< Back to workshops

Google

Yahoo!

Oh, You Got Jokes Now: The Role of Humor as Intervention in the Clinical Relationship

Thursday, June 5th, 2025   1:45 PM EDT -4:45 PM EDT
Glenn Maloney, MSW LICSW LADC C-DBT
$59.99

This class provides a "deep dive" into the ethical and mindful use of humor as intervention in psychotherapy and other helping professions.  Over the course of the class, participants will learn about the known history of humor in our species and in the psychotherapy profession.  The research about humor, both as used in psychotherapy and as studied more widely, will be reviewed.  We will explore humor in light of various theories including power dynamics, CBT, DBT, and SFBT.  

Through all of this, several primary purposes and uses of humor will be identified.  We will also explore potential signs that humor is the wrong choice in the moment.  The instructor will share their own experiences with using humor well in session, and participants will have the chance to share their own stories.  

About the Presenter

Glenn Maloney, LICSW, LADC C-DBT, is a father, psychotherapist, writer, and educator who is employed by the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, MN.  Glenn has become increasingly engaged in study and writing about the role of humor in psychotherapy and the other helping professions over the past several years, and is working with publishers to release a book he recently completed on the topic.  Glenn enjoys writing poetry as well, and released his first volume of collected works, "Twelve Poems" in 2023; he also enjoys hiking, camping, video games, and listening to hip hop.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Summarize the history of humor and identify it as a central characteristic of human interaction.
  2. Review the research and evidence base behind humor and the use of humor in the helping professions.
  3. Define three primary uses of humor in therapy and the signs that it may not be the right intervention in a particular moment.

Agenda:

1.  The History of Humor

         A. Humor in our species

          B. Humor in Psychotherapy

                   1. Positive Viewpoints

                   2. Negative Viewpoints

2. Humor and Research

          A.  Psychotherapy Research

          B.  Research outside of the Psychotherapy Profession

3. Types of Humor

         A.  Typography in Psychotherapy

          B. Other methods of classifying humor.

          C.  "Good" and "Bad" humor for clinicians and intervention

4. Humor and Theory

          A.  Basic Theories from Social Work

               1. Humor and Power Dynamics

               2. Humor and Person-Centeredness

          B. Theories from Psychotherapy

               1. CBT

               2. DBT

               3. SFBT

5. Humor as Self-Care for the Service Provider

6. Wrap-up and the Three Primary Purposes of Humor

          A. Three Uses

          B. Stories from Our Sessions/Discussion

 

Covering all of this, and the amount of time spent on each topic, is guided by the amount of time allocated to the presentation by your organizers.

This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: beginner
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.