Holistic spiritual therapists in Chilean Patagonia: Seeking alternatives to traditional religiosity and conventional medicine

This paper explores the experiences of holistic spiritual therapists in the Los Lagos Region, located at the northern edge of Chilean Patagonia, and their relationship with both traditional religiosity and institutional medical practices. Based on fieldwork and in-depth interviews with 19 holistic therapists associated with new spiritualities, this qualitative study reveals processes of subjective and biographical displacement, through which participants move away from traditional religion and conventional biomedicine. At the same time, these trajectories are situated within a broader holistic assemblage that articulates elements of spirituality, health, and market-oriented practices, allowing for the coexistence of heterogeneous logics that are often treated as separate domains. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the meaning, social role, and cultural positioning of holistic therapists within the specific socio-territorial context of southern Chile.