Humor in Therapy: An Introduction

Transcription

1 Humor in Therapy: An Introduction

2 Joke A therapist is working in his basement when he notices a massive leak that could damage many expensive things. Desperate, he calls a plumber, who asks if it needs to be today, as he charges more on Sundays. The therapist explains that it can t wait, and the plumber comes right over. He takes a good, long look at the leak, pulls out a small wrench, and hits part of the pipe softly. The leak immediately stops. Satisfied, the plumber hands the therapist a bill for $500. What? shouts the therapist. I m a highly successful therapist and I don t get $500 for 5 minutes work! The plumber says Well, neither did I when I was a therapist.

3 The work we do Why This Topic? Who we are The current state of our profession The current economic situation

4 Why This Topic? Laughter and therapy are not generally paired in the minds of clinicians nor in the minds of the general public (Junkins)

5 Why This Topic? Therapy is serious It is approached by clinicians as work It is sought by clients who are in psychological pain People do not enter therapy for as a joke or for a laugh Source: Junkins, retrieved from Laughtertherapy.com

6 Why Do People Laugh? Humor is only one trigger for laughter Stress, anxiety and tension all can trigger laughter as well Source: Junkins, retrieved from Laughtertherapy.com

7 Why Do People Laugh? Regardless of the cause of laughter, we feel better after we laugh

8 Why Laugh? We don t laugh because we are happy. We are happy because we laugh. (William James) Source: Junkins, retrieved from Laughtertherapy.com

9 Humor Provides Benefits in Multiple Areas of Your Life Mental health Physical health Work related benefits Source: laughterremedy.com

10 Mental Health Benefits of Humor Stress reduction Anger reduction Anxiety reduction Increased optimism Increased sense of control Increased emotional intelligence Source: laughterremedy.com

11 Physical Health Benefits of Humor Strengthens immune system Reduces cortisol and other stress hormones Reduced pain Muscle relaxation Improved cardio-vascular health Source: laughterremedy.com

12 Work Related Benefits of Humor Humor improves: Morale Problem solving Creativity Communication skills Resilience Conflict management & resolution Job satisfaction Source: laughterremedy.com

13 All These Benefits Are Goals of mental health treatment in and of themselves or skill sets needed for successful mental health treatment

14 Regardless of the Presenting Problem Humor can assist your clients in reaching their goals

15 Humor: How Does it Work? Laughing at a situation or problem gives us a feeling of power and superiority over it Source: Wooten

16 Humor: How Does it Work? Humor provides us perspective on our problems As a result, humor fosters a positive, hopeful attitude Source: Wooten

17 Humor: How Does it Work? Laughter releases uncomfortable emotions that can lead to biochemical changes in both our brains and bodies that are unpleasant and harmful Source: Wooten retrieved from Holistic-online.com

18 Humor: How Does it Work? Lefcourt found that the cognitive ability to sense and appreciate humor functions as a buffer in mood disturbances which can occur after negative life events Source: Lefcourt retrieved from Holistic-online.com

19 Humor: How Does it Work? Derks found that the perception of humor engages the whole brain and serves to balance and integrate activity in both hemispheres Source: Derks retrieved from Holistic-online.com

20 How Humor Engages the Entire Brain As the joke is told the left hemisphere processes the words themselves Then most of the brain activity moves to the frontal lobe Source: Derks retrieved from Holistic-online.com

21 How Humor Engages the Entire Brain Moments later, the right hemisphere s synthesis capabilities join with the left s processing to get the joke Source: Derks retrieved from Holistic-online.com

22 How Humor Engages the Entire Brain Immediately after this the increased brain wave activity spreads to the sensory processing areas the occipital lobes Source: Derks retrieved from Holistic-online.com

23 How Humor Engages the Entire Brain The increased fluctuations in delta waves reach a peak as the brain gets the joke and laughter occurs Source: Derks retrieved from Holistic-online.com

24 Joke Break Answering Machine Message for the Mental Health Institute Hello, and welcome to the Mental Health Hotline. If you are obsessive or compulsive, press 1 repeatedly. If you are co-dependant, please ask someone to press 2 for you. If you have multiple personalities, please press 3,4,5 and 6 If you are paranoid, we already know who you are and what you want, but stay on the line while we trace your call. If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press. If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mother ship.

25 Summary of How Humor Contributes to Health Immune System Enhancement Pain Reduction Endorphins are released Endorphins are natural pain killers When laughing, people feel less physical pain Source: McGee retrieved from Holistic-online.com

26 Summary of How Humor Contributes to Health Immune System Enhancement Decreased Blood Pressure Lower blood pressure is associated with relaxation More effective for women that men Source: McGee retrieved from Holistic-online.com

27 Summary of How Humor Contributes to Health Immune System Enhancement Cardiac Exercise Belly laughs involve a lot of muscle groups Sometimes termed internal jogging Source: McGee retrieved from Holistic-online.com

28 Summary of How Humor Contributes to Health Muscle Relaxation Much like progressive relaxation After the tensing of a muscle A deeper sense of relaxation is possible Source: McGee retrieved from Holistic-online.com

29 Summary of How Humor Contributes to Health Reduction of Stress Hormones Epinephrine Cortisol Growth hormone (HGC), and Dopac (a dopamine derivative) Source: McGee retrieved from Holistic-online.com

30 Respiration Summary of How Humor Contributes to Health Belly laughter empties the lungs of air similar to deep breathing It has a cleansing effect Source: McGee retrieved from Holistic-online.com

31 Just Some of the History of Humor Therapy Used in medicine throughout recorded history Even referred to in the bible a merry hear does good like medicine... (Prv 17:22) 13 th century used by surgeons to distract patients and relief pain Sources: American Cancer Society; laughterremedy.com, APA Monitor Online

32 Just Some of the History of Humor Therapy Freud studied laughter as well and suggested the release/relief theory of humor 1960s Norman Cousins, used Marx Brothers movies and Candid Camera TV episodes to treat his cancer He wrote a book about the experience which is often cited Sources: American Cancer Society; laughterremedy.com, APA Monitor Online

33 Just Some of the History of Humor Therapy Patch Adams and Bernie Segal made it popular Now most people would agree that laughter is the best medicine Sources: American Cancer Society; laughterremedy.com, APA Monitor Online

34 Humor Therapy: What is It? According to the American Cancer Society: Humor therapy is the deliberate use of humor to provide symptom relief Source: American Cancer Society

35 Humor Therapy: What is It? It is useful in the treatment of both physical and emotional problems With a wide variety of objects and techniques, the goal is simple: make patients laugh Source: American Cancer Society

36 How is Humor Therapy Used? Humor therapy is typically used to improve quality of life, provide pain relief, increase relaxation and reduce stress Source: American Cancer Society

37 Humor Comedy and humor are now so widely viewed as a viable preventive technique for coping that comic relief is used in many clinical settings as a supplemental tool in the healing and recovery process for everyone from alcoholics to cancer patients Source: Catholic Health Association retrieved from Holistic-online.com

38 How Does Humor Help Patients? It is a diversionary tactic A therapeutic tool A coping mechanism Provides healing for caregivers (other members of the system) Source: Catholic Health Association retrieved from Holistic-online.com

39 Use of Humor According to the APA Monitor More and more clinical psychologists are experimenting with humor as an adjunct to therapy Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

40 Use of Humor According to the APA Monitor, More psychologists have also joined professional organizations that promote the use of humor such as: The American Association for Therapeutic Humor The International Society for Humor Studies Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

41 Use of Humor At Rutgers University, psychology professor Dr. Elias leads humor workshops for beginning clinicians Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

42 Use of Humor He thinks that humor taps into something old, something psychology has gotten away from in our efforts to be more cognitive and behavioral and scientific. We ve lost sight of the fact that we are emotional beings Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

43 A Specific Technique Give Chinese bamboo finger trap to a client dealing with something serious Have them put their fingers in Then describe the metaphor Instead of pulling to get out, you let go and relax to free yourself Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

44 Humor/Laughter Therapy Has been used with a wide variety of populations and problems including but not limited to: Depression Anxiety Trauma Abuse Addiction

45 Different Types of Humor Passive humor watching prepared material such as comic or funny movie, or even reading a humorous book Spontaneous humor requires finding humor in everyday situations Source: American Cancer Society

46 Passive Humor This type of humor is what most medical resources refer to when discussing Humor Therapy It involves using people, movies, objects etc to make people laugh

47 Spontaneous Humor This is entirely different To be used in therapy spontaneous humor involves the client finding the humor in situations, events and even tragic events and trauma in their own lives

48 Humor Therapy: What is It? An important distinction should be made here... Many sources refer to humor therapy as simply making people laugh

49 Humor Therapy: What is It? However, some propose that it is really something different It is described as a cathartic release, a specific essential element of Gestalt Therapy in this context it is often referred to as laughter therapy

50 Therapeutic Processes The loss of control cathartically through laughter, crying or anger makes us uncomfortable Source: Goodheart

51 Therapeutic Processes What we don t realize is that when we lose control cathartically, we actually gain control of our lives in flexible, intelligent, creative and caring ways Source: Goodheart

52 Laughter Therapy When using laughter therapy it is important that... Clients are not pushed into utilizing laughter in their own lives Instead the opportunity to laugh as well as the skills for finding humor are presented to them Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

53 Laughter Therapy It does not refer to jokes in therapy and... Does not minimize a client s issues Rather it is one of three major forms of catharsis in therapy Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

54 Laughter Therapy The 3 forms of catharsis in therapy are Crying Anger Laughter Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

55 Joke Break More Answering Machine Messages for the Mental Health Institute If you are menopausal, hang up, turn on the fan, lie down & cry. You won't be crazy forever. If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the # key until a representative comes on the line. If you are dyslexic, press If you have a masochistic complex, please press "0" for the operator. There are 200 calls ahead of you. If you are depressed it probably doesn't matter what you press, it won't do you any good anyway. If you have low self esteem, please hang up. All our operators are too busy to talk to you.

56 Laughter Therapy The intent is to assist them in obtaining their goals, not drag them to them kicking and screaming With the consent of the client, the therapist works to help find tools to create the laughter catharsis Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

57 Laughter Therapy According to Junkins, a prominent author on the topic In order to achieve laughter one combines play with serious issues Play may incorporate a different way of thinking, word play, props, phraseology etc Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

58 Laughter Therapy Playfulness is not synonymous with silliness There is no need to fear losing one s dignity Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

59 Laughter Therapy Laughter alone does not suffice to completely deal with issues As feelings are accessed Crying, anger work and talking are often necessary along with the laughter Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

60 Laughter Therapy According to Junkins, emotions are held in the body and all means of catharsis are necessary to heal Which ones and how much will depend upon the individual Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

61 Laughter Therapy According to Junkins, laughter is the most important because it releases three emotions Anger Anxiety Boredom Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

62 Laughter Therapy It is also the most pleasant and often the most acceptable Clients who are willing to utilize laughter in therapy will generally move through their pain more quickly, according to Junkins Source: Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

63 Humor Therapy Dunkleblau disagrees Humor is not a therapy, he cautions, but rather a complementary treatment. It facilitates what we do as therapists. We are trying help people problem-solve, to develop, to know they re alive. These are things that humor does. Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

64 Humor in Therapy Dunn argues against trying to impose or directly inject humor in the process of therapy Humor often comes out spontaneously as patient and therapist disclose to each other who they are. Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

65 Humor in Therapy Dunn s style features the occasional anecdote that communicates something significant psychologically about life, or contains some kernel of wisdom. A humorous quote or anecdote, can powerfully illustrate a point that may be very serious. Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

66 Humor in Therapy According to Dunn Humor is woven into the fabric of life, as are tragedy and suffering. So helping people realize they have the freedom to laugh not trying to make them laugh, but inviting it can make a point and serve a therapeutic purpose. Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

67 Humor in Therapy Dunkleblau states that during our training we get some of the humor beaten out of us... We re afraid of not being taken seriously, or that our patients will feel they are not taken serious. Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

68 Humor in Therapy Dunkleblau adds that this isn t about telling jokes, humor and play is much more than telling jokes. It is a way to connect to our clients Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

69 Humor in Therapy According to Dunn... The raw material for comedy and psychotherapy are the same. Both deal with tragedy, suffering and conflict you don t make jokes about things that are not serious. Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

70 Humor Therapy Regardless of your theoretical orientation Or position on whether or not humor or laughter is therapy itself

71 Humor Therapy Clearly there is a growing body of evidence that: Laughter and humor have multiple positive effects And it is a potentially useful tool in a clinicians box of skills

72 Tips for Adding Humor to Therapy Look for organizations of professional serious about humor Surround yourself with funny, playful people Find a humor buddy Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

73 Tips for Adding Humor to Therapy Contract with yourself to play everyday Keep an emergency humor tape in the car for use in traffic Clip cartoons and post them where you can see them Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

74 Cautions When Using Humor in Therapy Beware of sarcasm and abusive humor Be aware of your own emotions Sometimes humor is a left handed way of expressing your own anger and aggression Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

75 Cautions When Using Humor in Therapy Be cautious about clients feeling they are not being taken seriously Humor must always be used to facilitate, not interrupt the healing process Source: McGuire retrieved from APA Monitor online

76 Joke Break A woman walks into a psychiatrist s office and sits down in a chair. The psychiatrist (also a woman) asks her if she knows why she s here. Well, she says, my family referred me to you because I really like shoes. The psychiatrist laughs and replies Why on earth would they do that? I happen to love shoes as well. The woman excitedly replies Really? Baked or boiled?

77 Tips for More Laughter In Your Life Practice laughing at least 5 minutes each day fake it till you make it Look for humor all around you on signs, newspapers, magazines and other people s behavior, things your kids, family members or co-workers do Source: some original and some from Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

78 Tips for More Laughter In Your Life Share embarrassing moments with other people Smile it puts you closer to laughter Source: some original and some from Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

79 Tips for More Laughter In Your Life Seek out entertainment that makes you laugh TV shows Movies Books Comedians Source: some original and some from Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

80 Tips for More Laughter In Your Life Do something fun every day Give yourself permission to laugh at anything you need to Source: some original and some from Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

81 Tips for More Laughter In Your Life Do something silly, unexpected or nonconforming When someone around you laughs, laugh with them Source: some original and some from Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

82 Tips for More Laughter In Your Life My favorite tip Ask your children or spouse what was the funniest thing that happened today Source: some original and some from Junkins retrieved from laughtertherapy.com

83 Website Resources American Association for Therapeutic Humor, International Society for Humor Studies Humor & Health Journal,

84 Some Very Humorous Authors Dave Barry Janet Evanovich Carl Hiaasen Erma Bombeck

85 References Berk, LS, Tan, Sa et al, (1989). Nueroendocrine and stress hormone changes during mirthful laughter. Am J Med Sci, 298; Goodheart, A. (1994). Laughter Therapy. Santa Barbara: Less Stress Press. Joshua AM, Conroneo A, Clarke S. (2005). Humor and Oncology. J Clin Oncol. 23: Junkins, E (2007). The power of laughter. Retrieved from laughtertherapy.com on 7/9/2009. Junkins, E (2008). The role of laughter in psychotherapy. Retrieved from laughtertherapy.com on 7/9/2009. Junkins, E (2007). Laughter tips. Retrieved from laughtertherapy.com on 7/9/2009. McGuire P (1999). More psychologists are finding that discrete uses of humor promote healing in their patients. APA Monitor Online V 30 N 3 March. Penson, RT, Partridge RA, et al. (2005). Laughter the best medicine? Oncologist. 10: