I don't think it's a method for us to conform. Just speaking from my personal experience, I sought therapy not because I was having trouble conforming with society but because the problems I was having were becoming a problem in my life - like affecting my work and relationships and my ability to function. I am considered disabled because of my depression, PTSD, and GAD. I see a therapist to learn coping skills so that I can function. I have no illusion about ever being normal, but I do know that I can learn healthy ways to deal with my feelings and stress so that I can effectively function in the world and, eventually, be happy.

I don't feel anything about my therapy is about getting me to conform. I feel it's about giving me ways to communicate with people that don't create hostility or confrontation and ways to understand people without being paranoid that they are judging me. My therapy has very little, if anything, to do with society, but rather harnessing my own thoughts and brain so they don't make me miserable for the rest of my life.

I do think for some disorders, yes, therapy will help someone conform to society. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. If someone has Asperger's and very poor people skills because of it, therapy will help them learn to communicate more effectively with people and not do things that would normally be considered inappropriate. This will help them function in the workplace so that they can be self-sufficient.

So, yes, there are societal norms that everyone conforms to. You can choose not to conform to those norms, and it may or may not cause you distress in life. People usually seek therapy when their behavior is causing them problems, not just because they don't fit in.

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