title: Conceptualizing mind, body, spirit interconnections through, and beyond, spiritual healing practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although research is increasingly exploring the concept of the mind, body, spirit (MBS) and its relevance to health and well-being, it remains difficult to precisely define it.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This research aims to explore indigenous and non-indigenous spiritual healers' conceptualizations of MBS and consider implications for theory and practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12 spiritual healers from Aotearoa/New Zealand participated in a semi-structured interview about their healing practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research interview asked participants to discuss how they conceptualized the mind, body, spirit in their work.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were analyzed using interpretative data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, which led to the identification of three major themes: MBS interconnections of healing, impacts on the mind and the body, and spiritual aspects of healing. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for concepts of healing and conceptualizations of MBS.
authors.affiliation: Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development, PO Box 102, Whanganui, New Zealand 4540. Electronic address: glennistabethamark@yahoo.co.nz.
authors.forename: Glenis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.affiliation: Massey University School of Psychology, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D003210:Concept Formation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009520:New Zealand; D026443:Spiritual Therapies; D029181:Spirituality
keywords: Mind; body; healing; spirit; spiritual healer; spirituality