Humor in Counseling: Leader Perspectives

Counseling has been described as a "dynamic process during which a trained individual assists another person who is functioning at a low or ineffective level to become a more effectively functioning person" (Doyle, 1992, p. 1). In providing such assistance, counseling has been recognized as an "intensive and personal process" (Ivey, 1994, p. 10). Although counseling is primarily a serious endeavor, humor has been shown to occur in it either through the "natural" interactions of its participants (e.g., Gladding, 1995) or by design (e.g., Ellis, 1973). Furthermore, a review of the uses of humor in counseling (Goldin & Bordan, 1999) has demonstrated its application in assessment and intervention from a variety of theoretical modalities. This article endeavors to add to the literature regarding the existence of humor in counseling. In order to accomplish this objective, eminent counselors were invited to share their relevant experiences and perspectives regarding humor in counseling. Several categories of humor in counseling emerging from their contributions are discussed in the concluding discussion. Counselor leaders were selected using diverse criteria, such as professional publications, leadership positions in counseling associations, and prior significant contributions on the subject. More specifically, the contributors to Current Psychotherapies (Corsini & Wedding, 2000) were sent a letter inviting them to participate in the project (see the Appendix). In addition, Samuel T. Gladding, president of the American Counseling Association (ACA) at the initiation of the project, was invited to participate specifically because of his significant contribution to the subject of humor and counseling (Gladding, 1983, 1995, 2002a, 2002b, 2005; Gladding & Hageman, 1984; Gladding & Kezar, 1978). Daniel L. Araoz, a former president of the New York Mental Health Counselors Association who holds diplomates in counseling psychology, family psychology, and clinical hypnosis, was similarly invited to contribute. Several months later, the contributors to the videotape series Psychotherapy With the Experts (Carlson & Kjos, 2000) were invited to participate in the project. Contributions were received from the last five authors (Daniel L. Araoz, Samuel T. Gladding, David Kaplan, John Krumboltz, and Arnold Lazarus). The order of their presentations is alphabetical. * Daniel L. Araoz Daniel L. Araoz has synthesized Ericksonian hypnosis with cognitive behavioral interventions to create the New Hypnosis (e.g., Araoz, 1985). Araoz holds diplomates in clinical hypnosis, family therapy, and counseling psychology and is a professor of counseling at Long Island University/ C.W. Post Campus. Life Through the Eyes of a Cartoonist Some say that it makes sense to go through life with the attitude of a cartoonist. For him or her, ordinary events of daily living can take on a funny side. To uncover another level of reality in what happens around us is a special characteristic era large part of what's humorous and has a unique poetic quality. It may also be a demonstration of a very wise attitude: to see below the surface, to make the unconscious conscious. The humorist, like the comedian, helps us see more of reality or look at it from a different perspective. This is an enrichment of our life. Thomas Aquinas, in the Middle Ages, considered it a virtue to make other people laugh. Thus, in counseling I'm not afraid of pointing out funny aspects of what is going on in the session. I'm not afraid of asking clients to look at life with the eyes of a cartoonist or to think in a cartoon-like manner. I even tell a good (and brier) joke when the occasion seems right to me. I have noticed that in most cases the reaction to my humor is welcomed and appreciated. Humor seems to help the client realize that I am in tune with his or her experience and, most important, that I understand him or her. …