Category: Psychotherapy

• Thinking About Money

  I’ve been thinking about money, a difficult subject. In many First Nations communities, shamans and other healers do not receive payment for their services. In those communities, healers usually hold day jobs, and heal in their off hours. Rather than paying for the healer’s services, families and individuals bear the costs of ceremonies and other…

  Michael Watson PhD

  March 29, 2011

  First Nations, Psychotherapy, Shamanism

  healing, market economy, money

• Just Therapy Revisited

  Just Therapies acknowledge the hardships created by unfair, or unjust, cultural practices. They also encourage clients to create a life that is meaningful, even in the face of brutal social realities. Arising from Indigenous experience, and generalized to marginalized persons everywhere, Just Therapy seeks to be both visionary and good medicine.

  Michael Watson PhD

  March 5, 2011

  First Nations, Psychotherapy, Shamanism

  depresion, Just Therapy, social justice, visionary experience, visions

• Ceremonies of Renewal

  Today is one of those spectacular late winter days, where the sun sits high in the southern sky, just in the treetops, and light snow falls in large flakes. There is enough light through the thin clouds to cast shadows across the snow covered landscape. The seed in the bird feeder dwindles steadily as the…

  Michael Watson PhD

  February 27, 2011

  First Nations, Healing, Other Subjects, Psychotherapy, Shamanism

  ceremony, Family Therapy, Inuit Shamanism and Christianity

• The Promise of Renewal

  Of course, we must take care of ourselves while we wait. Often we are called to speak our truths in the face of short sightedness, or even evil. Sometimes we must hide; occasionally, we must flee. Each of these acts requires courage, disciple, and self-forgiveness. Seldom do we know for sure which is the right…

  Michael Watson PhD

  February 22, 2011

  Healing, Psychotherapy, Shamanism

  hope, risk, spring, trauma