Phenomenological Experience of Mexican Curanderismo

This qualitative research design focused on the various treatment dimensions of Curanderismo and explored it as a possible compliment with traditional Western psychotherapy. The principal investigator gathered information about the treatment provided in Curanderismo and gained a deeper understanding of participant\u27s lived experiences during such healings. This study also aimed to understand how individuals made the choice to seek treatment with a curandero/a, as well as if a deeper understanding of such treatment could help the mental health field be better informed care providers to the Latino/a community. Phenomenological research methodology was used in efforts to grasp how the participants, as individuals, experienced Mexican Curanderismo. Through a semi-structured life world interview, data was collected from eight participants: four Curanderos and four non-Curanderos, both sets represented by two males and two females. The central research questions were as followed: 1) How do curandero/as and clients of curandero/as describe Curanderismo? 2) What is the lived experience of curandero/as when they are providing treatment to a client? 3) What is the lived experience of a Latino/a being treated by an American trained clinical psychologist? 4) What are the traditional assessment and treatment protocols of Curanderismo? 5) What are the positive and negative perceived societal views of Curanderismo? 6) How can Curanderismo be integrated in Western mental health to better serve Latino/as? Twelve themes were the foremost emergent themes throughout this research study as it encompassed much of the combined lived experiences of the eight research participants. The themes that emerged were as follows: 1) La Terminologia [The Terminology]; 2) El Don [The Gift]; 3) Auto-Cuidado [Self-Care]; 4) Los Guias [The Guides]; 5) Puro Cerebro [Pure Cerebral]; 6) La Farmacologia [The Pharmacology]; 7) Pura Magia [Pure Magic]; 8) La Conexion [The Connection]; 9) Es Brujeria [It’s Witchcraft]; 10) Es Comercio [It’s Commercialization]; 11) Nueva Generacion [New Generation]; and, 12) Dar Oportunidad [Give Opportunity]. This research study, and future research studies, can serve as a tool to break that pattern, as there is a great need for validation, integration, and continuation of Mexican Curanderismo in westernized mental health. This Dissertation is available in Open Access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu and OhioLink ETD Center, http://www.ohiolink