Multicultural Healing
Hilot Healing Tradition
Traditional Pilipino Healing
A Message from the Author
When working with clients, race, ethnic, and cultural relations are inherently ingrained in the work that I do. With that said, it can sometimes be challenging to bring up issues of race, culture, or ethnicity in my sessions with clients. But one thing that is for certain is that it is always part of my interactions with clients. Learning about race, ethnic, and culture has inherently been part of my own healing process which is why it has always remained part of the work that I do, both personally and professionally.
Professionally, I've been learning to navigate the ways in which it has helped me heal, while at the same time recognizing whether it could be helpful or unhelpful for my client If I feel it is appropriate or relevant to ask about issues of race, ethnicity, or culture, with my clients to better understand their worldview, I will ask. In my experience, I have noticed that sometimes clients will bring up these issues themselves and I will ask more questions in order to gain more understanding. For me, bringing up these issues are important because it helps build a trusting relationship. It is a space where even things that may be considered taboo in general society can be shared in our sessions. In addition, part of my counseling theory is feminist theory, which inherenty challenges inequities, thus it is fundamental to consider race, ethnicity, and culture in therapy. Although, I do find it important to discuss, I do also think it can be challenging, especially if the client is not ready to discuss it or if they do not believe that those things are important. In these cases I believe it can be challenging coming from a feminist perspective, but if it is in the client's best interest to meet them exactly where they are at, then that is what I will do and I will do my own work to understand why I think it might be important for my client to understand.
Overall when working with diverse populations, a sense of curiosity is integral in helping build the relationship. It is important to me that the client shares their world views with me as I think understanding how race, ethnicity, and culture are important aspects of how a person experiences the world, whether they may realize it or not. The thing that is most important to consider when working with diverse clients is going in with the understanding that the client is the expert in their own lives and that understanding their worldview is important in creating good rapport with the client which opens up more opportunities for healing in therapy.
On Working With Diverse Clients...
As a clinician in training, it is important to be aware of the many multicultural healing traditions. Hilot healing is one that encompasses the spiritual, emotional, mind, body, and soul. In understanding this, it will allow a clinician to better understand a client's worldview.
As mentioned, many people will use a combination of traditional, indigenous, and scientific understanding of their health complications. Since Hilot healing is guided spiritually, it is not necessarily something that a person can recommend to someone else. The reason for this is because when an ill person is ill, he/she will pray to be guided to an hilot, and in turn the hilot will know that the ill person is coming to them and will pray as well. Thus it is a spiritual connection that is most important in this healing and is not necessarily something that can be suggested or prescribed by a mental health professional.
Instead of referring someone to seek this form of healing, as a professional what is important to understand the components of healing as it may relate to a potential client's life and/or world view. It is important to maintain curiosity and understanding in order to meet the client where they are at so that one can better support the client.
On Referring Clients to Use Hilot Healing...
Disclaimer: This website is by no means an end all be all understanding of Hilot practices, but it is rooted in the experiences of my ancestors and traditional healing. I suggest that one does their own research on Hilot practices and inquiry with the client if it does come up in therapy. It is likely that they may believe in a similar practice, but may be different because they are from a different region of the Philippines or just believe in different practices. The goal of this website is to first and foremost provide a foreground to help begin to understand this type of healing and to encourage practitioners to do their own research on the practice and to honor my ancestors.
