[Humor in family therapy--on the status of the discussion]

Strategic and systemic family therapists in particular are increasingly characterized by humorous interventions. This opens up a new round in the longstanding discussion about the function and significance of humour in psychotherapists. Based on the available literature the present state of the discussion is illustrated. This shows three things in particular: Against the background of a constructivistic epistemology therapeutic humour is shown in a completely new light; strategic and systemic therapists can make use of humour in different functional contexts; and in connection with a systemic approach therapeutic humour seems to be of eminent positive significance.