Theresa Caputo’s tour coming to Cedar Rapids

If the film “The Sixth Sense” was like a documentary for Theresa Caputo, well, that wouldn’t be surprising.

Caputo relates to the M. Night Shyamalan classic in which the child protagonist eerily proclaims “I see dead people.”

While growing up in New York, she interacted with spirits in her youth.

“I remember seeing things when I was 4 years old,” she said while calling from her Long Island home. “I saw people in a room when there was no else in the room but myself. It was like ‘The Sixth Sense.’ I would hear people speak to me but nobody else heard it.”

Caputo, now 56, didn’t think much about her gift until adulthood.

“It wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I discovered that not only was I connecting with my own loved ones who passed on, but everyone else’s. I struggled with what I’m able to do for a few years because I didn’t understand why I have this gift.”

Caputo, known as The Long Island Medium, will appear Sunday at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids. Celebrating 10 years of her live shows, “The Experience,” she connects folks with the spirit world during her events.

“What I’ve discovered is that when we lose those who have passed on, we in the physical world are left with negative feelings,” Caputo said. “Dealing with this, we do not have the ability to heal. So what I do is use my gift connecting with those who have died to help heal those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.”

Every show is different for her.

“I just let the spirit guide me around the theater,” Caputo said. “I’ll speak with people and I just go from there.”

Caputo believes everyone has the ability to connect with those in the great beyond.

“There's no doubt about that,” she said. “Look for the signs. Look for symbols. If you’re in a room and you feel something that’s a little weird, like the fragrance of a departed loved one, it might be that they’re right there with you letting you know that they’re still around.

“We all have that ability. I’m just very connected with it and I’m about giving people peace and comfort after someone close to them is gone.”

Caputo can’t imagine any other job.

“Who knows what else I would do, since I’ve been doing this for so many years and it’s so unique,” she said. “I love my job. There is nothing like feeling the electricity in the room when I step onto that stage. Every night is an unforgettable experience. I can’t express how blessed I am to do what I do.”

Live shows aren’t all that Caputo focuses on. The charismatic medium also is an author who has made The New York Times bestsellers list.

“There’s More to Life Than This,” “Good Mourning” and “Good Grief” are some of her most popular books.

“I never dreamed of becoming an author, but it’s worked out for me and it’s just another way that I help people,” she said.

Caputo starred in the popular reality show series “Long Island Medium,” which ran from 2011 to 2019 on TLC. Each episode focused on Caputo as she conducted private and group readings with both believers and skeptics.

“I enjoyed the TV show,” she said. “But everything runs its course. Right now I’m focusing on this tour and I’m having a wonderful time with it. I’ve been given this extraordinary gift. I’ve been blessed and I’m very spiritual. Every day I give thanks for what I received and I work hard to help others. It’s a wonderful thing.”