This article focuses on the use of humour by psychologists in career counselling interviews, a quite neglected field of research. Using a qualitative approach, we analyzed the spontaneous humour initiated by career counsellors in sixteen actual vocational interviews. Results show three levels of humorous intervention: conceptual, formal and attentional.
Moreover, humour can be associated with a variety of different emotions. Humour was used for two major purposes: to grasp the situation and to support the development of the client’s educational or vocational plan.