Building a collaborative framework: a qualitative study of therapists collaborating with Curanderxs

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate psychotherapists’ perspectives on collaborations with curanderxs that may improve patient outcomes. All participants have licensed psychotherapists (marriage and family therapist, social work and psychology), between ages 40 and 60 years, and spoke both English and Spanish. They had a wide range of experience practicing in the field (5 to 33 years), the number of clients they had worked with of Mexican descent (10 to 2,000), and times they had collaborated with curanderxs (2 to 3 to more than 40). Interviews lasted 2 h. Design/methodology/approach Phenomenological methodology was followed in conducting interviews with eight mainstream mental health practitioners and in identifying codes and themes from the interviews. Findings Collaboration between psychotherapists and curanderxs is rare. Few mental health training programs provide basic information on curanderismo or on how clinicians might integrate concepts related to indigenous healing approaches into their practices or collaborate with traditional healers. Substantial mistrust between psychotherapists and curanderxs is apparent and impedes collaboration. Originality/value The authors believe this to be one of the first integrative models that can provide guidance to services providers who would like to collaborate with traditional healers, not only with Latinx populations but also populations that seek traditional healers for physical, psychological and spiritual healing. Based on study findings, the authors offer educational, clinical and public policy recommendations.

Exploring the possibility of collaboration for biomedical professionals and traditional healers: A Systematic Review

“…However, in the 16 studies which included biomedical professionals, they expressed concerns about collaboration. These were often related to expressed concerns about traditional healers skills, their training and ability as well as lack of guidance for working with traditional healers 21,37,42,49 .…”

“…Language difficulties between formal providers and traditional healers were mentioned as a difficulty 37,49 . In a somewhat similar finding on the need for familiarity, Johnson-Jennings et al found that racially concordant/Indigenous providers were more likely to refer their patient to herbal practices, F (1, 89) = 5.99, p = .02, and other traditional healing practices, F(1, 89) = 5.03, p = .03 44 .…”

En Sus Propias Palabras (in their own words): Reflections of Spanish–English bilingual psychologists and trainees in the United States.

“…Language fluency should, as much as possible, be developed in context. Trainees would benefit from targeted training on cultural humility, a framework that can support trainee’s respectful curiosity about the cultural lives of their clients (Hook et al, 2016; Hoskins & Platt, 2022). In addition, academic courses that focus on culture, diversity, and equity may include information about the local context in which the trainees are embedded (e.g., educate trainees about the specific Latine or Spanish-speaking groups that are part of the community vs. teaching Latine mental health as a monolith; Biever et al, 2011).…”

“…and awareness of how clinician identity may change the interaction. Consider the benefit of incorporating traditional beliefs and customs into treatment by collaborating with community members who provide these services (e.g., curanderxs; Hoskins & Platt, 2022) or modifying treatment to be culturally response (e.g., using testimonios as a therapeutic tool; Cervantes, 2020).…”

Therapeutic Spaces in Public Places

“…The cultural values of wealthier nations are important to consider when applying their theories and practices within less wealthy nations. Not only are dominant educational and mental health practices undeniably US-centric in their formation and implementation, but alternative frameworks, such as indigenous perspectives of healing and change, are also often either ignored or overtly framed as being unworthy of consideration (Arnett, 2008; Carvalho & Platt, 2019; Hoskins & Platt, 2022; Nwoye, 2017; Rosado, 2007).…”