Healing through meaning as an aspect of spirituality for Indigenous Australians: a qualitative study

Abstract

The spirituality of Indigenous Australians is described in this study, showing its distinctness from mainstream religion and its importance for social and emotional wellbeing. Connection and identity in the literature are defining elements in the spirituality of Indigenous people, and this study set out to understand how connections contribute to meaning and healing. Guided by a semi-structured interview, Indigenous spirituality was explored in terms of both meaning and importance. Four primary themes emerged from the interview data which described the importance of connection: to ancestors, family, country, and belief in God. There were also two sub-themes: nature and interior reality. Although spirituality was centred around these primary themes, for many Indigenous Australians, there has been an amalgamation of traditional beliefs with mainstream religion that reflects the history of colonialism. Participants emphasised the importance for mental health practitioners to acknowledge clients’ spirituality and to consider its importance within the therapeutic setting.