Movies and television crime dramas such as Medium often depict police and psychics working hand-in-hand, but the relationship is much more ambiguous and not without controversy.

In reality, police and the courts rely on evidence gathered using accepted science and proven techniques — and psychics are widely regarded with skepticism, if not outright disbelief.

Authorities in Canada rarely — if ever — use psychics in missing-person cases, but one local practitioner says she wants to change that mindset.

“People shun it because they don’t understand it,” said Patricia Monna, a psychic in Calgary.