So, I recently started therapy with someone new and I asked him if he thought my response to something was usual or 'normal'. His response was 'it doesn't matter if it is normal - it's your feelings and they are valid.'

I had therapy for a very long period, before, with someone who PRAISE BE HEAVEN NEVER gave this totally annoying reply. But it reminds me of how often professionals and non professionals say it. I find it extremely condescending. If I am concerned about the way I am responding then fine - ask questions about that concern - explore how my reaction might be differing from what I conceive of as the ordinary response - even - what could be so wrong about responding about what the usual response MIGHT be, and why someone with my nature or experience might respond differently.

Just don't give me this vacuous, pseudo-superior what-is-normal pre-teen ********.