Medical clowning is a field in alternative medicine where clowns operate in hospitals and medical centers. The idea behind the method is that humor and laughter improve the medical condition of inpatients. Today, we will explore the world of medical clowning and learn how to become a medical clown (also known as a clown doctor).
Medical Clowning – History
Professional medical clowns began working in hospitals in New York City in 1986 as part of a program called “The Medical Clown Unit of the Big Apple Circus,” founded by Michael Christensen. Christensen coined the phrase: “If the patients do not come to the circus, the circus will reach them”. One of the founders of this industry and probably the most famous medical clown is Patch Adams, who in 1972 established with his colleagues an institution for the method in West Virginia.
In the first decade of the 21st century, medical clowns are employed in medical institutions in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Israel, and a minority work voluntarily (source).
Medical clowns are called by different names: in the United States the term “clown doctors” is used, even though they are not doctors, in Europe they are called sometimes “medical clowns” and in some countries by different names, for example, “special clowns”, “hospital clowns” In French, and “clinical clowns” in Dutch. In this post, we will use both terms interchangeably.
The clown doctors take care of the mental and social needs of the hospitalized patients, they distract the patients during painful and frightening processes and help them adjust to the hospital routine. The atmosphere of fun and laughter helps to make patients forget for a moment about their illness and relieve the stress in which they find themselves. Medical clowns use their skills such as magic, balloon sculpting, storytelling, and more, to provide children with fun moments that will help them deal with the many emotions they may experience while in the hospital – fear, worry, loneliness and boredom.
The use of humor as a means of relieving the patient associates medical clowning with the field of complementary medicine. The healing power of humor and laughter has been shown in several studies to help relax, reduce pain through endorphin production, help the immune system by increasing the number of lymphocyte T cells and reduce cortisol serum in the blood, helping to encourage a positive outlook and deal with difficult situations. In addition, it has been shown that humor increases the chances of survival in various medical procedures and accelerates the patient’s recovery.
The clown doctors were not always accepted in the medical field. Even until recent years, there were doctors who doubted the usefulness of their activities, and some even consider them a source of disorder and harassment, especially in the operating room. Others saw them as a media gimmick of hospitals. However, a wider circle of hospitals employs medical clowns as full-time employees, in recognition of their role.
How to Become a Clown Doctor
Clowning is a profession. It is usually performed by actors who have studied for a period of several years. Each institution has slightly different admission requirements. Medical clowns must learn comedic acting skills, they need to know how to use language and their body as well as props like costumes, magic, and games. Sometimes they form a personal clown figure.
So how to become a clown doctor? It depends. Medical clowning studies take place as part of courses to obtain a certificate, but there are also undergraduate tracks. The studies prepare the medical clowns for practical work in health centers. The classes provide students with extensive knowledge that combines psychology, nursing, and theater. Participants learn a variety of practical tools that they can apply in the field in their day-to-day work with patients.
It can be said that the work of clown doctors is more important than that of actors, since they are alone in front of the audience, need to know the right way to talk to patients and their families, understand the different types of diseases, and especially childhood diseases (where most activity is done), know the health system and especially understand the inner world of children. Many find the work very satisfying.
Medical Clowning for a Bachelor’s Degree
Undergraduate studies in medical clowning are taught in a two-discipline track: theater and multidisciplinary studies, which is spread over 3 years and is intended to train students to practice in the field of medical clowning. The degree focuses on topics related to the field of treatment such as developmental psychology, nursing, and medical history and on developing the theater tools and skills necessary for the medical clown and among them: improvisation, juggling, Key Elements in Mime, and more.
n addition, the program also includes compulsory courses required for admission to postgraduate studies in the faculties of art therapy, so that graduates of this track can continue on to graduate studies upon completion of undergraduate studies. The academic institutionalization of medical clowning gives the field recognition and makes the practice in this field reliable and professional, such as the physiotherapy profession, speech therapy, and so on.
Master’s Degree in Medical Clowning
The master’s degree in Medical clowning program prepares students to make professional assessments of patients ‘mental state, build appropriate intervention programs aimed at relieving pain, improving patients’ self-esteem, and enlisting the joint assistance of medical staff and patient’s families in order to strengthen patients’ internal resources.
During the program student becomes knowledgeable in the work processes of clown doctors within the hospital wards, learn how to work with patients of different ages, from toddlers to the elderly, as well as deal with medical conditions and various diseases. In addition, they acquire skills from the field of psychology, which can help them in their work with patients, in providing emotional and mental assistance to them and their families. They also hone their acting and performance skills, in order to build effective characters during their work as medical clowns.
As part of the program, students also acquire extensive knowledge and tools from the world of drama therapy. They receive practical and therapeutic tools through which they can assist patients in the power of acting and theater and they learn in-depth about the work processes and responsibilities of drama therapists. They also develop critical skills through which they can examine and evaluate treatment processes and patterns of action in therapy through the arts and offer effective and innovative processes for the purpose of optimizing therapy.
The scope of this program is between two and three years, it takes place as part of a master’s degree in drama therapy. The program includes theoretical courses, seminars as well as the practical practice of the various skills required of medical clowns. The practical work takes place as part of mime games, workshops, and practical exercises that introduce students to the world of medical clowns. In addition, there is practical training in medical clowning, which makes it possible to experience the actual work processes in the real world, with the assistance of the teaching staff.
As part of the master’s degree in art therapy, students must complete a year of advanced practical training, which includes a research and evaluation practicum and fieldwork. The practical experience takes place throughout the degree years and it combines personal work with instructors and training that take place in small groups.
Employment Options for a Clown Doctor
Students who successfully complete the program are opened to a variety of career opportunities, integrating into the therapeutic world as clown doctors. They can operate within many different departments in hospitals, treatment centers, rehabilitation frameworks, and other medical frameworks, or integrate into the therapeutic field of special education.
Also, graduates of this program can continue to perfect their tools through study in various professional courses. They can continue to study the field of laugh therapy or a laugh yoga instructor course. In addition, they can become acquainted with additional therapeutic approaches through studies in courses in the field of psychology, such as an art therapy course, a movement therapy course, or other tracks in the therapy disciplines.
Are Clown Doctors Real Doctors?
This is a common question, mainly coming from the name of the profession. As we mentioned above, clown doctors are not real doctors. But, it is important to remember that most times they are highly trained professionals with extensive experience in drama, performance arts, psychology, and therapy – and they are an important part of every medical facility’s staff and operation!