Stories of comedy and tragedy in therapy : psychological therapists' experiences of humour in sessions with clients diagnosed with a terminal illness

• Main Author: Chauhan, Gauri
• Other Authors: Loewenthal, Del ; Thomas, Rhiannon
• Published: University of Roehampton 2016
• Subjects: 616.89
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.690106

This research explores psychological therapists’ experiences of humour in sessions with clients diagnosed with a terminal illness. In considering the extensive research uncovered involving humour and death, comparatively little was found in the field of terminal illness, humour and the psychological therapies, and none specifically on therapists’ experiences of these phenomena. Bruner’s (1991, 2004) narrative approach is used to examine six psychological therapists’ experiences which elicited: participating therapists’ personal experiences of humour compared to those experiences with clients; how preconceptions of working in terminal care shaped their experiences of humour once they were experienced therapists; the nature of working with terminally ill clients; the nature of humour as a hindrance and/or help; the differences between humour with clients in terminal settings compared to other settings; and finally, what therapists have learned through their experiences. Analysis of the findings is conducted by looking at both the content and structure of participants’ narratives, paying close attention to character, plot, temporality, and situatedness. The nature of this research and the findings and their implications are discussed and critiqued, before further research is recommended and concluding remarks are made.