The Far Sidefeatured a series of classic jokes set in the therapist’s office, as Gary Larson repeatedly managed to find the humor in psychologist-patient exchanges. From characters on the therapist’s couch sharing their deepest fears, to doctors revealing their true feelings about their patients, Larson penned multiple memorable therapy-centric strips.
The era ofThe Far Side’spublication coincided with the increasing role of talk therapy in American culture. This made the practice a frequent target for critics and comedians alike; what made Gary Larson’s take on the subject stand out was thathe didn’t lampoon therapy or therapists, but rather used the setting to deliver some of his most clever jokes.
Often, though not always, therapists and therapy patients weresome ofThe Far Side’smost likable characters. A closer look at Larson’s therapy jokes offers a great perspective on how his art and his comedy grew over the years.
10A Feline Patient Struggles To Adapt To Being A Pet
First Published: July 09, 2025
Cats were a staple ofThe Far Side, and here, Gary Larson delivers one of his all-time great feline punchlines, asstretched out belly-up on a therapist’s couch, a cat unburdens itself, admitting: “I’m starting to feel dependent.“Tongue firmly in cheek, Larson expertly applies psychological terminology to cats, who are of course known for maintaining a streak of independence, even as domesticated pets.
Whether this cat is a former stray, still adjusting to life inside, or a lifelong house cat mourning the loss of its animalistic instincts, the reader can only speculate. What is certain is that this is an exceptionally effective take onThe Far Side’s “therapist’s office” premise, which at this point in the strip’s publication, recurring readers would have been well familiar with.
9This Far Side Comic Offers A Glimpse From The Therapist’s Perspective
First Published: July 09, 2025
Most often,The Far Sidedelivered its “therapist’s office” cartoons from a neutral perspective, but that is not the case with this panel,in which a psychologist is depicted scribbling “just plain nuts” on his notepad, and underlining it several times, as his patient lies there and talks. While this is perhapsThe Far Side’smost pessimistic take on therapy, the tradeoff is that it is also the most bluntly humerous.
The “over-the-shoulder” POV of this illustration is part of what makes it so funny, as the doctor’s curt summation of his patient, and the oblivious patient himself, are perfectly framed together so the reader can comprehend them both at once. This representsGary Larson tweaking the “formula"of th recurring “therapist’s office” joke; not for the first time, but in perhaps the most effective twist on the familiar premise.
8On The Far Side, Just Because You’re A Monster Doesn’t Mean You Have To Act Like One
First Published: June 16, 2025
The Far Sidefrequently contained movie references, and over the years Gary Larson made more than one homage to theCreature From the Black Lagoonin particular. This is perhaps the funniest, because it thrusts the eponymous movie monster into the unexpected context of the therapist’s office, and then makes an even more unexpectedly poignant pointin the process of delivering its punchline.
“Sure, I’m a creature, and I can accept that,” the patient says, “but lately it seems I’ve been turning into a miserable creature.” This comment from the creature, that it can accept what it is, but not who it is becoming, expresses a clear familiarity with psychological analysis, and a disposition toward introspection, suggesting that in this cartoon, Gary Larson was expressing a very real sentiment in a comedic form.
7Gary Larson Spins A Parable About Getting In Your Own Way
First Published: Jun 11, 2025
In thishilariousFar Sidespider cartoon, the arachnid in question isperched on the therapist’s couch, relating a nightmare that it keeps having about getting stuck to its own web. The joke is overtly effective, but under the surface readers can once more find the suggestion of a deeper understanding of therapy, and self-reflection, on Gary Larson’s part.
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Gary Larson’s editor explained that the true humor of the Far Side was often found in the comic’s characters' reactions to the strip’s absurdity.
The idea of the spider getting stuck to its own web is deeply metaphorical, and in particular holds relevance as an analogy both for making progress in therapy, and developing as an artist. The idea of getting in one’s own way, holding oneself back, is one that many readers will relate to, and while it is given a humorous expression here, the potency of this metaphor shouldn’t be overlooked.
6Gary Larson Goes Out On A Limb With This Far Side Therapy Panel
First Published: August 04, 2025
This cartoon breaks almost entirely from theFar Side"therapist’s office” premise, but it is too outrageous not to include here.It depicts a man in a metal box, covered in snakes, suspended out of a high-rise building’s window, with the caption explaining that this is: “Professor Gallagher and his controversial technique of simultaneously confronting the fear of heights, snakes, and the dark.”
For Gary Larson, experimentation was essential toThe Far Side, and without fail, every recurring joke in the comic’s ouvre has at least one example that deviates wildly from the formula established by the others. That is the case here, as Larson imagines the extreme next step beyond his usual talk therapy jokes.
5Does Doctor-Crocodile Confidentiality Cover Admissions Of Guilt?
First Published: Jul 15, 2025
This Far Side crocodiletreads into dangerous territory, as it hilariously admits that it has been chowing down on the small birds that gators normally don’t bother with. Asking its therapist if he’sfamiliar with “those teeny tiny little birds that walk around so trustingly inside a crocodile’s mouth,” the patient unhesitatingly describes how he has “been eatin' those little guys like popcorn.”
The Far Side Complete Collection
Fans of the far side can’t pass up this master collection of Gary Larson’s finest work. Originally published in hardcover in 2003, this paperback set comes complete with a newly designed slipcase that will look great on any shelf. The Complete Far Side contains every Far Side cartoon ever published, which amounts to over 4,000, plus more than 1,100 that have never before appeared in a book and even some made after Larson retired.
While some of Gary Larson’s “therapist’s office” cartoons have a deeper layer to them, this one is silly by design, as the gator’s casual admission of its carnivorous behavior is framed – given the setting – as an acknowledgment that its behavior is aberrational, if not outright abhorrent. Caption aside, just the image of the croc with its long tail curling off the therapist’s couch, is likely to strike many readers as amusing.
4This Dog And Its Therapist Finally Reach The Root Of A Major Problem
First Published: August 13, 2025
“It’s the mailman, doc,” this canine in therapy plainly comes to the realization, “he scares me.” This is another simple, effective admixture ofThe Far Side’sfamiliar dog humorand its “therapist’s office” premise. Everything about this comic is straightforward, and that is to its credit. As confusing asThe Far Sidecan be at times, it is always satisfying to encounter a panel where Gary Larson lays all of the joke’s cards on the table, so to speak.
The stark coloring and sparse decoration of the psychologist’s office space parallel the brief, but to-the-point caption;the illustrations of the dog and therapist themselves are not overly stuffed with detail, but the details that are present, notably the posture of both characters, contribute to the overall feeling of a charged moment happening in an otherwise silent room.
3The Far Side’s Greatest Therapist Helps His Patient Overcome A Mental Block
First Published: July 11, 2025
In many cases, the focus ofThe Far Side’stherapy jokes was on the patient, with the therapists themselves often serving as little more than a fixture of the setting. That dynamic is flipped here, asthe psychologist does all the talking, trying to explain to his lizard patient that “the more you think about changing colors, the less you’ll succeed.”
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Known for leaving readers confused, Far Side creator Gary Larson explained a typical “obscure” punchline, revealing the inner workings of his humor.
“Shall we try the green background then?” the therapist asks, adding an interesting layer to this cartoon, which was illustrated in black-and-white – almost as if to reflect the idea that the colorfullness of the world has become painful to the patient here, when once his inhibitions about his camoflauge abilities are overcome, it should be one of life’s great joys.
2The Therapist’s Office Is No Place To Get Hung Up On The Past
First Published: August 24, 2025
In this quixoticFar Sidecartoon, Gary Larson puts his own spin on the definitive therapy joke – the timeless, “so tell me about your mother” bit. The go-to line for poking fun at therapy and therapists,“tell me about your mother” is usually depicted as a trope therapists resort to. In this case,with the patient wearing flippers, a raincoat, an inflatable duck inner tube, a false beak, and a birthday party hat, it seems as though the therapist might have more immediate places he could beginhis analysis.
While the caption is amusing enough, it is the absurdity of Larson’s depiction of the patient – who, in addition to being outlandishly dressed, perches atop a coat rack, instead of lying on the couch – that makes this a particularly memorableFar Sideinstallment.
1Just Because You’re Paranoid Doesn’t Mean They’re Not After You – Especially On The Far Side
First Published: June 03, 2025
In one ofThe Far Side’searliest “therapist’s office” panels,a man lies on the office couch and says, “it’s quite strange…almost like being followed,” as the outline of a second man underneath him on the couch is clearly visible.This is exactly the kind of strange punchline that Gary Larson made his reputation as a humorist on, and it set a strong precedent for the therapy jokes that would follow in the years to come.
With this comic, Larson takes a familiar psychological issue – in this case, paranoia – and delivers it in a straightforward way, except with an added absurd wrinkle that is equal parts ridiculous and brilliant. As with many earlyFar Sidejokes, this cartoon is a rough example of the style and content thatGary Larson would polish throughout the rest of his legendary career.
The Far Side
The Far Side is a humorous comic series developed by Gary Larson. The series has been in production since 1979 and features a wide array of comic collections, calendars, art, and other miscellaneous items.
