book chapter

Elements of psychotherapy in Navaho religion

Psychiatry • 4 • Published In 1941 • Pages: 515-523

By: Leighton, Alexander H. (Alexander Hamilton), Leighton, Dorothea (Cross).

Abstract
The authors, both psychiatrists and students of the Navajo, analyzed a typical Navajo healing ceremony and point out its many psychotherapeutic elements. They urged that Euro-American medical personnel study and make use of the Navajo point of view toward healing. Instead of regarding the medicine man as a quack witchdoctor, they propose that Euro-American doctors include him in their treatment of the ill. Thus, the Leightons believed, Euro-American medicine would be more readily acceptable to the Navajo who would, at the same time, have the psychological assistance of his own religion. The material in this article was greatly expanded in the authors' book THE NAVAHO DOOR, 3: Leighton and Leighton in this file.
Subjects
Acculturation and culture contact
Music
Shamans and psychotherapists
Medical therapy
Religious experience
Organized ceremonial
culture
Navajo
HRAF PubDate
2004
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
book chapter
Evaluation
Creator Type
Psychiatrist
Document Rating
3: Good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent
Analyst
Katchen S. Coley ; 1951
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
1870-1940
Coverage Place
Navajo reservation, southwestern United States
Notes
Alexander H. Leighton and Dorothea C. Leighton
This document consists of excerpts
Includes bibliographical references
LCCN
40007255
LCSH
Navajo Indians