Research

‘Is there space for humour and laughter in therapy?’  

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Freud described psychotherapy as the 'impossible profession' but is this an impossible question to answer? Freud had his theories about jokes and the unconscious, Ellis wholeheartedly embraced it in his workshops, Winnicott regarded it as a transitional phenomenon, Bollas mused that ‘a sense of humour is essential to human survival' and Jung was rumoured to say he found it very difficult to work with patients who had no sense of humour.  

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I hope to build upon this literature concerning the use of humour in therapy, through the qualitative research and highlight the impact humour can have on the therapeutic relationship as well as balancing it with the dangers if it is not used judiciously.

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