Finding the Humor in Psychotherapy: A Primer On the Clinical Art of Joking with your Clients

Q: Knock Knock. Who’s There?A: Instruction on how to safely and ethically use humor and mirth within the realm of psychotherapy provision!Okay, that joke is not funny, but humor is inherently subjective in nature. As such, the use of humor in therapy can be hard to do well. It is a common experience to be told to use humor carefully by our supervisors, but we frequently receive little guidance on how to do this. This book explores humor from the ground up, identifying some primary uses in therapy, considering the history of humor in the human species, the various ways we can classify humor, and how humor fits within various modern and prominent theories and interventions. It also looks at when to be the most careful with humor in session. Along the way it provides insight into humor as it fits within those theories and their interventions, serving as a general text about the art of psychotherapy for new and experienced clinicians alike.It does this with a lighthearted and silly tone, making this book (subjectively) fun to read. It is silly and joking while still being academic and based on the research and science of humor.We all know that you and your clients are laughing in your sessions. Now, let's take a deeper look.About the AuthorGlenn Maloney is a psychotherapist, educator, and consultant residing in Duluth, MN. Glenn's trainings on using humor in psychotherapy are well attended, positively received, and (subjectively) amusing. Glenn approaches psychotherapy with a focus on small changes, and celebrating the progress that people make each day. He utilizes several modalities including Solutions Focused Brief Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Glenn resides with his partner, daughter, and two canine companions. He enjoys hiking, hip hop, reading, writing, and making things. Read more