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…
Humor
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…
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 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….