Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 01, 2018

She knows just what to say.

well, that was a swell lady-lady talk

In regards to Mrs Fogarty’s professional credentials, check out the certificates on the wall. GnK do have a sense of humor.

Everyone except Tiff knows psychiatry is a sham

Cry, Tiff.

Cry off those extra pounds. ✨

Of COURSE You’re Worthy, Tiffany! You’re Worthy, Luann’s Worthy, Bernice is Worthy, Dez is Worthy, Gunther is VERY Worthy, the jackass on his smart phone that cut me off in traffic yesterday is Worthy, the City Treasurer that just jacked up property taxes in my neighborhood is Worthy, EVERYBODY this Forum is WORTHY, most of the “folks” on this planet are Worthy!!

Except Les……., :)

Oh, you don’t, Mrs. Fogarty. No credit goes to you. It is all Tiffany. The only credit that goes to you is your silence while Tiffany figures it out herself. Only seldom that this silence method works where people figure things out by themselves. The whole purpose of counseling is to guide them how to figure out what the problem is and how to solve it and silence is just the antithesis of this concept. Like I said, it is very seldom. Some people just need a sounding board and Mrs. Fogarty is that to Tiffany. So what next, Tiffany?

Well I am so happy that the breakthrough means Tiffany does not have to depend on her distant father to pay her off, and substitute his money, for affection. Really, in a way he is like Ann, in that Ann has done basically the same to Les. She is never there for him, expects him to support her criminal nature, while she has never given him parental love, and Tiffany has the same issue with Tom Ferrell. Those two deserve each other. Tiffany’s big problem is she has to learn how to exist without his money, possibly, I don’t think she will in the end. As to Mrs. Fogarty she is just a plot device. If the panels are carefully looked at when she said “well” it was in response to Tiffany’s amazement that she had this self-realization in the therapy session, and Fogarty was pointing to all her degrees and certificates as proof of her ability. I have a little better than even money this arc will cease on Saturday, but the stronger wiser Tiff will emerge on another arc soon. Where? well wait and see.

About 4 cartoon minutes ago (May 29) there were 2 diplomas on the wall. A 3rd one has just appeared. It must be her worthiness award. WELL DONE!

Looks like Tiff has begun to figure out the truth about it all. Mrs. Fogarty hasn’t said a word.

Tiff is finally putting the pieces together an realizes she does not need her dad approval.

For all Fogarty did, Tiff would have been just as well off in front of a mirror doing one of Stuart Smalley’s “Daily Affirmations”.

Sometimes you just need to speak your feelings aloud in a safe space. That’s why I think everyone can benefit from therapy/counseling.

Tiffany’s in college now. If she was like my kids, she should be looking forward to getting that degree which will finally get her financial independence from her father. Tiffany will get that degree in drama (or whatever she is majoring in) and make her own fortune and pay her own way and…. Pfft! Bwa-ha-ha! Sorry. Just kidding. Rich kids almost never get financial independence from their parents.

A therapist/counselor/psychiatrist/psychologist really just sits and listens while giving you a safe and judgement free place to vent…while charging you hundreds of $$$ per hour to do it.

On some level, I’ve always liked Tiffany.

It could be good for Tiffany & Tara to meet. Tara might have something to say like, “I never had a Dad, Tiff.” I can’t recall Tiffany expressing sympathy for someone else – it might be a good experience.

“If I can’t have Dad’s approval, I will settle for yours.”

Ugh, does Evan think that just because she changed her name to Fogarty, it resets the counter on how many “she’s a worthless/unprofessional counselor” jokes get made about this character. She appeared in 5 strips this week, and in 4 of them (all 5 if you really stretch it) a joke was made about her being terrible at her job. WE GET IT already. Find a new horse to beat; this one has decomposed to a skeleton. I really hope we never have to suffer through this idiotic character again; we shouldn’t have been subjected to her in the first place, after all, seeing as how she’s a HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.

That being said, Tiffany had a bit of a breakthrough so this week isn’t a total wash. Hopefully we’ll actually see her confront her dad, or at least go forth with this new mindset.

Mrs. Fogarty proves that less is more.

Well, Tiff is less smudgy, anyhow.

Either Tiff’s finished, or there’s more to come.

For those who cn’t read the documents on the wall:

In panel 1, they say “Document,” “Certificate,” and a bunch of squiggly lines.

In panel 3, they say “Impressed,” “Big Deal School,” and “Important Looking Document.” These are the ones Mrs. Fogarty gestures towards when Tiffany call her a great consular.

Tiffany’s epiphany?

If she is in college why does she still see her old high school counselor?

And THAT is how it works!

I see a bright future ahead for Tiffany. GnC may have other ideas however.

P.S. Love the sarcastic documents. d8^D

A very good outcome for Tiffany. A lot of people never get this far in realizing that, just because they can’t seem to please a parent, it doesn’t mean they aren’t okay. Tiffany didn’t want to go to college; she’s there because her father insisted. She wanted to go straight to Hollywood and take a chance at an acting career. Maybe now she will.

I’m posting twice in 1 strip but I must commend the Evanses on this arc. As a former Tiff-hater, I love seeing her growth since leaving Pitts HS.

OK, now call the cops and have Ann locked up for committing fraud on over 100 victims. You no longer need worry about upsetting Daddy.

Off-topic, for people who have trouble holding books/reading the print:

My physical therapist and I were talking about ways to lift the book up so I don’t have to try to hold it (can’t) and don’t end up holding my head at a tilt for a long time. Since I have a tight budget & don’t want to buy anything costly, she was recommending sitting at the table and putting the book on top of towels; one can make a kind of wedge that way.

Bit of work, that, and inconvenient to move. Was looking around for something else and found something better:

THREE RING BINDERS! Two 3-ring binders stacked on top of each other raises the book to a decent height at a better tilt than I’ve been able to manage.

A book-holder is still probably better, but this is pretty good for not-spending-money! :D

I revise yesterday’s comment: Mrs. F is not an idiot, she is a genius @ guessing the proper approach to treating Tiffany – but that gloating look in the last panel should be more a sigh of relief – or maybe it is…

Hey I GOT it! I know How Tiff can get her Dad’s attention! Look. She’s drops out of College and marries Les!

That would KILL her father and drive Ann up the freaking wall!!

And…..,Wait! What the HELL am I saying???? ;)

“Getting angry gets stuff done” ~ Mr. Nanci ;-)

Having lots of fun with the certificates on the wall!

A pat on the back for Tiff: (1) Some real insights here. (2) She may be able let go of her delusion that she can change her dad’s feelings or behavior. (2) You are at the beginning of the beginning, and can undertake actual work of psychological growth, which most people dodge. And some cold water: (1) No quick fixes in this process. (2) Tiff needs to also feel worthy, and (3) Tiff must let go of even Fog’s affirmation (asking a lot).

I am not sure if Greg has mixed feelings about counseling, or is following a recipe of real progress + a “joke” (suggesting that Mrs. Fog doesn’t need to actually do anything). Those of us who have benefited greatly from therapists know that you may have to shop around to find the right one.

6

It is nice to see that Tiffany is able to grow and understand more fully the dynamics of her family structure. I am glad that Mrs. Fogarty has been able to help facilitate that understanding.

The certificates on the wall are very fun and humorous and I how Greg has drawn them in a changing fashion.

Unfortunately, though, as several of the comments have shown, Greg’s gentle poking fun at the credentials of Mrs. Fogarty has brought out of the woodwork all manner of anti-science attitudes onto the comments board. Psychology & Psychiatry are both disciplines that have, IMO, immense value. In the modern era there is a moderate overlap in aspects of both groups. But, each retains its own specializations and are based on somewhat different paradigms.

For me, the harsh statements above from many reflect beyond the denigration of both very valuable fields…. they speak of a growing anti-science attitude that is unfortunately growing ever more virulent in our society. A lot of folks would rather live in their own “Private Universe” rather than participate in and accept the knowledge that the processes of science are able to uncover for the betterment of our society.

While psychology & psychiatry are often labeled a “soft” science (typically physics, chemistry, and biology are considered “hard” sciences)… the terms are really misnomers. Psychology & psychiatry have a more challenging experimental role to fulfill because of the very nature that both are primarily human-based forms of scientific pursuit. The challenges these disciplines face in experimental design are the primary reason they are sometimes perceived as “soft”.

Bravo, Tiffany!

Once you blow it up to see the documents, you can also see the ring.

Tiffany’s brave decision to start to move on with her life may pull the plot away from putting Ann Eiffel in jail. After all, Les got away with stealing donations at the Fuse, and TJ got away with blowing up his food truck when business turned out to fizzle. I do hope one of the arcs swings to Ann Eiffel & Ted Farrell – to see how well she plays him.

@VILYEHM: You made a comment earlier about Tiffany having a career only as a makeup artist in Hollywood. Since I was not reading this ‘toon back when the kids were in high school, I have no idea about Tiffany’s skill or lack thereof as an actor. But as far as the pay for makeup artists in motion picture and video goes, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean average for California makeup artists was $73,210, which was the second highest in the US. (First was New York City). While this may not compare with what Tiffany may be used to as an allowance from her father, it’s probably a lot more than many first year college grads earn…

I am very proud of Tiffany. I was HOPING she would come to this revelation, that she didn’t need approval from her father. It would have been nice if her father had given her the attention she wanted, instead of just throwing money at her. But hopefully this leads to her growing as a person. And opens up avenues for her slowly growing circle of friends at college to get closer to her, and to help her discover her self-worth. I am liking her character more and more and I think she is becoming my favorite one in this strip. I want to see her develop more. And maybe down the line, things will get resolved with her father, when Anne screws him over.

wonder who’s next at Mrs. Fogarty’s office.

I don’t think its going to be that simple. That kind of desire for attention from a parent takes time, introspection, shoulders to lean on, positive reinforcement of one’s decision to move on. I think its got a few more panels in this arc.

And how do you feel about that, gogo ???

Amazing how Tiffany appears to back to her normal weight after still being overweight as recently as Monday. Crying must burn a lot of calories.

@PIPE TOBACCO: Since all I’ve done in life that has much to do with counseling was serve on a Crisis Switchboard for a year way back during the Vietnam war, I’m not expert enough to really get into all the stuff about psychology and psychiatry, science or not. But it seems to me that concern about whether any form of counseling is ‘science’ is not a very recent concern. I can remember back in the ‘60s when there was an experiment, sending otherwise mentally stable individuals who had been taught how to act as if they were unstable to emergency rooms. After these men were put into mental hospitals, they had been instructed to stop reporting the symptoms that got them there, but, it didn’t matter. They were still retained until the ‘experimenters’ came forward to explain.

……….

The thing is that so much of mental illness depends on the sufferer and how it is reported or acted out. Unlike hard science, where you can establish one thing that is going to vary (like what chemical you are adding to another), and all other things stay the same. Also, a great deal depends on the perception of an observer.

………

It is no coincidence that after someone commits some shooting incident, so many neighbors or teachers comment that ‘he seemed so quiet’.

Q: Back in High School, Bernice spent time with Ms. Fogarty ne Phelps to gain some insight on counseling.

Could this be , in part, a setup, to Bernice serving a “Practicum” with Mrs. Fogarty as part of her psychology studies?

@PIPE: I’m not saying that I think either psychiatry or psychology are not useful. A method can work and not be ‘science’. Science is something that can be repeatedly observed, over and over again, as long as the variable and those conditions that don’t vary stay the same. You can’t do this with human behavior. People with PTSD don’t all show the same symptoms, and don’t have the same triggers. I think we should focus more on finding practitioners who have good observational skills and good listening skills, and seem to provide the environment needed for people with serious problems to find their way out of internal miseries. That may be an art form, rather than a science. Whether something is a science or not may not be the point…

Given the various discussions here this work might be of interest:

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-06-serotonin-confidence-underlie-patience.html

Notice that the amount of improvement by affecting serotonin uptake is moderated by the SITUATION. A mouse with little chance of reward: as in Tiffany’s hopes for her father to behave like an actual caring parent, creates a situation where the chemical change has little effect.

Looks like she got her big EGO back.

Not so fast Tiff. Daddys still signing your checks. I am sure Ann would like that to stop. Without that and no college degree, your worth minimum wage. This ending is a trite injustice to an interesting character.

Wonderful job, Fogarty!  Tiffany couldn’tve done anny better, herself!…..unless she read “Counseling For Dummies”.  …and Googled it.  ….which, as it would seem, she might as well have.

“PhD.I.Y.”

“Self-Help Wanted”

“I’ve Got Your Work Cut Out For Me”

“Guides And Dolls”

“You’re A Rubber Ball, And I’m Glued To This Chair, Now”

or

“No Rest For The Wickepedia”

Again: the patient does the healing; the psychiatrist listens and fills Jumbo Notebooks….

Tiffany may be on her way to Recovery if she can hang on to this attitude….

There are many ways ways a parent can have influence even when he or she should not. Sometimes the offspring facilitates that by either blindly copying or only doing the opposite. When a parent is peripheral by her or his own choice as Tiffany’s father is (and perhaps her mother is?) then the best way to not have the parent continue to influence is to relegate the parent to that chosen peripheral slot and fint one’s own ways of living life.

Therapy works best if they figure it out themselves…..I’m a therapist, I know.

Mrs Fogery? When did they get married?