The interactional workings of laughter in group supervision for psychotherapeutic counsellors

Background This article examines the uses of laughter in group supervision meetings for psychotherapeutic counsellors. Aims Focusing on its production in the course of talk‐in‐interaction, we explore how laughter is used systematically to complete a range of group‐specific actions. Method A set of group supervision sessions were drawn from a large corpus of recorded, naturally occurring counselling and group supervision meetings. Data were transcribed and analysed using the methods of Conversation Analysis. Results More than simply a response to humour, laughter in group supervision is shown to be a complex phenomenon used to perform a range of actions. Three types of use are identified: laughter in re‐assigning “problems” to other parties; laughter in doing “being‐in‐charge” of the supervision discourse; and laughter in the negotiation of ethically or relationally “tricky business.” Conclusion The practical significance of our analysis is to raise awareness, for supervisors and counsellors, of how laughter can play a key role in the discursive organisation of relations between supervisors, supervisees and the practical work of counselling.