The Use of Humor and Storytelling with African American Men: Innovative Therapeutic Strategies for Success in Counseling

In recent years, the use of culturally appropriate humor as a tool for change within the parameters of counseling has grown within the literature. In comparison, the art of storytelling has had little attention within the literature as a tool for strategic change. This article outlines a framework for the use of humor and storytelling as innovative approaches for successfully counseling African American men. In addition, the growing research on the socialization of men is used to assist in the development of culturally appropriate strategies that help African American men utilize their inherent strengths within the counseling process.