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The American Journal of Psychiatry, VOL. 128, No. 5

Articles | November 01, 1971

The Place of Humor in Psychotherapy

WARREN S. POLAND

Am J Psychiatry 1971;128:635-637.

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An Instructor, Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, Washington, D.C.

1972, American Psychiatric Association

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Abstract

The author, who believes that humor can be constructive in psychotherapy, describes two cases in which humor furthered the development of insight. Before using humor the therapist should evaluate the strength of the therapeutic alliance, since humor can be destructive. When humor is integrated and spontaneous, it denotes a good therapeutic alliance and is a useful tool for the therapist's intervention.

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