What if therapists were not only for the crazy … and the weak!

People's reluctance to seek the support of a therapist is often related to the fear of other people's perceptions, this Other's gaze that is so pervasive in oriental societies; the fear of being called 'crazy' or considered 'weak.'

" Shrinks are for the crazy… and the weak " is an expression that is often uttered by those who are not or somewhat familiar with this field. But this fear is also one of being marginalized, as crazy and weak people are not part of the norms established by society. Herein lies the issue of normality and its importance.

Does 'being normal' mean being part of a majority of attitudes and perspectives? If this is the case, then woe to those who remain among the minority!!! As such, 'normality' is perceived relatively to others, to an ideal or a rule, all of which are false objective aspects.

Why not perceive 'normality' from a subjective point of view, considering that we're dealing with human beings, and that humans are primarily subjective. It is difficult to meet people who are ready to accept this subjective aspect, because 'normality' then becomes pervaded by nuances and variable factors that are related to the deep realities of each individual. 'Normality' is then no longer perceived as a rigid and static fact, limiting each person's possibilities; it becomes a source of creativity and allows each person's potentialities and various inclinations to bloom, in a spirit of soul enrichment.

Everyone is then in a 'normal' state, regardless of their inner problems, when they manage to handle these problems and adapt to others and to themselves, without paralyzing any inner part of themselves, nor being rejected by the outside world (prison - hospital - asylum), despite the inevitable disagreements that occur in our relations with other people.

This is why asking the help of a therapist at a particular moment is not representative of madness or of a particular weakness. It is merely a request for help and support, in a bid to manage certain problems, to be able to unite our different inclinations, instead of having to tame a part of us in order to remain adapted to others and to reality. Instead of being a sign of weakness, requesting psychological help marks an awareness about one's own difficulties and shows courage in facing them. It is also a process that takes us back to our own personal experience as a child, of when and how we asked for help.

Maha Rabbath