Humor in Trauma Work: Finding Light Without Dismissing the Pain
Over the years, I’ve sat with people navigating complex trauma, grief, and relational wounds. I’ve witnessed the pain of what was never named — and the silence it created.
But I’ve also noticed something else: moments where a client unexpectedly laughs. Where a metaphor lands so well, we both break into a smile. Where tension gives way to connection. And in those moments, something shifts. The body softens. The breath returns. The work deepens.
I didn’t set out to “use humor.” But I couldn’t ignore the way these small, spontaneous moments of lightness seemed to matter — not because they erased pain, but because they made space for the nervous system to loosen its grip.
Humor as Co-Regulation, Not Distraction
There’s a difference between humor that deflects and humor that connects. I see it often in my work with adult children of emotionally immature parents, women recovering from codependency, and neurodivergent as well as LGBTQ clients who’ve spent years in survival mode. They’re used to scanning for threat. Holding it all together. Bracing for the next thing.
When authentic laughter shows up in session, it’s not a detour — it’s a signal: “You’re safe now. You can rest, even for a moment.”
These moments of levity can act like co-regulation. A gentle interruption of fear. A doorway to vulnerability. A nervous system whisper: “You don’t have to be so guarded here.”
Read the Full Article
📰 I’m grateful to share that Psychotherapy Networker published this piece in their July/August 2025 issue. You can read the full article here: 👉 Humor in Trauma Work
For Therapists and Clients Alike
If you’re a therapist navigating your own authentic voice in the room — or a client wondering if therapy has to feel heavy all the time — this piece is for you.
Healing is serious work. But it doesn’t have to be joyless.
Sometimes laughter is what lets the body know, “You’re safe. You’re here. You made it.”
Interested in trauma-informed therapy, codependency recovery, or creative intensives? Contact me here or explore my therapy offerings.