David Jacobson

David Jacobson

LCSW, CHP

AZ, US
I help people change the way they think, so they can change the way they feel.

David Jacobson is a professional speaker on leadership, team building, humor and health and overcoming trauma. He is the former Chief of Social Work of the Phoenix VA where he assisted in improving their mental health system. He also is the former Social Work Manager at University Medical Center who worked with the patients and families of trauma's including the tragic shooting event in Tucson on January 8th, 2011 which resulted in a personal thank you from President Obama for his work with the shooting victims and their families. For over 30 years David, has provided his expertise on leadership, humor and health related topics to audiences around the country and served on the Board of Directors of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. He has been featured internationally by various media outlets, including magazines, journals and television from London to Seoul, Korea. He is the award winning author of "The 7 ½ Habits of Highly Humorous People." 
David Jacobson suffered many losses early in his life including a diagnosis with a severe form of arthritis at 22 in 1980. Since then, he has become a living example that you can accomplish anything if you truly believe in yourself. Through his years of struggling with chronic pain, he developed humor techniques that got him through the hard times. He now teaches these skills to audiences around the country in his keynotes and workshops which as entertaining as they are educational.
His many honors include a "President's Award" from Flashnet Marketing, Inc. , A Lifetime Achievement Award and a "National Hero Overcoming Arthritis" award by the Arthritis Foundation National Office for completing a 50 mile unicycle ride at a fund raising event and the Wayne Washburn Memorial Award which reads as follows "We all need someone or something to inspire us to bring out our best. You are that someone"
For the past fifteen years, Mr. Jacobson has worked as a hospital administrator in addition to his writing, speaking and consulting career. He is currently the Director of Behavioral Health Case Management at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson.

David Jacobson is a professional speaker on leadership, team building, humor and health and overcoming trauma. He is the former Chief of Social Work of the Phoenix VA where he assisted in improving their mental health system. He also is the former Social Work Manager at University Medical Center who worked with the patients and families of trauma's including the tragic shooting event in Tucson on January 8th, 2011 which resulted in a personal thank you from President Obama for his work with the shooting victims and their families. For over 30 years David, has provided his expertise on leadership, humor and health related topics to audiences around the country and served on the Board of Directors of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. He has been featured internationally by various media outlets, including magazines, journals and television from London to Seoul, Korea. He is the award winning author of "The 7 ½ Habits of Highly Humorous People." 
David Jacobson suffered many losses early in his life including a diagnosis with a severe form of arthritis at 22 in 1980. Since then, he has become a living example that you can accomplish anything if you truly believe in yourself. Through his years of struggling with chronic pain, he developed humor techniques that got him through the hard times. He now teaches these skills to audiences around the country in his keynotes and workshops which as entertaining as they are educational.
His many honors include a "President's Award" from Flashnet Marketing, Inc. , A Lifetime Achievement Award and a "National Hero Overcoming Arthritis" award by the Arthritis Foundation National Office for completing a 50 mile unicycle ride at a fund raising event and the Wayne Washburn Memorial Award which reads as follows "We all need someone or something to inspire us to bring out our best. You are that someone"
For the past fifteen years, Mr. Jacobson has worked as a hospital administrator in addition to his writing, speaking and consulting career. He is currently the Director of Behavioral Health Case Management at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson.

The Role of Humor in Leadership and Team Building

Humor has been related to a number of positive effects when used by leaders: improved morale among workers, enhanced group cohesiveness, and even a positive impact on larger organizational outcomes. This presentation addresses how humor can be used to enhance leadership effectiveness with an emphasis on improved communication and team building. Guidelines for use of humor will be discussed to ensure humor does not get out of hand at work emphasizing the importance of appropriate humor and...
Educational / InformativeHumorous / Funny

Resiliency Amidst Change

This keynote discusses the stress of change and how resiliency tools and your sense of humor can help you cope with it and improve your health. Research shows that major work changes can have detrimental affects on one's physical and mental health. Resiliency tools can be used to combat the negative affects of change and help one thrive through the changes to become change agents to help on the fore front of change.
Attendees will walk out with the understanding that if you can change...
HealthAudience ActivityEducational / InformativeInspirational / Life-changingHumorous / Funny

Laughing to Ease the Pain

A healthy dose of hilarity! This keynote is full of entertaining stories that educate audiences on the role humor plays in healing and coping with health issues and everyday stress. It reveals humor strategies that anyone can use to improve their health. David is one less than 30 Certified Humor Professionals in the Country. A designation bestowed through the three year Humor Academy of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. 
•Gain an understanding of the role...
Entertainment-basedAudience ActivityEducational / InformativeInspirational / Life-changingHumorous / Funny

The Role of Humor in Enhancing Diversity Acceptance

Humor is a universal human trait that crosses all cultures and societies.  This presentation addresses how humor can be used to decrease prejudice and improve relationships of people from vastly different backgrounds.  This presentation will discuss the role that baggage, projections, judgments and perceptions play in impeding our ability to appreciate cultural differences other communication styles and how humor can be used to overcome these obstacles. 
Educational / InformativeTechnical / SpecificHumorous / Funny

With a Humor Foundation, You Can Build a Great Team!

An entertaining, energetic and enthusiastic  program on team building!
This Keynote discusses team building and communicaiton techniques in a fun way to keep the audience energy high and can include inter-active exercises.  Non-verbal Para-verbal, and Verbal communication that can either impede and improve team effectiveness.

Practice fun team building activities

Improve Listening skills

Gain an understandingof the benefits of humor for team...

Audience ActivityEducational / InformativeHumorous / Funny

The Role of Therapeutic Humor in Mental Health

Research over the past 30 years has shown that a sense of humor has come to be viewed  as an important facotr of mental health.  Humor can transform the negative int othe positive. .  When people can laugh and play they tend to feel happier, more energetic, less depressed, less anxious and less irritable and tense.  
1. Gain an understanding of the role therapeutic humor can play in mental health with a specific focus on the post trauma milieu.
2....
Educational / InformativeTechnical / SpecificHumorous / Funny