Shamans as Healers, Counselors, and Psychotherapists

Shamanic models of healing, counseling, and psychotherapy differ from Western models in that they emphasize closeness to the natural world as well as to one’s body and life’s spiritual dimensions. Shamanic practices reflect the ideals of harmony and knowledge. In shamanism, there is no division between “mind” and “body,” hence what Westerners refer to as “mental illness” is seen as part of the total client being treated by a shaman, a perspective that often includes the client’s family, community, and the world of “spirits.