The Use of Humor in Family Therapy: Rationale and Applications

ABSTRACT

Humor and its historical presence in therapy is defined and examined through a review of the available literature. This article underlines various applications for humor in forming the alliance, delivering interventions, and assessment, particularly when working with family systems, dyadic relationships, or children clientele. Implications for the inappropriate use of humor, including the need for multicultural awareness, are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Alliance
• assessment
• couple therapy
• family systems
• family therapy
• humor
• intervention
• therapy skills