Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences
February 16, 2021
Allan Køster, Anthony Vincent Fernandez
106 citations
A new approach called Phenomenologically Grounded Qualitative Research (PGQR) uses phenomenology's concepts—existentials—rather than its methods like the epoché or reductions. The approach is intended for interdisciplinary collaboration between philosophers and qualitative researchers. The article reviews the debate over phenomenology's role in qualitative research, arguing that qualitative theorists have not fully used philosophical phenomenology. PGQR conceptually front-loads a qualitative study by focusing on structures of human existence or being in the world. An example study of early parental bereavement illustrates the approach. The kind of knowledge generated by PGQR is clarified and shown how it can integrate with existing approaches.
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
November 17, 2022
Riccardo Miceli Mcmillan, Anthony Vincent Fernandez
30 citations
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is being studied as a treatment for various psychiatric illnesses. Current evidence indicates that the subjective experiences caused by psychedelics are important for therapeutic outcomes. Most knowledge of these experiences comes from psychometric scales like the Mystical Experience Questionnaire. The authors argue that more detailed descriptions of how psychedelics change subjective experience are needed. They propose using qualitative methods from phenomenological psychopathology to systematically investigate these changes. This approach aims to characterize therapeutic psychedelic experiences using concepts from philosophical phenomenology, which should help clarify the mechanisms of psychedelic therapy, the role of integration therapy, and related philosophical debates.
J Eat Disord
September 2, 2025
Elena Koning, Riccardo Miceli Mcmillan, Aaron Keshen et al.
3 citations
This paper argues that current psychedelic-assisted therapy studies for eating disorders may fail to capture meaningful outcomes because they rely on standard psychiatric measures that overlook the subjective, first-person experience of the disorder. From a phenomenological psychopathology perspective, the authors contend that eating disorders involve profound alterations in self-perception, embodiment, and identity that cannot be adequately assessed through symptom checklists or behavioral metrics alone. They suggest that incorporating experiential data and qualitative accounts of transformative shifts in sense of self and body relationship could provide a more accurate picture of therapeutic efficacy.
Philosophical Psychology
November 25, 2024
Riccardo Miceli Mcmillan, Jack Reynolds, Anthony Vincent Fernandez
3 citations
Psychedelic therapy's effectiveness partly depends on the nature of the experiences it produces, especially altered time perception, such as feelings of timelessness. Interpreting these reports is challenging because true timelessness may be impossible to experience, and descriptions vary in clinical relevance. Using a phenomenological approach to temporality, this article clarifies ambiguities in current assessment tools. It proposes that psychedelic temporality might counteract depressive temporality, offering a preliminary mechanism for therapy. A dedicated phenomenological research program could map psychedelic time experiences, resolving philosophical and clinical uncertainties and guiding future studies.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry
November 5, 2023
Riccardo Miceli Mcmillan, Anthony Vincent Fernandez
2 citations
The author responds to a Letter to the Editor, reiterating the argument that phenomenology is essential for understanding subjective experience in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. The reply defends the original position that phenomenological methods can provide valuable insights into the nature of these experiences, which may be overlooked by purely quantitative approaches. The author maintains that incorporating phenomenological perspectives can enhance therapeutic understanding and outcomes in this emerging field.
Front Psychol
April 28, 2021
Christopher Gutland, Wenjing Cai, Anthony Vincent Fernandez
2 citations
Consciousness research benefits from combining philosophical and scientific approaches. The editorial argues that integrating conceptual analysis from philosophy with empirical methods from neuroscience and psychology can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of consciousness. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address fundamental questions about the nature of conscious experience, such as the hard problem of consciousness and the relationship between mind and brain. The piece suggests that such integration can overcome limitations of purely philosophical or purely scientific approaches, fostering progress in the field.