Gale Largey is trying something new.

He is well-known for his documentary films on local topics, such as George Washington Sears (Nessmuk), a Wellsboro girl who became an actress, the Austin Dam and the Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival. 

“For the past 10 years, I’ve been collecting cartoons about patients in therapy and therapists offering advice to patients,” Largey said. They were originally published in the New Yorker, a magazine; the Wall Street Journal, a newspaper; and Funny Times, an independent, ad-free American humor and satire newspaper.  

“On Oct. 20, I will be hosting two free showings of my new 20-minute film titled “On The Couch: Cartoon Commentaries on Therapy”, said Largey.

“I included more than 115 cartoons. They are meant to be amusing but also serve as commentary on how mental health professionals and therapy are perceived,” Largey said. In other words, the cartoons may provoke discussion. “I have invited a therapist to attend each showing to share their feelings about the cartoons,” said Largey.

The first showing will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 during the Deane Center’s free Golden Afternoons program for men and women 65 and older. Also attending will be Mental Health Therapist, Traci Allen who is from Crossroads Counseling.  

The second free showing at 7 p.m. on Oct. 20 is open to the public and will be followed by observations by Dr. Lisa Feil, a local psychologist with extensive experience as a therapist.

The film was written and directed by Largey, edited by Mark Polonia, and narrated by Michael Capuzzo. The “Chief Psychiatrist” is voiced by R.”Bud” Voorhees. Other local people also did voiceovers for the film.