The Humour Triangle: The Solution to Using Humour in a Therapeutic Setting

By Andrew Lansdown

Humour in Therapy

Have you ever wondered why humour sometimes is not very humorous and, in fact, can inflict more damage than good?

Lansdown’s research to date has shown that all therapists interviewed acknowledge that it’s the relationship between the therapist and client that is one of the most important factors in the therapeutic process. The question Lansdown asked, “Could humour enhance this relationship?” He was amazed with their reactions and perceptions especially when the words ‘humour’ and ‘therapy’ were mentioned in the same sentence.

A common belief is psychotherapy is paradigmatically serious and heavy stuff, and humour is not compatible with counselling. The late Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said “A joke is a very serious thing”. However...?

Lansdown has discovered a solution by discussing the taboo subject of using ‘humour’ as a method to improve therapy. Lansdown introduces The Humour Triangle and reveals how this method can be successful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brown Dog Books
• Release date: Oct 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781839522017

Book preview

R.I.P.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why humour isn’t funny? So have I. My story starts with Professor Hawthorn pondering this thought after attending a conference and the delivery of a research paper by a young therapist. His paper quite simply posed the question: Would humour inhibit or enhance the relationship between people and improve communication?

The story will start to unfold with many unanswered questions which would be debated between the professor and a professional comedian Barclay Squire.

The message in this story will allow you, the reader, to be more informed and confident in understanding why humour is not always correctly perceived or accepted when we encounter humorous situations.

It will also give you a solution which will empower you to improve your communication skills when considering the use of humour.

Preface

When I first became interested in counselling the very first course was twelve one day a week session on ‘Listening Skills’. Although I had great ambitions of becoming a distinguished therapist little did I know that, all these years later, I would contribute to my chosen profession, a theory which would advise therapist’s on how to approach the subject of humour especially in the therapy room.

Humorous things happen between people. Humour can be an easy way to communicate and at the same time can be grossly misunderstood. As a therapist we are instructed therapy is a serious subject with which I agree, however every therapist will have to acknowledge there are times in a therapy session that expose certain unspoken thoughts and feelings for both therapist and client which can easily turn reactions into humorous thoughts, in turn this can have disastrous outcomes as you may be aware your sense of humour may not be appreciated by the other which can lead to a break-down in a relationship. All therapists will agree that the therapist-client relationship is the most important ingredient for a successful outcome.

After twelve months year’s research on the effects of humour in therapy for my Master’s Degree I concurred with Winston Churchill that humour was a serious thing however, it is an integral part of human communication and my research convinced me although humour is a serious thing it can also be useful in a therapeutic setting.

I decided to write an article based on my findings after discussing with a senior lecturer at Bristol University I was advised I should write a book the thought seemed preposterous. Due to the undiagnosed dyslexia I was unable to read or write when I was ten years of age so going to university was a miracle let