Allison DuBois is perhaps the most recognized contemporary figure in the realm of forensic mediumship, known for her asserted ability to communicate with the deceased and aid law enforcement in solving complex criminal cases. Her life story—from a childhood in Arizona marked by unusual psychic experiences to consulting for the Texas Rangers—became the foundation for the long-running, Emmy-winning television drama, *Medium*. This **Allison DuBois biography** explores the foundational elements of her family life, the development of her controversial abilities, and the significant achievements that established her as a polarizing yet prominent public personality. [Image: Allison DuBois portrait]
The Formative Years and Early Recognition
Born in 1972, Allison DuBois spent her early life in Phoenix, Arizona, a setting that provided little context for the extraordinary claims she would begin making as a young child. According to her accounts, her abilities as a medium manifested early, with her first significant contact occurring at the age of six when she reportedly communicated with her deceased maternal grandfather. This initial experience set the stage for a lifetime navigating the boundary between the material world and the spiritual realm.
Growing up, DuBois struggled to reconcile her perceived reality with that of her peers. She often reported seeing and speaking with spirits, a phenomenon that she learned to manage, though not always easily. Her family, while sometimes skeptical, provided a supportive environment that allowed her to explore these unique characteristics. This early acceptance was crucial in shaping her later willingness to use her abilities in a public forum.
Academic Pursuits and Scientific Inquiry
Despite the inherent metaphysical focus of her life, DuBois pursued rigorous academic training. She attended **Arizona State University (ASU)**, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Her time at ASU was instrumental in providing her with the critical thinking and research skills she later applied when attempting to legitimize her mediumship.
It was during her early twenties that DuBois decided to subject her claims to scientific scrutiny. Seeking to understand the mechanisms behind her visions and communication, she volunteered for testing conducted by Dr. Gary Schwartz, a professor of psychology, medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and surgery at the University of Arizona. Dr. Schwartz’s research, conducted at the Veritas Research Lab, aimed to scientifically test the accuracy and consistency of mediums.
DuBois participated in several controlled experiments, including double-blind readings where neither she nor the researcher knew the identity of the deceased individual she was attempting to contact. DuBois claims that the subsequent findings from these tests, which suggested a statistically significant accuracy rate, bolstered her confidence and provided the empirical foundation she needed to transition into professional work.
The Transition to Forensic Mediumship
The primary focus of **Allison DuBois’s professional career** involves applying her mediumistic abilities to cold cases and missing persons investigations. Her involvement with law enforcement began when she was still a college intern at the Phoenix District Attorney’s office. She claims that she utilized her insights to provide details on ongoing cases, which eventually led to her consulting with various agencies across the United States.
While the exact number of cases solved due to her direct intervention remains a subject of debate among law enforcement agencies and skeptical organizations, DuBois maintains that her visions have provided crucial, verifiable details that traditional investigative methods failed to uncover. These details often relate to the location of bodies, the identity of perpetrators, or the motive behind the crime.
Working with Law Enforcement Agencies
DuBois has publicly detailed her experiences consulting with numerous agencies, including:
- The Texas Rangers, where she claims to have provided information on several missing persons cases.
- Various police departments in Arizona and California.
- Private investigators working on complex homicide cases.
The process of forensic mediumship, as practiced by DuBois, involves receiving information in the form of images, feelings, and audible messages, which she then interprets and translates into actionable intelligence for detectives. She emphasizes that her role is not to replace traditional police work but to provide an alternative perspective or a starting point when leads have run dry.
In her book, *Don't Kiss Them Good-bye*, DuBois describes the emotional toll of this work, noting that dealing daily with the trauma and grief associated with violent crimes requires significant personal resilience. She stated in an interview, "The hardest part is separating the emotions of the spirit from the facts needed by the police. You have to remain objective while experiencing immense pain."
The Impact of the Television Series *Medium*
The most significant catalyst in launching Allison DuBois into the global public consciousness was the creation of the NBC/CBS television series *Medium*. Premiering in 2005, the show was directly inspired by her life and work, featuring actress Patricia Arquette as DuBois’s fictional counterpart, **Allison DuBois**. The show ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2011, and profoundly influenced how the public perceived forensic mediumship.
The genesis of the show occurred after DuBois met with television producer Glenn Gordon Caron. Caron was intrigued by her claims and the duality of her life: a woman juggling motherhood, marriage, academic background, and highly controversial psychic work. Caron developed the series to explore the emotional and logistical challenges faced by a person with such extraordinary abilities working within a conventional criminal justice system.
DuBois’s Role and Influence on the Narrative
While the show was fictionalized for dramatic purposes, DuBois served as a constant consultant, ensuring the core tenets of her experiences—particularly how her visions manifest and the emotional impact of the dead—were accurately reflected. The series often depicted her struggle to convince skeptical detectives while simultaneously dealing with the demands of her family.
The success of *Medium* solidified DuBois's status as a celebrity medium, leading to widespread media attention and increased demand for her services, lectures, and published works. However, this fame also intensified scrutiny from scientific skeptics, most notably figures like James Randi, who offered substantial financial rewards to anyone who could prove psychic abilities under controlled conditions.
Family Life and Personal Foundation
A crucial element of the **Allison DuBois biography** is the unwavering support system provided by her immediate family. She is married to Joe DuBois, an aerospace engineer. Joe’s grounded, analytical background often serves as a counterbalance to Allison’s spiritual focus, a dynamic frequently highlighted in both her books and the television series.
The DuBois family resides in the Phoenix area, maintaining a relatively private life despite Allison’s public profile. They have three daughters: Aurora, Sophia, and Bridget. A unique aspect of their family dynamic is the claim that all three daughters have inherited some degree of their mother’s abilities, though they express them differently.
The Challenge of Inherited Abilities
Allison DuBois has spoken openly about the difficulties of raising children who may also possess mediumistic gifts, emphasizing the importance of teaching them to manage and control these experiences rather than fear them. This focus on normalcy and control is central to their family life. For the DuBois family, the mediumistic ability is treated less as a supernatural gift and more as a natural, albeit rare, form of sensory perception that requires careful integration into everyday life.
The stability provided by her marriage to Joe DuBois is often cited by Allison as essential to her ability to handle the emotional intensity of her forensic work. The couple’s long-standing relationship provides a personal anchor against the frequently chaotic and emotionally draining nature of communicating with the deceased.
Literary Works and Continuing Legacy
In addition to her consulting work and the television series, Allison DuBois has authored several books detailing her experiences, methods, and philosophical views on life after death. These publications serve as the primary source material for understanding her personal journey and professional methodology.
Key publications by Allison DuBois include:
- ***Don't Kiss Them Good-bye***: Her first book, which details her early experiences, the scientific testing she underwent, and her initial work with law enforcement.
- ***We Are Their Heaven: Why the Dead Never Leave Us***: A deeper exploration of the spiritual connections between the living and the deceased.
- ***Secrets of the Monarch: What the Dead Can Teach Us About Living a Better Life***: A more philosophical work focusing on how lessons from the spiritual realm can influence earthly existence.
These books have cemented her role not just as a medium, but as an author and public speaker who advocates for the acceptance of psychic phenomena. Her continued work involves lecturing across the country, conducting private readings, and engaging in media debates concerning parapsychology and the intersection of science and spirituality.
The enduring legacy of Allison DuBois rests upon her ability to translate a deeply personal and often doubted claim—the ability to speak with the dead—into a mainstream cultural phenomenon. By allowing her life to be adapted for television and by consistently seeking scientific validation, she forced a public conversation about the nature of intuition and reality. Whether viewed as a legitimate forensic consultant or a master storyteller, **Allison DuBois’s biography** is a testament to the powerful influence of personal conviction on public life, shaping perceptions of mediumship for a new generation. Her achievements span academic rigor, high-profile media representation, and a sustained effort to assist in solving crimes, ensuring her place as one of the most discussed mediums of the 21st century. [Image: Allison DuBois with family] [Image: Medium TV show poster] [Image: Allison DuBois book cover] [Image: Arizona State University campus]
