HUMOR, TEACHING TALES, AND ANECDOTES

Mental Health Matters 

HUMOR, TEACHING TALES, AND ANECDOTES

(BY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS...

 FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

by Malcolm McDonald


I completed graduate school in 1978. By 1980 I realized that I tended to use the same phrases, stories, anecdotes, quotes, and, yes, had the same “Calvin and Hobbes” comic strip printed and framed in my office.

Since then, I’ve always fantasized about collecting such teaching tales, anecdotes, stories, humor, etc. from other mental health professionals, and publishing the best of them. I think it would be a very, very, large book. Every clinician that I know has a unique “style” that always includes using such strategies that incorporate an important concept or idea to fit a particular client’s circumstances.

“Blogs” most generally are a means of letting the world know the author’s opinion on a subject—be it based upon fact or not. There’s no doubt that I’ll chuck my own two cents worth into this one (during a weaker moment, I expect).

My primary request, however, is that clinicians take the time to write out their own favorite teaching tales, anecdotes, humorous stories, or whatever simple and amazing techniques they’ve discovered. We’ll review them at Florida Mental Health Licensure Services, and print those we’ve selected, giving credit to the author. And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll complete that book, and the contributing psychotherapist will be able to list an official publication on his/her resume!

Please try to keep the story or tale at about 100 words or so. If you’re sending a copy of a cartoon or comic strip, please note the name of the publication and date of original publication.

Malcolm S. McDonald
Florida Mental Health Licensure Services
fmhlicensure.com
fmhlicensure@gmail.com