The Importance of Fun

Did you know you could have fun in therapy? In fact, it’s important to have fun in therapy. Fun allows the therapist and client to strengthen their therapeutic connection. It allows the client to see the therapist as a person, which helps in building therapeutic rapport. Humor is a great tool that can be used in session and can be taught as a skill. Fun in itself can be healing. It is said that simply just putting on a smile or laughing can improve mood. 

Fun is especially important to utilize in session with children. Children learn from play, role play, and socializing. Play therapy can benefit children in many ways, specifically with the learning and memory process. Play has an important role in children’s development. Children process things differently than adults do, which is one reason why their therapy is structured differently for example play therapy. Play helps children to feel safe which is a crucial part of the healing process. 

Many say the most important aspect of therapy is the therapeutic relationship. This is something I also believe. I’ve had clients share with me that they appreciate my humor and that they are able to laugh in session. It is common for clients to share they just want a place where they can be themselves and not feel judged. Where they can get an outsider’s perspective and feel understood. Like play therapy with children, humor with adolescents and adults can help clients to let their guard down and open up.