Tucson, AZ

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

In his traditional Native American Blessing, Dr. Carlos Gonzales stated, "…let us remain humble and also use humor when appropriate, for humor is healing and can help people." There is nothing funny about what happened in Tucson on January 8, 2011. However, humor is necessary in the healing process. David M. Jacobson, MSW, LCSW Manager of the Social Work Department at University Medical Center in Tucson, AZ, and AATH board member, had been with the victims and their families; holding their hands and giving comfort to them. "After the initial shock of the first two days the humor and laughter began to flow. There were many instances of using therapeutic humor and laughter, with the victims and families I encountered. A sense of humor was perceived as an essential coping mechanism to get through the tragic events that these patients and families encountered," Jacobson said. "I was given clues through the type of humor used by particular victims and family members to be able to go deeper in terms of working with inter-personal issues that arise during times of crisis."

To learn more on how to utilize the power of Humor and Laughter, join The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor's 24th Annual Conference 2011 Humor, Health and Happiness: A Laughing Matter, April 7-10, 2011, Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, Orlando, Florida. David will be doing a session tiled: "The Role of Therapeutic Humor in the Tucson Tragedy." A Different Kind of Conference for a Different Kind of Experience. The conference offers over 16 hours of Continuing Education Credit For Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, And Other Healthcare Professionals, networking opportunities, and fun for professionals who use humor and laughter in their jobs to enhance work performance, support learning, and promote healing, whether physical, emotional, social, or spiritual.

Description of Workshop:

The Role of Therapeutic Humor in the Tucson Tragedy.

On January 8, 2011, a mass shooting occurred in Tucson, Arizona. Six people died and 13 others were wounded including Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The wounded were brought to University Medical Center. As manager of the social work dept. David coordinated the crisis interventions and worked directly with many of the victims and families. Thanked by the President and First Lady for his and his departments efforts, today David will discuss the role that humor played in healing from the tragedy for himself and others.

Objectives:

Understand the role humor plays in reducing emotional anxiety and decreasing the emotional and psychological impact that those with PTSD experience after a traumatic event.

Learn ways to use humor to nurture the self after experiencing traumatic situations.

Gain insight into the appropriate timing of humor use after a crisis occurs.

The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) is an international community of professionals who incorporate humor into their daily lives. AATH is the leader in providing evidence-based information about current research and practical applications of humor. AATH is both a personable network and a resource for humor and laughter authorities and enthusiasts. Our membership is occupationally diverse, representing the medical, education and public speaking communities. For more information and conference registration, go to: www.aath.org

David M. Jacobson, MSW

President

Humor Horizons

Tucson, AZ

520-886-8140

First Url: David's website