And Cognitive Sciences (170000)

Research Outputs

Journal

Lindsay, N., Brough, N., Gibson, R., O'Sullivan, L., & Tassell-Matamua, N. (2025). “Outside the Matrix.” Dreaming After Near-Death Experiences: A Qualitative Analysis. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice. , Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-96289-001.html
[Journal article]Authored by: Lindsay, N., O'Sullivan, L.
Lindsay, N., Tassell-Matamua, N., O’Sullivan, L., & Gibson, R. (2024). Trauma or Transcendence? The Relationship Between Near-Death Experiences and Dreaming. Dreaming. 35(1), 1-17
[Journal article]Authored by: Gibson, R., Lindsay, N., O'Sullivan, L., Tassell-Matamua, N.
Lindsay, N., O'Sullivan, L., Gibson, R., Ladyman, C., & Tassell-Matamua, N. (2023). Near-Death Experiences and Sleep Disturbance: An Exploratory Study Using Wrist Actigraphy. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 211(11), 856-861
[Journal article]Authored by: Gibson, R., Lindsay, N., O'Sullivan, L., Tassell-Matamua, N.
O’Sullivan, L., & Lindsay, N. (2023). The relationship between spiritual intelligence, resilience, and well-being in an Aotearoa New Zealand sample. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health. 25(4), 277-297
[Journal article]Authored by: Lindsay, N., O'Sullivan, L.

Conference

O'Sullivan, L. (2025). "Outside the matrix." Sleep and dreaming after near-death experiences. Poster session presented at the meeting of 2025 International Association of Near-Death Studies (IANDS) Conference. Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
[Conference Poster]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.Contributed to by: O'Sullivan, L.
O'Sullivan, L. (2025, August). The Grief-Shaping Power of Spiritual Experiences at the End-of-Life. Presented at 2025 International Association of Near-Death Studies (IANDS) Conference. Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.
O'Sullivan, L. (2024, November). Standing together at the veil: End-of-life experiences in Aotearoa and their impacts on grief. Presented at Hospice New Zealand Palliative Care Conference. Wellington, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.
O'Sullivan, L. (2024). Do End-of-Life Experiences Impact Grief?. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Association of Near-Death Studies (IANDS) Conference 2024: Transformed by Near-Death and Related Experiences. Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America and Online
[Conference Poster]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.
O'Sullivan, L. (2024, June). Dreams at the end of life. Presented at Sleep In Aoteaora. University of Otago, Dunedin.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.
O'Sullivan, L. (2022). Spiritual Intelligence, Resilience, and Well-being of Aotearoa New Zealand University Students. Poster session presented at the meeting of KiwiCAM 2022. Massey University - Manawatū Campus, New Zealand
[Conference Poster]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.
O'Sullivan, L. (2022, December). Sleep and Dreaming After a Near-Death Expereince. Presented at KiwiCAM. Massey University - Manawatū Campus, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.
Reedy, H. (2018, December). Belonging in Partnership: Staff and students working in partnership to create belonging in informal learning environments. Presented at Australia New Zealand Student Services Association. Melbourne.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Contributed to by: Ngata-Turley, C., O'Sullivan, L.

Thesis

O'Sullivan, LM. (2022). Spiritual intelligence, resilience, and well-being among Aotearoa New Zealand university students: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand. (Master's Thesis, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand)
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.

Other

O'Sullivan, L. (2024, June). Standing Together at the Veil: End-of-Life Experiences in Aotearoa. Presented at Spiritualism NZ Winter Webinar Series.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: O'Sullivan, L.

Media and Links

Media

  • 05 Aug 2025 - Newspaper
    The Post - Manawatū Standard
    Researcher investigates unexplained experiences at time of death