Antioch University AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses Dissertations & Theses 2019 Phenomenological Experience of Mexican Curanderismo Yoseline P. Lopez-Marroquin Antioch University Santa Barbara Follow this and additional works at: https://aura.antioch.edu/etds Part of the Counseling Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Lopez-Marroquin, Yoseline P., "Phenomenological Experience of Mexican Curanderismo" (2019). Dissertations & Theses. 503. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/503 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses at AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations & Theses by an authorized administrator of AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE OF MEXICAN CURANDERISMO A PsyD Clinical Dissertation Submitted by Yoseline Paulett Lopez-Marroquin, M.A. to ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY SANTA BARBARA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology June 2019 Dissertation Committee: ___________________________________________ Brett Kia-Keating, EdD, Dissertation Chair ___________________________________________ George S. Bermudez, PhD, PsyD, Second Reader ___________________________________________ David Hoskins, PsyD, M.A.S, External Expert Reader ii ©Yoseline Lopez-Marroquin, 2019 iii ABSTRACT 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 participants’ 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 Terminología [The Terminology]; 2) El Don [The Gift]; 3) Auto-Cuidado [Self-Care]; 4) Los Guías [The Guides]; 5) Puro Cerebro [Pure Cerebral]; 6) La Farmacología [The Pharmacology]; 7) Pura Magia [Pure Magic]; 8) La Conexión [The Connection]; 9) Es Brujería [It’s Witchcraft]; 10) Es Comercio [It’s Commercialization]; 11) iv Nueva Generación [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.edu/etd. Keywords: Curanderismo, curandero, curandera, curanderos, curanderas, Mexican, indigenous, folk, healing, healers, Latino, Latina, Latinos, Latinas, don, brujería, brujo, bruja, brujos, brujas, magic, magia. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A mi estimada familia: Ma, Pa, Bro, Abuelita, Abuelito, Tías, Tíos, Primas, Primos, Dad, y a mi futura familia. Muchas gracias por sus oraciones y apoyo. Siempre estaré admirada por todas sus experiencias fenomenales en las cuales yo e aprendido lecciones poderosas. A mi querida pareja, mi futuro esposo, gracias por tu amor incondicional y por no dejarme dar por vencida. ¡Al fin lo logramos! Los amo. To my best friends and sorority sisters, thank you for all of the great times and laugh therapy sessions you gifted me. To my Rotary family: my life mentor, fellow Rotaractors, and Rotarians, thank you for pushing me since I was in high school and for always sponsoring my educational goals. To those who I miss dearly—I would like to acknowledge the souls that departed during my doctorate journey: Kitty, Gabacho, Eduardo, Manotas, Freddy, Alejandro, Alley, Martiza, Raul, and Tomito. I know you have been watching over me—thank you. To my Antioch community, thank you for providing a platform to amplify the voice of a minority. May you continue to open your doors to passionate individuals who want nothing more than to contribute to the field of mental health in efforts to uplift impoverished communities. All of this would not have been accomplished without the intellectual guidance of my past and current dissertation committee members: Drs. Salvador D. Treviño, Daniel Schwartz, Brett Kia- Keating, George S. Bermudez, and David Hoskins. Thank you for your advising, patience, and encouragement. Lastly, to the generous curandero/as and research participants that shared their incredible stories of healing with me. Your contribution to this research echoes louder in my heart than in paper. I appreciate all of you. “Clama a mi, y yo te responderé, y te enseñare cosas grandes y ocultas que tu no conoces.” Jeremías 33:3 vi Table of Contents ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 Sparked Interest ...................................................................................................................... 1 Definition of Curanderismo .................................................................................................. 11 CHAPTER II: SELECTED LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................. 18 Historical Findings ................................................................................................................ 18 Indigenous Roots .................................................................................................................. 19 Religion & Spirituality .......................................................................................................... 21 Curanderismo ........................................................................................................................ 23 Statistical Findings ................................................................................................................ 28 Specific Populations .............................................................................................................. 30 Stereotypes ........................................................................................................................... 33 Integration............................................................................................................................. 35 Latino/a Community ............................................................................................................. 37 Cultural Competence ............................................................................................................. 41 Need for More Research ....................................................................................................... 44 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................... 48 Overview of Phenomenological Research Methodology ........................................................ 48 Description of Participants .................................................................................................... 49 Procedures for Selecting Participants .................................................................................... 50 Qualitative Procedures .......................................................................................................... 52 Phenomenological Strategies for Inquiry ............................................................................... 53 Phenomenological Data Collection Procedures...................................................................... 57 Phenomenological Data Analysis .......................................................................................... 58 Validity and Reliability of