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Applied Humor in the healthcare setting has tangible benefits!
Therapeutic Clowns are gathering in Toronto this week to learn more about delivering Applied Humor Therapy through clown arts in the healthcare venue!
Here is an insightful interview dicsussing the health benefits of healing humor by CTVglobemedia with Dr. Peter Spitzer aka “Dr. Froot Loop,” a medical doctor from Australia and co-founder of The Humour Foundation, and Fools for Health founder “Dr. Haven’t a Clue,” professor Bernie Warren of Canada, on this week’s conference and tangible research-based results of Applied Humor Therapy:
Click on this link here, to view the online interview…
Take-away Points from this great interview:
- Therapeutic Clown’s Perspective is what’s “right” in the situation.
- The Applied Humor Therapy is referred to as “Open Heart” Sugery.
- Today, there are thousands of clowns doing this important work around the world!
What a blessing and a privilege to enter a space few have the opportunity to even stand at the doorway peering inward! That is what it is like for a hospital clown or family entertainer in the healthcare venue. Often, the patients are not at their best, but they welcome us in along with our varied partners in crime, trappings and miscellaneous props. Realize — we are complete strangers, yet we are welcomed in as if we are old friends!
And so it is, and how it goes…. on most rounds. The point of our visit is to brighten a patient’s day if just for that moment in time. In doing so, through the healing humor freely and generously dispensed, it is with the hope and prayer of relieving their pain for at least a second.
Of course to be able to do this, the audience — the patient, must be willing to take in the performance. Usually, they are. We have learned that in asking if we may enter their room, we are requesting their permission first, seeking engagement and acceptance by them. In doing so, we risk being turned away, of course.
Every reaction and most welcomes are as different as the performance, group interaction, and each individual patient visited. The bottomline success realized in most visitations is mission accomplished, signified by even the smallest glimmer of a smile by the patient.
Tricia “Pricilla Mooseburger” Manuel shares how Healing Humor literally helped a grieving father turn the corner on his grief after his son’s suicide, when she conducted kazoo band parade practice with a group of American Legion women preparing for the 100-year anniversary of Maple Lake, MN …
Healing Humor Memorable Moments in Their Own Words: This episode features family entertainer Tricia “Pricilla Mooseburger” Manuel sharing about the life-enhancing effects of Healing Humor that everybody needs. Well-known performer, beloved teacher and creative costumer of many, Tricia is a former Ringling clown and Disneyland performer.
Recently, I was asked by another hospital clown about ‘when’ the proper time was to depart from a patient’s room. “We shouldn’t leave while the patient is still enjoying us, should we?”
My answer is a question, “Why are you here?” While my asking this may at first seem unclear, your answer tells all.
Some folks will respond that they are here because they want to serve others, or they feel led to come and ease another’s pain and suffering. Both noble causes, to be sure.
Some are true entertainers at heart, and want to share their gifts and talents with others, for their enjoyment. In the process, it is hoped that the patient’s pain and suffering will ease at least a bit, for that moment in time.
Some want to be part of a dedicated group of like-minded folk who want to serve in a significant way, and so they come.
All are perfectly wonderful reasons, with pure-hearted motivations for spreading laughter, cheer and entertaining patients in the hospital. However, none of them are “Why you are here.”
You see, the reason we are in the hospital or healthcare setting in the first place is the patient. If the patients were not there, as hospital clowns or healthcare family entertainers, we would not be there, either. The patient is our primary audience, our true reason for “being there.”
Our mission is to do nothing more than to cheer the patients through a gentle presence, as a means of taking their mind off their current health condition or painful situation. Patients are always the primary focus during visitations. Success is measured if only for just a second, after entering a patient’s room they can forget or not think about their situation, through your intervention.
Spreading laughter and cheer in a healthcare setting is no joke. It is not about being silly, wild, over-the-edge or uncontrolled in any way. It is intentionally acting with focused effort to accomplish the important work set before the clown or healthcare family entertainer.
Sizing up the audience, including the patient’s condition and alertness, is the second rule of the day on Rounds. Analyzing the environment in the room also plays an important part in determining performance – are there visitors? What is the mood in the room? Sometimes, a gentle presence is enough, with a smile and a wave, to brighten a patient’s day. Sometimes that is all the energy they may have to take in what is offered.
A healthcare family entertainer or hospital clown must continue to watch the patient, for signs of their growing drowsy or possibly experiencing pain or nausea. Often a patient will valiantly put their best face forward upon your entering their room, but then slip into a state that does not allow them the ability to take in the performance as a participant. All of these factors impact your performance or interaction with the patient.
Every patient’s reaction varies to the gift of your heart to them, and most “welcomes” are as different as each individual visited. The bottomline of the mission is accomplished through the simple act of being there — entertaining one-on-one, injecting healing humor with the greatest of care, and provoking smiles, laughter and cheer…
But still begs the question, “We shouldn’t leave while the patient is still enjoying us, should we?”
Next: My Answer…
SURVIVOR: Healing Humor Enhances Life!
“Tom E. Boy” King shares how he got started in his funny biz, applied Humor Therapy to overcome cancer in the face of dire predictions, and a little boy’s last laugh-filled day on earth.
Have you ever noticed how children often teach grownups important Life Lessons? This little boy was no exception! What he knew…
Healing Humor Memorable Moments in Their Own Words: This episode features well-known family entertainer “Tom E. Boy” King sharing about the life-enhancing effects of Healing Humor that everybody needs.
With the world growing increasingly gray, the need for Humor surrounds us every day – but YOU can help! Find out more from Applied Humor Therapist Becky Cortino… sign-up to receive your Special Report…
Healing Humor Memorable Moment: Butterflies ARE Free!
Have you ever noticed how children often teach grownups important Life Lessons? Wise for 5 years old, this little girl was no exception! What she knew…
Healing Humor Memorable Moments in Their Own Words: This episode features well-known storyteller with Carol “Holiday” Coleman sharing a heart-rendering memory about a little girl — butterflies — and how the little girl loved.
Stay Tuned for the kick-off of the new “Humor Bit-TV” series on the Healing Humor Channel on June 1, 2009!
The new series features interviews with well-known Family Entertainers, as special guests: Carol “Holiday” Coleman, Tricia “Pricilla Mooseburger” Manuel, Tom “Tom E. Boy” King, Cheri “Cherri-Oats” Venturi, Candy “Butterscoth the Clown” Will and more…
Every episode features a one-on-one interview with a special guest, as they share a memorable moment as related to Healing Humor.
More to come, on our new home on the Web!