EP09 Dialogue 16 – Humor in Therapy – Cloe Madanes, Lic. Psic and Jeffrey Zeig, PhD
- Average Rating:
- Not yet rated
- Topic Areas:
- Dialogues | Humor | Psychotherapy | Therapist Development | Ericksonian Hypnosis and Therapy Techniques | Metaphors | Storytelling
- Categories:
- Evolution of Psychotherapy | Evolution of Psychotherapy 2009 | Pioneers in Couples and Family Therapy
- Faculty:
- Cloe Madanes, HDL, LIC | Jeffrey Zeig, PhD
- Duration:
- 55 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio Only
- Original Program Date:
- Dec 12, 2009
- License:
- Never Expires.
Description
Description:
Educational Objectives:
- Given a topic, to describe the differing approaches to psychotherapy, and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*
Outline:
Introduction and Meeting Setup
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Rick Landis (Milton Erickson Foundation, Clinical Director) introduces the session format: 15-minute presentations + discussion.
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Cloe Madanes begins her talk, adjusting the mic humorously.
Cloe Madanes' Humorous Therapy Stories
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Case 1: A couple considering divorce over the husband's dominatrix interest.
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Cloe suggests the wife choose a safe, legal dominatrix.
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The husband later loses interest after befriending one.
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Case 2: A gambling-addicted young man in debt to the mafia.
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Cloe involves the family in mock gambling sessions.
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After three weeks, he quits gambling and focuses on school/work.
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Dr. Zeig on Humor in Therapy
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Humor used as a “gift-wrapped” technique to deliver therapeutic goals.
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Tailoring humor makes goals more acceptable and memorable.
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Uses jokes and metaphors to bypass patient resistance.
Audience Q&A
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Q: How to motivate a depressed patient to be active?
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A: Use metaphors or indirect humor instead of direct advice.
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Q: Is humor like using drugs?
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Cloe: Humor makes therapy enjoyable, not numbing.
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Zeig: Humor is a technical, strategic tool in therapy.
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Further Examples & Personal Stories
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Zeig shares how jokes work in hypnosis and therapy.
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Mentions Milton Erickson’s use of humor despite serious illness.
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Audience shares success using humor to reach resistant patients.
Benefits of Laughter
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Zeig references Norman Cousins’ work on laughter and health.
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Cloe shares laughter yoga experiences and benefits of smiling.
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More stories shared about humor improving therapeutic engagement.
Closing Remarks
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Zeig recounts a humorous Erickson case to illustrate life’s inherent comedy.
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Emphasis: humor reduces tension, fosters connection, and heals.
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Session closes with gratitude and a reminder: don’t forget to laugh.
Credits
Faculty
Cloe Madanes, HDL, LIC Related Seminars and Products
Cloé Madanes, HDL, LIC, is a world-renowned innovator and teacher of family and strategic therapy and one of the originators of the strategic approach to family therapy. She has authored seven books that are classics in the field: Strategic Family Therapy; Behind the One-Way Mirror; Sex, Love and Violence; The Violence of Men; The Secret Meaning of Money; The Therapist as Humanist, Social Activist and Systemic Thinker; and Relationship Breakthrough. She has presented her work at professional conferences all over the world and has given keynote addresses for The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy; the National Association of Social Workers, The Erickson Foundation, the California Psychological Association and many other national and international conferences. Madanes has won several awards for distinguished contribution to psychology and has counseled outstanding individuals from all walks of life.
Jeffrey Zeig, PhD Related Seminars and Products
Jeffrey K. Zeig, PhD, is the Founder and Director of the Milton H. Erickson Foundation and is president of Zeig, Tucker & Theisen, Inc., publishers in the behavioral sciences. He has edited, co-edited, authored or coauthored more than 20 books on psychotherapy that appear in twelve foreign languages. Dr. Zeig is a psychologist and marriage and family therapist in private practice in Phoenix, Arizona.