Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

Responding to Client Laughter as Therapeutic Actions in Practice

  • Ann Weatherall
    ,
  • Lani Pomeroy
  • Victoria University of Wellington
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

The widely presumed links between laughter and humour have raised questions about their roles in psychotherapeutic interactions. This study uses conversation analysis to explore client-initiated laughter and different kinds of responses to it. By examining sequences leading up to and following client laughter, we show two distinctive therapeutic actions that are accomplished. When particular lines of therapeutic questioning are being pursued, silence following client laughter functions to prompt further client talk. Client laughter can also build rapport by providing an opportunity for therapists to display that they also find something laughable. Both identified actions support important therapeutic work.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 420-434

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Qualitative Research in Psychology (Volume 11, Issue 4)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 26/08/2014

Publication status

Published - 26/08/2014

ISSN

1478-0887

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625988
  • Scopus: 84987937744

Access to documents

Publication metrics

Metrics

Download statistics
Download count
2