Laughter therapy · the science of laughter, humour and play
I’m Barry Taylor, gelotologist and founder of Laugh Therapy. I study what genuine laughter does to people, teams and cultures, and I turn that research into things you can actually use: training, talks, books, resources and a professional methodology.
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What I do
Everything here rests on one body of work: the study of what laughter, humour and play genuinely do for wellbeing, connection and performance. Here’s where that work goes.
The science of genuine laughter and the art of creating it. An introduction to Integrative Levity Praxis, my evidence-graded methodology.
Find out more →A growing members’ collection for practitioners: research summaries you can quote with confidence, session plans you can run this week, and micro-practices that take two minutes.
Visit the Library →A professional credential in Integrative Levity Praxis, built for corporate, NHS, education and community settings.
See the programmes →
Motivational and conference speaking grounded in an unusual life story and a decade of research. Regular BBC radio guest; opened the NHS Virtual Wellbeing Festival.
Book a speaker →
Practical, evidence-based sessions for teams, schools and care settings. Live at your place or online.
Explore services →
Laughter-led creative health events with Craic Health, supported at parliamentary level by Dr Simon Opher MP, offering patients a social-prescription alternative.
Learn more →
The gelotologist
Gelotology is the scientific study of laughter and its effects on mind and body. It’s a real field, with sixty years of research behind it, and it’s my field. I read the studies, grade the evidence, and only teach what stands up.
The core finding matters for every workplace, classroom and ward: genuine, spontaneous laughter does things that forced exercises don’t. My work creates the conditions for the real thing. You don’t need to be funny. Nobody has to perform.
Watch
“Bringing laughter to dark places is no easy feat. His talk and workshop at our retreat is the one that’s discussed again and again.”Sherrie Adams · CEO, Kelly’s Heroes (suicide support charity)
Free · Five minutes
The Levity Effect is my free introduction to the science of natural laughter and where it can take your work — request it free from the ILP page.
Get the free guideIf you’re looking to book a talk, workshop or programme, send the details through the contact form and I’ll come back with a straight answer and a quote.
Request a quote
Laugh Therapy