Call for participants: Clients’ views on therapists’ humour

My name is Michelle Glover and I am a trainee counselling psychologist conducting doctoral research at Middlesex University and the Metanoia Institute. I am also a practising UKCP registered psychotherapist and BACP registered counsellor.

I would very much like to hear about your experience if you:

• Currently are, or have been, in therapy, and
• Can recall one or more instances when your therapist was, or tried to be, humorous; this may include your therapist making jokes, playing on words, using sarcasm, or laughing during sessions.

In speaking with you, I hope to better understand how you felt your relationship with your therapist was impacted by your therapist’s humour.  With your help, I aim to develop a theory, and ultimately training, to support qualified and trainee therapists to recognise if, and potentially how, therapist humour could influence clients’ experiences of their relationship with their therapist.

My research includes an initial 15-minute conversation to talk about what is involved and a screening process to discuss eligibility. Please note, at the time of interview, all participants must be in the United Kingdom and over 18 years old.

If you have any questions, or are interested in sharing your experience with me in a confidential, one-hour, one-to-one online interview, please click the ‘Email organiser’ button above, or email: humour.in.therapy@gmail.com

Additionally, I am inviting therapists, of any modality or qualification, to contact me should they wish to receive a promotional flyer to:

• Display in their waiting rooms, and/or
• Post via the professional social media platforms.

This study has received ethical approval from both Middlesex University and the Metanoia Institute.