What is AATH?
The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) was founded in 1987 by Alison L. Crane, RN. AATH is a non-profit professional organization that advances the understanding and application of humor and laughter for their positive benefits. AATH provides and disseminates information about applied and therapeutic humor through conferences, publications, a website, and networking to a community from a wide variety of clinical, corporate, and classroom settings.
Humor and laughter are used to enhance work performance, support learning, improve health and as a coping tool. AATH’s pillar communities include Health & Wellness, Seniors & Aging, Education, Spirituality & Faith Communities, and Business.
What is therapeutic humor?
Therapeutic humor is any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life’s situations.
This intervention may enhance health or be used as a complementary treatment of illness to facilitate healing or coping, whether physical, emotional, cognitive, social or spiritual.
Who belongs to AATH?
AATH welcomes anyone who is interested in learning more about the application and benefits of therapeutic humor.
Members include scholars, psychologists, counselors, allied healthcare practitioners, nurses, social workers, physicians, business executives, human resource managers, educators, clergy, hospital clowns, speakers, trainers, and others who incorporate humor in their life and work and are not necessarily served through other organizations.
Why was AATH created?
- to educate health care, business, and education professionals about the values and therapeutic uses of humor and laughter.
- to develop, promote, conduct, and identify the need for research that further investigates the roles humor and laughter play in well-being.
- to encourage, support, and report on innovative programs that incorporate the therapeutic use of humor.
- to disseminate information about humor and laughter to its members through regular publications and educational opportunities.
- to function as an interdisciplinary network for its members.
- to be a clearinghouse for information on humor and laughter as they relate to well-being.
Current Officers and Board
President - Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE - Publisher of The Journal of Nursing Jocularity, nurse, speaker, trainer and author
President - Elect - Chip Lutz - Speaker, university professor
Secretary - Merletta Roberts - Geriatric mental health and therapeutic humor specialist, Licensed Marriage & Family therapist, music therapist
Treasurer - Adrienne Edmondson - Speaker, training, human resources
Past President - Lenny Dave - Speaker, author, health and workplace communications; founder, LenMar Communications
Jeffrey Briar - Director of The Laughter Yoga Institute, Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, Certified Laughter Leader
Deb Gauldin, RN, PMS - Nurse, speaker, consultant, co-owner of Nightingale Expressed
David Jacobson, MSW, LCSW - President of Humor Horizons, hospital administrator, speaker and author
Mary Kay Morrison - Educator, speaker
Billy Strean, PhD - Certified professional co-active coach, university professor
Patricia A. Vanderpool - LPC, CEAP, SAP - supervising licensed professional counselor and certified employee assistance professional
AATH Contacts:
Jerry Packer, Executive Director, AATH, 65 Enterprise, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; 888-747-AATH (2284) Toll Free, 949-715-4681 International, 949-715-6931 Fax, staff@aath.org Web: www.aath.org
Bob Nozik, MD – AATH Science Chair and ezine Editor, Lafayette, California, 925-939-8655 pollyannan@aol.com
Don Baird, Psy. D. – Chair, AATH Book Awards, Chicago, IL, 773-238-6484 DBaird3K@aol.com
Press Contact:
Roberta Gold, RTC, 818-726-6801 laf4u@sbcglobal.net
