Steven M. Sultanoff
Ph.D., President, American Association for Therapeutic Humor, Clinical Psychologist, Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University; Instructor, California State University, Long Beach, Irvine, USA
Humor and health: Potentials for Psychotherapy - Now and in the Future
While the examination of humor and health has historically focused on the physiological benefits of laughter, the potential for humor to increase health and well-being through its ability to change emotions and thinking patterns has been less explored. Research on chronic distressing emotions (depression, anger and anxiety) has indicated that these emotions have a negative impact on our health. The use of positive humor, however, has the power to change these distressing emotions thereby reducing their negative impact.
In this workshop we will examine how humor can increase wellness through its ability to change emotional and cognitive distress. A dynamic, interactive model demonstrating the application of humor to psychotherapy (and illustrating how humor changes emotions, cognitions, physiology, and behavior) will be introduced. We will also explore the use of humor as an intervention for diagnosis and treatment. |