How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb?
Just one, but the light bulb really has to want to change.
Why Humor Matters in Therapy
Whether you laughed at that old joke or not, know that laughter is an important tool in managing and maintaining your mental health. If you’ve ever seen movies like Patch Adams, or have heard the phrase, “Laughter is the best medicine,” you already have some insight into this. According to an article by Leslie Finlay, MPA, research says laughter signals our nervous system that a perceived threat has passed, suppressing our fight-or-flight stress response. Humor is the stimulus, and laughter is the response.
In Finlay’s article, clinical psychologist and professor at Pepperdine University, Steven Sultanoff, PhD states that distressing emotions such as anxiety, anger, or depression and humor cannot occupy the same psychological space . The approach? Seeing the world around you through “comic vision,” or seeing the humor in the world and in your situations. Challenging an anxious or negative thought with a joke or funny observation can have a swift and direct effect on your physiological symptoms.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are both physical and mental benefits of laughter. In the short-term, laughter can:
- Stimulate organs, including enhancing your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulate your heart, lungs and muscles, and increase the endorphins, the feel-good chemical, to your brain.
- It also fires up and then cools down your stress response, in turn increasing then decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in a feeling of relaxation, in addition to stimulating circulation and aiding in muscle relaxation, which can contribute to stress reduction.
In the long term, the Mayo Clinic indicates that laughter can:
- Improve the immune system
- Relieve pain
- Increase overall personal satisfaction
- Improve mood and self-esteem
Why Use Humor with Clients?
“Humor is a stimulus and laughter is a response,” Sultanoff explains. The physical act of laughter itself has physiological benefits—even if it’s forced. In fact, a 2020 study found that just smiling tricks your brain into feeling happier.
But humor itself involves a shift in someone’s perspective. “Almost all psychological distress comes out of their thinking process,” Dr. Sultonoff says. “If you change people’s negative thought processes, you directly impact their emotional well-being.”
The role of humor in therapy comes with ethical responsibilities for the therapist. Therapists must respect boundaries, not targeting a client’s vulnerabilities or perpetuating stereotypes. Therapists must be aware of cultural differences in humor styles to ensure interventions are well-received, as well as any other individual experiences . therapists must also make sure their use of humor serves the client’s therapeutic goals rather than their own need for levity or connection.
Benefits of Humor in Psychotherapy
According to the Mental Health Academy, there are several theories that explain humor’s function and relevance in therapy.
- Incongruity Theory = Humor arises from the recognition of a mismatch between expectation and reality. Therapists often help clients to reframe their thinking and challenge cognitive distortions; utilizing a witty observation can help shed light on a client’s rigid thinking patterns
- Relief Theory = This theory from Freud suggests humor serves as a release of psychological tension, useful in moments of emotional stress, such as grief or anxiety, creating a brief distraction or relief. Think of it as “laughter therapy.”
- Social Bonding Theory = Humor serves to break down interpersonal barriers and foster connection. In therapy, shared laughter can create a sense of safety and mutual understanding between the client and therapist. Humor is a great way to build the therapeutic alliance.
Effects of Laughter on Mental Health
According to a Neuro Launch article from February 16 of this year, “Mental health humor isn’t about making light of serious conditions or mocking those who struggle. It’s about finding the absurdity in our shared human experiences, especially those related to our mental and emotional challenges.”
When we laugh, our brains release endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin – known as the happiness hormones. They work together to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Not only do we feel better in the moment, but the activation creates positive neural pathways that can help us to cope better in the future as well. So, the more you laugh, the better you become at facing adversity.
Humor can even assist in reducing therapy anxiety. The act of laughing together releases oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone.” By laughing together in a therapy session, your brain is also getting a chemical boost to reinforce the bond between therapist and client, helping to build the therapeutic relationship.
Beyond just using humor in therapy, there is an approach known as laugh therapy , where he therapist intervenes where these distressing emotions occur, helping people learn to change those thoughts and feelings through humor.
Of course, not all humor is created equal. Laughing at the expense of others, or at a moment that is not conducive to the situation , is not beneficial and can have the opposite effect. It’s also necessary to recognize the limits of humor in treatment. Even with all of its benefits, laughter is not a substitute for professional help or medication when needed. Like any coping skill, it can boost your well-being, but it’s not going to cure a serious condition on its own.
Keep in mind that the goal isn’t to laugh away your problems or pretend that they don’t exist. It’s about connecting with others and remembering that even in the midst of our struggles, we still have the capacity to smile, laugh, and find joy in even the hard times.
Integrating Humor Effectively
Here are a few practical tips from NeuroLaunch for navigating the use of humor in therapy:
1. Be authentic: Use humor that genuinely resonates with your experiences. Don’t force jokes if they don’t feel right.
2. Know your audience: Be mindful of who you’re sharing your humor with and how it might be received.
3. Use “I” statements: Focus on your own experiences rather than making generalizations about mental health conditions.
4. Be open to feedback: If someone tells you a joke was hurtful or insensitive, listen and learn from it.
5. Balance humor with honesty: Don’t use jokes to completely avoid serious discussions about your mental health
6. Seek professional help when needed: Remember that while laughter is powerful, it’s not a substitute for proper mental health care
Resources and Next Steps
Interested in Laughter Therapy training? There are various resources online, including this Certified Course to Become a Laughter Therapist and this Laughter Therapy Workshop
Here are some recommended readings around humor in therapy:
Laughter Therapy: Good Medicine to Make Your Heart Glad
The Healing Benefit of Humor and Laughter
Association For Applied And Therapeutic Humor | United States
Other Tools or Recommendations
Other tools available if you’re not currently in therapy or in between sessions:
There are instructor-led laugh therapy groups or clubs that can involve simulated/voluntary laughter exercises, funny games, and other activities that aim to trigger spontaneous laughter. There’s also comedy TV shows and movies, local comedy shows, and even laughter yoga , a technique that combines mindful movement, breathwork, and laughter.
