Archive for the Category »Healing Humor MultiMedia «
Click here to catch this AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show!
Music Therapy and Humor in the healthcare setting can help patients deal with their health conditions, ease their pain, and help them refocus. Host Becky Cortino discusses some strategies and shares a special segment on Music Therapy in the healthcare setting, and its pain reduction benefits.
Tune-in to AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show:
If above player doesn’t work, here is the show link: Music Therapy and Humor in the Healthcare Setting (click here to hear)
A great example of Music Therapy and Humor in the healthcare setting is Dr. Steven Eisenberg, we previously wrote about him, his work, and included an MSN video (click here to view)
Special thanks to: Sammy Cortino and interviewees at Appalachian State University for the informative segment on Music Therapy!
About: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting
>>>5 Related articles you might find helpful on Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting, are listed below this blog post (click on the title of this article, if you don’t see topics listed below)…
>>>You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
A real blast from the past on AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show! Encore presentation of our all-time MOST popular broadcast — ENJOY!
From our very first broadcast season, Becky Cortino explains:
- Need for training and continuing education for all
- Different levels of proficiency, to gear necessary training
- Types of training, to make any training program more effective
SHOW NOTES:
The Healing Humor Program discussed in this show is now available as an online multi-media program. For more details and to enroll, click here: Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy
Online Training and Mentorship Programs and lots of Resources are available via AHeart4Clowning.com. For more information about programs and resources, click this link: Training from the Heart
You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
Click here for More: Clown Soup + Healing Humor!
Now serving up the last round of “Clown Soup” best practices hospital clown training video program and “Healing Humor: Live Happy-Be Healthy” audio program!
These 2 popular programs will no longer be available (in their current form) after October 14, 2011
Unfortunately, our supplier will not be providing the services we’ve enjoyed in producing these video and audio products.
Although we plan to offer these products in a new presentation in the future, nothing is set at this time…
If you would like to have these physical products to use and enjoy, we highly recommend snagging your copy now!
Click here for a Last Serving of: Clown Soup!
There’s a Clown in My Soup! “Best Practices” Video Training Program 21 Key Questions Every Healthcare Family Entertainer should be able to answer… There’s a Clown in My Soup is a ‘Best Practices’ EduTrainment Clown Rounds module especially for hospital/caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers. Presented to integrate universal concepts for performers in the healthcare venue, this program makes effective learning enjoyable in a fresh, fun and new, memorable way. Details are included for registering product purchase to receive “Clown Soup” Facilitator Guide, Participant Question Booklet and corresponding Answer Sheet for this training program.
Click this linked text for: a last serving of Clown Soup (Video Training Program)
Healing Humor: Live Happy-Be Healthy (Audio Program CD)
Click here for Last Serving of: Healing Humor (Audio CD)
The world is growing increasingly gray; the need for humor in daily life is paramount… Recognizing the need for humor in the everyday and seeking out ways to enhance your life by adding your own special blend of humorous ingredients offers health-boosting benefits, as well as making your world brighter! This audio program discusses the world’s growing need for Healing Humor and how to apply its simple principles to live a happy and healthy life. Healing Humor is for EveryBuddy! No specific claims or promises as related to health, well-being, healing or financial wealth, but research findings and ideas are presented to inspire and encourage you make your life and the world brighter! Written and recorded by author Becky Cortino, based on her forays into the world of holistic humor and Applied Humor Therapy experience since 1997. To Encourage & Inspire Touching Hearts thru the Arts!(TM) AHeart4Clowning.com
Click this linked text for: a last-call serving of “Healing Humor: Live Happy-Be Healthy (Audio Program CD)
Starting October 15th our Menu of Products changes!
Clown Soup and Healing Humor will not be served in quite the same way — we’ll stir up the pot and dish it out a little differently…
We will continue to support and encourage you and those in the trenches, with new recipes!
Know someone who might be interested? Please share this with them! We appreciate your referrals and support. Thank you!
MORE: About all AHeart4Clowning Books and MultiMedia currently available (click on this link here)
It's all about the relationships... it's a Partnership
As with most worthwhile things, a hospital humor program requires more than one individual to establish, coordinate and run it. The starting point is a partnership-type relationship with a hosting facility, humor program initiators and participants.
By definition of partnership, the hospital or healthcare humor effort is by nature a joint venture, requiring commitment and participation on the part of all involved.
Unfortunately, this connecting point is where many hospitals or healthcare facilities are challenged, regarding establishing a viable channel from which to operate a humor program. A majority of facilities relegate humor program coordination to their volunteer department, often already overloaded with directing the day-to-day activities of a population that resembles a small city.
Humor programs do require special attention, by nature of the work done. In order to have an effective humor program and joint venture effort, it is critical to have the program defined, with all responsibilities, area(s) of operation, and activities clearly outlined.
This greatly aids the hosting facility, because:
- They know in advance where this entity is positioned within their operations and organizational heirarchy.
- It saves them valuable time, because it is implemented in tandem with a trusted, responsible partner.
By having all established activities and areas of operation defined and coordinated by an appointed volunteer, the only time spent by a staff member would be for an occasional debriefing or update meeting with the coordinator. Perhaps these meetings could be scheduled quarterly, and supplemented by a regular monthly program status report detailing group activity and plans.
Previously, I wrote outlining the many ways having such a humor program offers tremendous benefits to a hosting healthcare facility. I also wrote about the fact that such programs only come about based upon the all-important relationship between the facility and the participants. A successful program also spills over into the community, with far-reaching effects and building priceless community good will.
In times like these, humor is needed more than ever. This is no time to cut back on a simple program that will enhance the quality of patient care, substantially add to the wellness team, while building community good will at low to very little expense. A hospital or healthcare facility humor program run as a partnership will have far-reaching benefits, and positively sets the hosting facility apart from all the rest.
If you currently have or are participating with a hospital or healthcare humor program, and would like to fine-tune your efforts, or would like to establish a humor group, I offer a comprehensive online training program available on your schedule 24-7 (on-demand) – click on the linked text (below) for program details:
Work of Heart: Establishing Hospital Clown/Healthcare Entertainer Group – Train/Prepare/Equip
This online multimedia program not only provides a tried-and-true blueprint to save you valuable time in customizing a viable humor program tailored to your facility, but also over 100 pages of training materials for your group, along with printable hand-outs, performance pointers, training videos, and a Private One-on-One Personal 30-minute Coaching Session via Skype with me — Becky Cortino, to answer your questions, brainstorm solutions and ideas for your group or facility.
…I have written 3 books (to date) on this aspect, spoken on this topic, and presented this material internationally, in addition to training 245 hospital clowns in 10 consecutive sessions (comprised of local, regional and out-of-state attendees), a training program I concepted, implemented and directed, in partnership with my group’s hosting facility.
How may I help you?
Receive information to help you with your humor program: You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
Recommended book: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting: Entertaining Effectively in the Healthcare Venue
Hospital/Caring Clown, Healthcare Entertainer Training is Essential
Training is really year-round for those in this ‘work’ that looks like “play.” After required training and updates, much learning is on-the-job. This actual on-the-floor-time ‘training’/experience is intensive, ongoing discovery about new situations and conditions, as well as finding new ways to entertain and delight at every turn along the merry way.
Since this time of the year brings many folks back to school, my thoughts often run to training programs and actual ‘school’ programs, teaching different skills and preparing the team to go out, meeting anything that comes their way in their meandering journey into the Great Clown Unknown.
May we never, regardless of our number of years of experience, become complacent and believe we do not need ongoing training, inspiration and support…
The following are our Top 6 Articles on Hospital Clown, Caring Clown, Healthcare Family Entertainer, Applied Humor Therapist, and SmileMaker training considerations, essentials, and ideas, along with helpful resources:
- Critical Care: Hospital Clown, Healthcare Entertainer Training is Important
- Critical Care: Purpose, Rationale, and necessity of Hospital Clown Training
- Character Clown Development from Within (Part 1)
- Character Clown Development (Part 2): 8 Tips in Selecting the Right Training Program
- 3 Tips for Adapting Material Learned at a Conference or Convention for Your Hospital Clown, Caring Clown, Healthcare Family Entertainer Groups
- Question Answered RE: Hospital Clown Certification and Paid Positions in Healthcare Clowning/Applied Humor Therapy
Resources:
AHeart4Clowning on World News Network
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A Heart4 Clowning & Healing Humor QR (Links)
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You can scan the QR Matrix (lower left corner) with your iPhone, BlackBerry or smartphone to go there, also… our QR is located on this site => click on this link (here) to try it out!
Celebrate International Mirth Month!
International Mirth Month is upon us — how will you celebrate?!
“International Mirth Month” is a humor-based celebration developed by the world’s ONLY “Jollytologist” Allen Klein, “to help people turn their Maalox Moments into more mirthful ones.”
In my interview last month with THE “Jollytologist” himself, for the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, Allen shared ways to use humor in coping.
It’s an established fact that the simple act of laughter has powerful physiological and psychological results. We feel better when we “lighten up,” don’t we?
The effect is not really just “in our heads,” as there are physiological reasons for this phenomenon…
Ongoing research continues, and points out the incredible positive effects humor has on the body. Humor and laughter do offer documented health benefits:
- Physiologically, laughter causes a similar exhilarating effect of strenuous exercise.
- Laughing increases oxygen intake and in the process, replenishes and invigorates cells.
- Through the action of laughter, the body’s threshold to withstand pain is increased, immunity is boosted, while relieving stress.
Research shows humor provides physical health benefits including:
Stronger immune system
Improved cardiovascular health
Reduced stress hormones
Reduced pain Muscle relaxation
…and more!
Mental health benefits, resulting in:
Less stress
Reduced anger and anxiety
Increased joy
More positive, optimistic mood
Sense of control
Increased emotional intelligence
…and more!
Humor in the Healthcare Setting
Growing evidence points out that most patients welcome the opportunity for humor and laughter during their hospital stay. This might seem to defy common sense — after all, if someone is sick enough to be in the hospital, would they actually feel like laughing? Absolutely!
One of the most effective ways of making therapeutic benefits of humor available in an ongoing and regular basis to patients is through daily interaction with the hospital staff. This can be accomplished by a Humor Program in the facility, supported by the staff and volunteers.
Humor offered and applied in this venue, helps reduce patient anxiety and tension, while promoting healing and coping with life circumstance. The affect of therapeutic humor is to provide a positive balance to a negatively-perceived or actual situation or condition.
Throughout the ages, man has recognized a correlation between mirth or humor and healing.
The earliest reliably recorded source is the Bible. About the effects of the presence of humor in our lives, Scripture says:
“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart.” ~ Proverbs 15:30
“but the cheerful heart, has a continual feast” ~ Proverbs 15:15
“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” ~ Proverbs 17:22
So — from all of us here at AHeart4Clowning: “Happy International Mirth Month”! How will you celebrate? Each-and-every-day, and well — we hope!
An added treat to help you celebrate: Jollytolgist Allen Klein was quoted, along with other notables in Psychology Today’s “25 Quotes on Humor” (to read, click this link here)
Are you interested in learning more about Healing Humor…
Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy (2 formats — your choice of: Audio CD (physical product) — OR — online Home Study with Audio and Printables – click on text links of choice)
Learn more about Applied Humor Therapy: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting…
From the Heart: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting (book – click link here)
Are you always ready to share Smiles? Here’s a great E-A-S-Y way…