May/June 2022

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Editor's Note

Livia Kent

If play is so vital to our health and well-being, why isn’t it emphasized more in the adult therapy world? And for those who take the leap and inject some humor into sessions, what kinds of approaches seem to work best? Here, we look at therapists’ favorite tools for engendering high spirits, the hazards of certain brands of humor, and how—when used with care—playful moments can cement the therapeutic relationship and shift a client’s perspective on their suffering.
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You've Got to Be Kidding

You've Got to Be Kidding

The Power of Humor in Therapy

Martha Straus & Kevin McKenzie

Shared laughter is an attachment language. Though therapists usually engage more knowingly with tears, the exchange of brighter affect is another kind of invitation to the dance of intimacy. Read More
Awakening the Playful Self

Awakening the Playful Self

A Depressed Client Rediscovers Connection

Dafna Lender

Most therapies are missing out on a fundamental tool for healing when they ignore the power of feeling playful embodiment with others. To help our clients grow into their ullest selves, we can do more than mitigate negative or enervating thoughts. Read More
Taking Play Therapy Seriously

Taking Play Therapy Seriously

The Surprising Journey to Widespread Acceptance

Chris Lyford

Many play therapists still find themselves having to explain what they do and why it works. But after more than a century, play therapy has finally come into its own. Read More
Free Play with Neurodivergent Kids

Free Play with Neurodivergent Kids

Insights from DIRFloortime

Lauren Dockett

Is there an alternative to applied behavioral analysis for children on the spectrum? Read More
When Humor Hurts

When Humor Hurts

What Lies Beneath a Couple’s Jokes

Jill Harkaway

The jokes many couples share reinforce their identity as an “us.” But there can be a dark side to humor in couples, too. Read More
The Playful Therapist

The Playful Therapist

7 Clinicians Share Their Best Strategies

Frank Pittman, Cloe Madanes, Steve Andreas, Ron Taffel, Courtney Armstrong, Lynn Lyons, and Kirsten Lind Seal

In this collection, master therapists share how they’ve used humor in ways that both enliven and enrich the work of therapy. Read More

Extra Feature

The Myth of the Individual

The Myth of the Individual

Tapping into the Relational Brain

Terry Real

Current research indicates that we’re not walled-in, freestanding individuals. Our human brains—in fact, most mammals’ brains—are built for coregulation. Read More

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