Integrating humor into psychotherapy: Research, theory, and the necessary conditions for the presence of therapeutic humor in helping relationships.

Abstract

Although humor is a key element of all social interactions and is frequently present in the psychotherapy process, rarely do therapists consciously and purposely use humor with therapeutic intent. Each theoretical orientation helps clients change emotions, behaviors, and/or cognitions. Humorous interventions can activate change in each of these central areas of human experience.A key unanswered question is how therapeutic humor is generated. This question has been virtually ignored. Unless people specify the elements that facilitate the creation of therapeutic humor, they cannot train practitioners to be therapeutic in their use of humor. Using Carl Rogers' (1957) "necessary and sufficient conditions" as a central theme, this article addresses the nature of the practitioner that is necessary for therapeutic humor to be communicated to the client. It further describes the qualities of the client/ receiver of the humor that are necessary for therapeutic humor to be experienced, and, finally, it specifies the nature of the interactive relationship that influences the potential for humor to be therapeutic. It is the interaction of the skills and qualities of the therapist, the qualities of the client, and the nature of the bond of the relationship between them that accounts for the client's experience of therapeutic humor.

Developing Performance Using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT): A Case Study with an Elite Archer

“…Disputing an individual's belief is a challenging and sensitive process. Therefore it was important for the practitioner to manage the levels of humor (Sultanoff, 2013), as well as including elements of practitioner self-disclosure, to help normalize Zara's position (Peterson, 2002). Adopting an ABCDE model, the practitioner rather than disputing the adversity (A), disputed (D) Zara's existing IBs (B) and strengthened her new effective (E) RBs, thus promoting healthy emotions, and adaptive behaviors (Ellis & Dryden, 1997).…”

The use of humor by therapists and clients in cognitive therapy

“…Nevertheless, due to the fact that there are several ways in which humour can be used in therapy (e.g. hyperbole, repetition or extension of prior humour, rhetorical humour, irony, a smiling voice) psychotherapists should make sure that any attempt at humour is appropriate to the moment, to the client's personality and to the issues being discussed (Sultanoff 2013). Sharing humorous comments and laughing together may promote feelings of intimacy and friendliness and facilitate the client's trust in the therapist, but there is also a risk of detrimental effects if the humour is misunderstood, used to belittle, laugh at, or mimic the client (Pierce 1994).…”

“…emotion) (Barbosa et al 2017). In fact, humour is a complex interaction involving an individual's physiological response (laughter), emotional response (mirth) and/or cognitive response (understanding) to a humorous stimulus (Sultanoff 2013), but unfortunately it is not generally recognized as a valid tool in professional settings as it is viewed as unprofessional (Dziegielewski et al 2003). However, there are several reasons why humour is worth investigating in the field of psychotherapy: 1) being able to laugh at him/herself and not take him/herself too seriously can facilitate a client's tolerance to criticism, making it possible for the therapist to expose personality flaws and shortcomings in a non-threatening way (Ellis 1977); 2) by means of humour, it is possible for the therapist and client to establish and maintain a positive therapeutic relationship and facilitate the therapeutic alliance (Nelson 2008); 3) a humorous comment from a therapist can defuse an awkward moment, shifting the conversation and placing it within a "comic frame" (Dziegielewski et al 2003); and 4) since it facilitates positive alternative thoughts in clients, humour represents a useful tool for decreasing resistance in sessions, resulting in a more relaxed and open conversation (Bordan & Goldin 1999).…”

Humour reactions in crisis

“…Humour interventions also can be deemed as a therapeutic activity to reduce the stress of others in times of need [8]. During this process social media is used a platform that enables such individuals to depict these coping mechanisms and share their emotions.…”