For Immediate Release

Press Contact:
Gary Carr, Rising Moon Marketing & Public Relations
 (925) 672-8717, carrpool@pacbell.net

From Workplace to Hospital, International Humor Association Shows How Laughter Can Improve Any Situation

Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor Celebrates its 20th Anniversary at Panama City Beach, Florida, Conference - February 15-18, 2007

San Francisco.  January 24, 2007.  Humor is a serious business, often medically necessary, and a time-honored teaching tool. 

Humor reduces stress, makes learning easier, contributes to the process of healing, and makes it easier for families to get through the grieving process.

That’s the word of humor professionals at the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH), an international organization whose members include a broad spectrum of practitioners - from health care, senior care, and education to faith communities, the business world, and yes, even the military.

Over two hundred members of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor will meet in Panama City Beach, Florida for their annual conference, February 15-18, 2007, at the Bay Point Marriott Resort, says AATH president Allen Klein, of San Francisco.  The international organization is dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of humor and laughter.

The Conference also marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the association by Alison R. Crane, RN, a leading advocate for the uses of humor in the healthcare setting.  Ms. Crane will be honored at the Gala Banquet on February 17 for her pioneering work.

(One of the early members of AATH was Dr. Patch Adams, the physician who experimented with the medical uses of laughter.  Adams was later portrayed by Robin Williams in a film of the same name.)

With the theme “Makin’ Waves: Integrating Compassionate Humor into Caring Communities ,” the AATH Conference will assemble a wide variety of professionals who use humor in their jobs to enhance work performance, support learning, and promote healing, whether physical, emotional, social, or spiritual, according to AATH President-Elect Lenny Dave, of Cincinnati, also the Chair of the 20th Anniversary Celebration Committee.

2007 AATH Conference Highlights

Programs during the four-day event range from the use of humor in gestalt therapeutic intervention… to the use of humor in the corporate boardroom… to accompanying performance artist “Danny Donuts” as he leads a troupe of conference clowns around Panama City Beach to spread laughter and good cheer among residents and tourists.

Speakers include Steven M. Sultanoff, Ph.D. looking at “The Therapeutic Value of Humor” and the universal triggers that activate the senses… Rev. Susan Sparks, in “Laughing Your Way to Grace,” says humor is one of the most powerful tools we have in our spiritual search.

“Humor as a Serious Business Strategy,” with Karyn Buxman-Godek, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE…“Shocked, Scared, and Survived: Breast Cancer Survivors’ Stories of Humor’s Coping Power,” presented by Enid Schwartz, RN, Ph D.

“Humor, Hugs and Hope,” with Greg Risberg, MSW, CSP…“Take the Wheels off the Worry Bus: Attack Anxiety with Humor,” with Sharron Orovan-Johnson, RN and Adrienne Sloan, RN, BSCN.

David D. Coleman, “The Dating Doctor” teaches how to form, mend and sustain meaningful relationships in “Finding Humor in Every Relationship”…Singer-songwriter and kidney stroke survivor Carla Ulbrich finds humor in the unlikeliest of places in “How Can You Not Laugh at a Time Like This?”

The Gala Banquet on Saturday, February 17 will honor founder Alison R. Crane, RN and include the presentation of scholarships to four worthy practitioners in the field of therapeutic humor.  16-time “Comedian of the Year” Buzz Sutherland is the featured performer.

Once again, the Conference will announce the winners of the 2007 Humor Book Awards Contest, as well as the Humor Essay Contest.  The Essay Contest drew more than 250 entries from both teachers and school-age children, grades K through 12 from all across North America and from as far away as Indonesia.

Conference Sponsors

The Major Sponsor of the Conference is Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a network of clinics and hospitals that employs humor and laughter as part of its Mind-Body Therapy program for patients and caregivers. 

The 2007 Essay Contest is being underwritten by Richard Foos and the Shout! Factory, the Louis R. Lurie Foundation, ComedyCures Foundation and Jacki Kwan.  The 2007 Book Awards are sponsored by the Gliner Center for Humor Communication and Health. 

Buzz Sutherland’s appearance is made possible by Quantum Talent.

The Conference is open to the public.  Conference registrations and Lodging reservations can be made by contacting Karla Pollack at the AATH office, listed below.

Background of AATH

The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor was founded in 1987 by Alison R.  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. 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 work. Further information can be found at www.aath.org.

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 work performance, support learning, improve health, or be used as a complementary treatment of illness to facilitate healing or coping, whether physical, emotional, cognitive, social, or spiritual.

Who can belong to AATH?

AATH welcomes anyone who is interested in learning more about the application and benefits of therapeutic humor.

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.

Press Contact:

Gary Carr, Rising Moon Marketing & Public Relations, (925) 672-8717, carrpool@pacbell.ne