Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The aim of the study is to highlight the use of humour by psychotherapists in family therapy. We used semistructured interviews and processed the interviews based on a phenomenological approach and using an inductive thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in three main themes; alliance and psychotherapeutic techniques and personality. All the psychotherapists interviewed in the study described that humour is an integral part of their approach to therapy and that humour is used primarily in creating a good alliance with clients. Humour is a necessity in achieving success in the therapeutic process and is present throughout the treatment. Humour is also used to create balance in the room, lighten the mood and find new and shared descriptions of the problem. The psychotherapists describe that humour is a part of their personality and therefore cannot be avoided in their contact with the clients. They point out that humour cannot be seen as a specific technique which can be learned, but that humour can be strengthened and developed as a part of psychotherapy training. The focus should be then to highlight both its positive and negative effects, and how, when and for what purposes humour can be used.
Authors: Marcus Peterson, Eva Thalén
Language: Swedish
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1202513751