Aakriti Malik

It is believed that the best way to break the ice between group members is humour. Social psychologists have found humour to play several functions for the individual at societal level. Research in the realm of positive psychology has highlighted on the different types of humours and its impact on wellness and illness. It emphasises both the functional and dysfunctional effects of humour and its manifestation in different psychopathologies. In the realm of psychotherapy, studies suggest… Show more

It is believed that the best way to break the ice between group members is humour. Social psychologists have found humour to play several functions for the individual at societal level. Research in the realm of positive psychology has highlighted on the different types of humours and its impact on wellness and illness. It emphasises both the functional and dysfunctional effects of humour and its manifestation in different psychopathologies. In the realm of psychotherapy, studies suggest laughter to allow for increased trust between the client and the therapist, reducing client tension, breaking client resistance and generating catharsis. That said, the scepticism around the use of humour in the psychotherapeutic setting still exists. This chapter aims at understanding humour from different theoretical perspectives and how it showcases in the psychotherapeutic settings. Selected case vignettes have been supplemented to highlight how humour manifests and impacts the various processes in psychotherapy. Show less

Abstract
Love as an emotion is a deeply rooted one. Being felt in differential ways, it withholds a great potential to unravel deep-seated trauma and a gamut of emotions in the context of psychopathology in psychotherapy. Clients often seek therapy as a means to treat their symptoms or to enhance their well-being. The process can open up layers of past history around being loved that determine a client’s present belief systems around love, being loved or loving someone. What often gets lost… Show more

Abstract
Love as an emotion is a deeply rooted one. Being felt in differential ways, it withholds a great potential to unravel deep-seated trauma and a gamut of emotions in the context of psychopathology in psychotherapy. Clients often seek therapy as a means to treat their symptoms or to enhance their well-being. The process can open up layers of past history around being loved that determine a client’s present belief systems around love, being loved or loving someone. What often gets lost is the question of self- love. Research suggests that children with critical parents, coming from dysfunctional family environments and having an insecure attachment style lack self- compassion. The criticality or kindness offered by caregivers, in addition to the lack or the presence of love received, greatly determine an individuals’ ability to offer love for themselves. Self- compassion as a psychotherapeutic approach has been found to heighten people’s physical and mental well-being with an emphasis on an unconditional acceptance of oneself as they are. The current chapter aims at understanding the concept of self-love, differentiating it from narcissism and its significance in mental health and psychological wellbeing when utilised in psychotherapy. Selected case example has been utilised to emphasize on the healing properties of compassion focused therapy (CFT) with special focus on using self- compassion with a client from an Indian background and its role in alleviation of symptoms.
Keywords: self-love, self- compassion, psychotherapy, culture, India Show less

Shame as an emotion is a deep rooted one. Being a widely felt emotion, its presence in the context of psychopathology and psychotherapy with clients is of special importance. Shame as experienced by clients, often hides under the façade of secondary emotions of pain, embarrassment, grief or anger. Uncovering shame therefore requires great skill, patience and knowledge on the part of the therapist. At times, it is through the client’s repetitive experiences and narratives that inklings of shame… Show more

Shame as an emotion is a deep rooted one. Being a widely felt emotion, its presence in the context of psychopathology and psychotherapy with clients is of special importance. Shame as experienced by clients, often hides under the façade of secondary emotions of pain, embarrassment, grief or anger. Uncovering shame therefore requires great skill, patience and knowledge on the part of the therapist. At times, it is through the client’s repetitive experiences and narratives that inklings of shame may be revealed. The repertoire of other emotions makes shame so distant for the client that it can take a long time accepting it as one’s own. Working with shame in psychotherapy effectively has found to alleviate symptoms, decrease distress thus creating opportunities for accepting the self as it is. The current chapter aims at understanding shame from different theoretical perspectives, it’s link with psychopathology and how it showcases in therapeutic settings. Selected cases of shame and working with it have been presented in the Indian context. Conclusions on effective possibilities for healing shame in psychotherapy in addition to suggestions for future research have been discussed. Show less