Alex De Foe
I’m a scholar and author based in Melbourne, Australia. I study altered states of consciousness and how they can be understood within the context of cognitive psychology and philosophy of mind. I am also a university lecturer and counsellor, empowering clients during pivotal lifespan milestones, towards meaning-making and virtue-based living. I have over 10 years post-PhD experience in a range of research and educational roles, presently situated at Monash University as a researcher and educator.
Creativity, consciousness, and meaning across the lifespan
As a consciousness researcher, I apply modern scientific principles to understand the potentials of the human mind. I work actively with clients and organisations around values-alignment, self-expression, and deeper states of awareness. This work centres on understanding our tendency towards self-exploration and re-connecting with our human nature. My philosophical alignment is based on archetypal and transpersonal psychology; topics I have worked with people in, taught in, and published extensively within.
Altered states as gateways to deepen our lived experience.
My personal experience with meditation from a young age has taught me the ability to connect to internal states at a deeper level. When we explore fundamental emotional and psycho-spiritual experiences beneath the surface of mind-chatter, these can often become an uplifting source of renewal and re-imagination of possibilities in life.
When we can understand ourselves more deeply and connect with others in a genuine way, that can lead to greater life meaning and relational fulfillment overall.
In the research I have conducted on meditation, psychedelic states, and altered consciousness experiences, I have examined the premise that these unique encounters can be cultivated and deepened in an intentional way, often leading to greater mind-body balance and emotional meaning.
Connect / collaborate / contribute
Reach out to collaborate or work with me:
Counselling and coaching
Lifespan transitions and pivotal points in personal development: I take an archetypal/narrative approach to meaning-making in life transitions along the journey of personal growth and self-understanding.
Research skills development
Training in transpersonal research methods that involve intuitive phenomenological inquiry and PhD project supervision on topics that span a holistic understanding of altered states.
Creative collaborations
Translative/community opportunities for collaboration and applying the topics of consciousness and creativity in the real world: Foundational idea exchange and opportunities for co-development.
Self-Awareness and Developmental Trajectory: Assessment
Self-Assessment based on developmental trajectories across the lifespan. Reach out to enquire about exploring your current developmental obstacles, opportunities, and goals with a free short-form self-assessment task.
CV
Brief resume and examples of prior work:
- University Lecturer (Monash University, RMIT University)
- PhD in psychology, Master in Counselling
- Chair at the Australian Centre for Consciousness Studies
- Specialist Advisor at the Australian Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Practitioners
- Prior Advisor at Wiley and Routledge (publishing houses for psychology texts)
- Associate Editor at various journals (e.g., Anthropology of Consciousness, Journal of Psychedelic Studies, etc.)
- Published over 30 peer-reviewed articles on consciousness, perception, and embodied cognition
- Supervised over 20 PhD/masters/honours students in cognitive science
- Taught into over 20 units at vocational, undergraduate, and postgraduate psychology level
- Worked across industries (clinical, defence/industry, academia)
- Worked across methodologies (quantitative combining VRE/EEG/rTMS as well as mixed-method and qualitative approaches)
Useful links and resources
Resource list and additional connections:
