The incidence of indigenous healing, recognition of the spiritual and emotional dimension in the lives of our population, lack of 'professionally' qualified mental health workers, inadequacy of imposing Western approaches on other cultures, proven effectiveness of nonprofessional workers in the mental health area, shortcomings in and disenchantment with Western models of healing and the holistic nature of indigenous healing compel cognisance. The similarity between certain Western approaches, such as that of Jung, and indigenous healing, development in brain research, humanistic and transpersonal psychology, arguments by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the call to integrate indigenous and Western approaches to healing, necessitates a closer look at the area. South African academics and professionals have urged for the recognition of indigenous healing in order to provide a cornqrehenslve mental health service. It is felt that indigenous healing can teach us and offer unique opportunities in the applied and research aspects of psychology.S. Afr. J. Psycho!. 1979,9: 118 -124 Die erkenning van die geestelike en emosionele dimensie in die lewes van ons bevolking, die gebrek aan 'professioneel' gekwalifiseerde geestesgesondheidswerkers, die ontoereikendheid van Westerse benaderings wat op ander kulture afgedwing word, die bewese effektiwiteit van nie-professionele werkers op die terrein van geestesgesondheid, en die enersydse tekortkorninqe van en ontnugtering oor Westerse 'model Ie' van genesing en die andersydse holistiese aard van 'inheemse' genesing, dwing aandag. Die ooreenkoms tussen sommige Westerse benaderings, soos die van Jung en 'inheemse' genesing, ontwikkelings in breinnavorsing, in humanistiese en transpersoonlike sielkunde, uitsprake van die Wereld Gesondheidsorganisasie en die beroep om Westerse en 'inheemse' benaderings tot genesing te integreer, vereis eweneens aandag. Suid-Afrikaanse akademici en professionele mense het 'n beroep gedoen om erkenning van 'inheemse' genesing met die oog op die daarstelling van 'n omvattende geestesgesondheidsdiens. Daar word gevoel dat ons kan leer uit 'inheemse' genesing en dat dit geleenthede skep vir navorsing oor en toepassing van die sielkunde.