title: Gunfire, humour and psychotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reflect on the humour associated with one's cultural heritage, the mechanisms of humour in the cultures of many, and its role in the processes of psychotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The practice of psychotherapy is enhanced by the therapist who maintains a sense of humour, who appreciates its development in his/her patients, and who respectfully uses it to assist in building the therapeutic alliance. Therapy is not so serious that laughter need be excluded from it.
authors.affiliation: The Cannan Institute, Brisbane Qld, Australia. warmid@tpg.com.au
authors.forename: Warwick
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Middleton
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003469:Culture; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007845:Laughter; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014857:Warfare; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic