A very informative read that is full of wisdom and insight. A great reference book that you will go to time and time again

A Tribute to the Wisdom of Indigenous Healers:

I strongly recommend to read this book if you want to see psychology from a totally different perspective. Although I have never experienced an indigenous healing ceremony myself, I believe there is much to learn from indigenous people and their healing practices.
Indigenous Healing Psychology by Richard Katz compares and contrasts what he defines as mainstream psychology and the psychology practiced by indigenous healers in indigenous communities all over the world.
First, Richard Katz speaks about his training at Harvard, where he was introduced to the different approaches to psychology by his professors. He received his Ph.D. at Harvard where he later taught for 20 years.
Richard Katz also points out the shortcomings of mainstream psychology when it comes to healing people. One example is the personal distance doctors keep from patients by maintaining the role of a neutral observer. Another example is the fact that often, mental health conditions are diagnosed, medications are prescribed, but the patient's real life problems are not addressed. Getting access to adequate mental health services is also a problem for many people who live at the margins of western societies.
In stark contrast to this western approach are the healing psychology practices by indigenous healers who Richard Katz has had the opportunity to work with for long stretches of time in different places of the world. The indigenous healers have in common, that their practice is based on personal experience, a close relationship between healer and the person or persons seeking healing, a sense of interconnectedness, and a deep spirituality which plays an important role in communal and personal healing. Richard Katz deems it important not to dismiss the indigenous healing practices as primitive. They should be respected, preserved, and parts of them even integrated into mainstream psychology to better serve the well being of individuals and whole communities.

It wasn't what I was expecting. A little too in depth clinical for me.