A few years back, I saw a Facebook post by Humans of New York (a photoblog), in which a man explained complicated feelings for his girlfriend. His face was not shown; instead, the picture was a close-up of his entangled hands. The man revealed how torn he was in his…
Family conflict and stress is, well, distressing. While it’s normal to fight with our loved ones—especially the family members we see and talk to regularly—withstanding and working through these conflicts is far from easy. Not to mention that the impact of stress on families is damaging, both in the short…
There are many practices for stress relief, like meditating, journaling, and deep breathing. But one underrated technique deserves our attention: humor! Humor helps with stress reduction by relaxing muscles, eliminating distressing emotions, and adding perspective. Here are 3 tips for using it to your benefit: One, access your favorite quick…
Despite the popular notion that humor is inappropriate during difficult times, humor and laughter can actually help us cope with tough losses. Looking for the humor and turning to laughter enables us to put the loss or the moment into perspective. If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one,…
Humor can help us cope during embarrassing or uncomfortable situations, as well as manage stress and anxiety. However, it isn’t always helpful—it can stand in the way of our addressing serious challenges and even cause harm to our relationships. This makes determining the appropriate time and circumstances for humor important….
Humor can help the therapeutic process in more ways than one: first, it can help to solidify that bond between therapist and client. A therapist can also demonstrate humor as a healthy coping mechanism for handling the stresses of life to their client. Additionally, humor can help a client feel…
Humor can improve the client-therapist relationship and overall success in therapy. A study from The American Journal of Psychotherapy surveyed 110 clients and their therapists about the use of humor in therapy. It found that clients who reported more humor in their therapy sessions also reported greater pleasure in therapy….
Building rapport with clients from a distance can be a challenge. However, it’s by no means impossible. Here are several techniques and principles for building rapport without a hug or a handshake via online counseling: 1. Active listening Active listening is of primary importance in all counseling, and it is…