Uncovering the journey: The experience of women of African descent who have participated in alternative healing.

详细信息   

• 作者：Hawkins ; Stephanie Johns.
• 学历：Doctor
• 年：2005
• 导师：Penn, Sherry Eve
• 毕业院校：Union Institute and University
• 专业：Black Studies.;Women's Studies.;Psychology, Clinical.
• ISBN：9780542003158
• CBH：3165024
• Country：USA
• 语种：English
• FileSize：18256685
• Pages：179

文摘

Uncovering the Journey: The Experience of Women of African Descent Who Have Participated in Alternative Healing captures the stories of nine women, including the researcher, who have undergone significant physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation through their participation in alternative healing methods. This heuristic inquiry involved interviews with women of African descent ranging between ages 33 and 61. Eight women revealed their journey to alternative healing as beginning with some type of physical illness, for which they were unable to find satisfactory treatment from their western physicians. One woman revealed that the catalyst for her introduction to alternative healing was her desire to be of service to humanity, in a way that would not cause harm. Each women also disclosed that although physical disharmony was the impetus for their healing journey, emotional and spiritual transformation were the final results. The researcher employed a rigorous, consistent heuristic method for analyzing the data, which evolved into individual depictions of each co-researcher along with a composite depiction revealing the common themes. A creative synthesis was also created in accordance with the heuristic methodology, which encapsulated the unique connection and subsequent transpersonal revelations inherent within the themes. The themes included (1) Increased self-awareness, (2) Healthy Lifestyle, (3) Attending to the whole person, (4) Nutritional influences, (5) Integrative healing, (6) Emerging consciousness, and (7) Spirituality. The themes were explicated and presented directly from both the actual interviews as well as from the supporting literature. The presentation of the literature gave a depth and breath of understanding in the areas of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional African Healing Systems, Movement Therapy, Energy Work, and Spirituality in Counseling. Each area within the literature review was chosen based on the contribution of those disciplines to the foundations of alternative healing within American culture. Particular attention was given to the mind/body/spirit connection within each of the disciplines mentioned. The self-reflective, heuristic nature of this study allowed for the revealing of factors from the participants' perspective that contributed to overall healing. These factors filtered through the eyes of a clinical heuristic researcher held implications for mental health practitioners, medical practitioners, alternative healing practitioners, women, as well as those consciously and unconsciously aware of their spiritual journey.