Kulturvergleichende Betrachtungen zu Varianten der therapeutischen Nutzung veränderter Wachbewusstseinszustände in der traditionellen mexikanischen Medizin und der westlichen Psychotherapie

Abstract

The main object of the interest is the broad range and powerful effect of altered states of consciousness (ASC). This has been strongly underrepresented in the theory and practice of Western psychotherapy due to cultural biases, while in traditional therapies it is often the silver bullet of healing and is used systematically and in a variety of layouts. The traditional application spectrum of ASCs is presented in detail based on own field research data from Mexican healers and their patients. Initially, the key position of often ignored mild ASCs in traditional healing rituals is recognized by depicting their typical induction by way of states of bifocal attention, through interweaving of sensory minuteness and the symbolic significance of therapeutic interventions, and then illustrating their manifold use in the ethno-psychotherapeutic rituals. Then the understanding of the psychotherapeutic benefits of deep states of ASCs (mushroom ceremony, sweat lodge ritual) from a psychological perspective is broadened by identifying the often mystical-numinous character of the experience as a traumatic experience with healing quality, which generates therapeutical “benign introjects.” In summary the use of ASCs represent one important of the common factors of symbolic therapies, and is still underrepresented in Western psychotherapies.