Humor in Therapy

[InYourHead]

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I was wondering what everyone's viewpoints are on the use of humor in therapy. I think humor is extremely important (in life in general) and can also see how it could be so important in psychology. Does anyone use it? I'm sure I will have more specific questions later, but I'd like to hear about all of your personal experiences and opinions.

And on a related note, I see that the research on this topic is limited, but is anyone aware of any good articles/researchers to look into?

Thanks in advance!

 

[KillerDiller]

I sometimes use humor in therapy when appropriate. I can't think of any examples right now, though. Mainly, I use it because humor is a part of my personality and I think I come off as more genuine to the client when I am able to use it. However, I only do so sparingly.

One thing I have noticed is that some motivational interviewing techniques come off as humor. Specifically, over-exaggerating the client's claims in order to get them to soften their wording.

Client: There's no downside to drinking.
Me: You've never experienced any negative consequences from drinking...ever.
Client: Hahaha, well, sometimes I ...

Works like a charm as long as you can do it with kindness instead of thinly-veiled contempt.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I sometimes use humor in therapy when appropriate. I can't think of any examples right now, though. Mainly, I use it because humor is a part of my personality and I think I come off as more genuine to the client when I am able to use it. However, I only do so sparingly.

One thing I have noticed is that some motivational interviewing techniques come off as humor. Specifically, over-exaggerating the client's claims in order to get them to soften their wording.

Client: There's no downside to drinking.
Me: You've never experienced any negative consequences from drinking...ever.
Client: Hahaha, well, sometimes I ...

Works like a charm as long as you can do it with kindness instead of thinly-veiled contempt.

Yeah, a big part of MI is conveying sincerity rather than coming across as trying to mock or pander to the client; humor can definitely help if you're able to work it in "naturally."

 

[docma]

Humor is essential in therapy (and in being a therapist). Being able to detect/evoke a client's sense of humor is key in diagnosis/prognosis. Helping client's find/develop a sense of humor can be a key in recovery. Obviously it is a tool that needs to be used with compassion and care. I have never found much written about it either--but you find it inherent in the work of Linehan, McWilliams and some of the ACT practitioners. Part of humor is almost always surprise and the taking of a new perspective and I see mental health as essentially about psychological flexibility and the capacity to take multiple perspectives on the comedy/tragedy of human experience...so that is the connection I find between humor and how we use it in therapy--extending to the client a new way to see life and to use humor for its resiliency in managing what is not funny.

That said, one of the saddest things about our profession is the way in which we can take ourselves way too seriously and hold rigidly to a tragic/pessimistic outlook.

 

[Applicant03]

I agree with everyone that has posted. Humor is also a part of my personality and it's so incredibly important to not take yourself or anything too seriously. I think it aids in rapport building as well. Using humor when appropriate, of course, is certainly acceptable.

I think you can also use humor in terms of diagnosis (depression). Is your client able to attend to humor? Laugh? Smile? etc.

I was wondering what everyone's viewpoints are on the use of humor in therapy. I think humor is extremely important (in life in general) and can also see how it could be so important in psychology. Does anyone use it? I'm sure I will have more specific questions later, but I'd like to hear about all of your personal experiences and opinions.

And on a related note, I see that the research on this topic is limited, but is anyone aware of any good articles/researchers to look into?

Thanks in advance!

 

[JockNerd]

Humor is also a really great way for clients and therapists to avoid talking about important emotional or cognitive issues in therapy.

I tend not to use humor, despite the fact that I am very funny, because I think it takes a while with every client to decode when humor is genuine and when it is being used to skim over something and because I think the client needs to have some trust that you're not mocking them. Once I think I have a decent bead on how they approach humor it's really useful.

I also think it's useful for some clients to realize that someone can josh them and it's not necessarily insulting.

 

[psydtobe]

i would say humor is a strong part of my personality and also those of many of my clients. i use if often with them, when clinically appropriate. particularly when discussing alternative actions, or playing out a scenario if they were to behave a certain way. there are some clients that i use little to no humor with and that is simply a matter of discernment. i can't imagine people who are constantly rigid, unless that is their authentic personality (which still could create issues). i have gotten great feedback in being MYSELF, which includes humor. always consider cognitive limitations when using humor, particularly dry humor or sarcasm as it may not go over well!

 

[Markro311]

Humor is also a really great way for clients and therapists to avoid talking about important emotional or cognitive issues in therapy.

I tend not to use humor, despite the fact that I am very funny, because I think it takes a while with every client to decode when humor is genuine and when it is being used to skim over something and because I think the client needs to have some trust that you're not mocking them. Once I think I have a decent bead on how they approach humor it's really useful.

I also think it's useful for some clients to realize that someone can josh them and it's not necessarily insulting.

I agree. It's all about the situation - your personality (and if you come off as sincere and genuine), the client's personality, the client's presenting issues/diagnosis, the topic, the client's commitment to therapy and this particular topic, etc.

During my first therapy practicum, I had a client with Passive Aggressive (Negativistic) Personality Disorder. He/she had an amazing sense of humor. But often times when we'd dig a little deeper on a topic, he/she would use sense of humor as a major defense mechanism. So even though humor was a strength for that individual, and I particularly find humor in therapy to be effective, I couldn't just let my client use it as a defense. I had to balance letting my client know how much of a strength I saw in his/her humor, with also pointing out how he/she can use that strength as such a strong defense at times.

This conversation was actually quite important in our work together. And there were still many instances in the future where we used humor in therapy, but we made sure to use it in a powerful, positive way. No longer as a defense.

 

[Ollie123]

Can be absolutely appropriate (and therapeutic in itself) though will be highly situation-dependent.

One of the counselors at the VA makes it a point to start every day with a joke before his groups...to reinforce the idea that one can be waking up early, sitting in a classroom, completely sober, and still laughing and having fun. Aside from the fact that the jokes he tells are usually so extraordinarily sexist I'd never feel right saying them, it actually seems pretty effective for getting his point across (and the homeless, multiply-addicted vets seem less concerned about the appropriateness of it than I am😉 ). I suspect it also helps build rapport with folks in a setting where rapport is both notoriously difficult and notoriously critical.

 

[Existenz]

depends on your theoretical orientation. I'd say in general to avoid the humor unless it's to break the ice during some intake or during history taking for NP.

 

[KayJay85]

It all boils down to your natural personality. If humor is a part of your repertoire then you are probably OK with employing it.

 

[KillerDiller]

depends on your theoretical orientation. I'd say in general to avoid the humor unless it's to break the ice during some intake or during history taking for NP.

Which orientations do you think would frown on using humor in therapy? Psychoanalytic?

My inclination is actually opposite of yours. I'm somewhat less likely to use humor in an assessment than I am in a therapeutic intervention.