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I'm living in a theocratic country, where people have to study religion in schools and universities extensively, no matter the field of study. and holding different views from the mainstream religion can be dangerous.

I am a very irreligious person, and my family is aware of my views, they've been supportive most of the time.

I've recently come back from university to my hometown. I haven't done well this semester, so my mother asked me the reason, and I explained to her about how I have been really depressed, and how I didn't have the power to study. She suggested getting help from a therapist, I agreed.

The problem was that the 'therapist' she had in mind was a cleric, while I was thinking that I need a psychologist. when I expressed my doubts she insisted that the cleric wasn't 'a radical person' and that he would be able to help me, reluctantly I agreed to meet him.

Admittedly the cleric was more open-minded than I expected but still, I don't think he really had the competence to help solve my problem, and of course ultimately he tried to convince me that the solution to my depression should be 'on a spiritual level'.

Now, I'm an adult, so I can talk to a proper psychologist myself. but my mother doesn't usually react rationally when I refuse her help. The last time I tried that, my life was a living hell for months, until I proved her wrong. She would constantly push me to accept the 'help' she had to offer, and would practically bring up the matter anytime she could. so right now I'm trying to figure out how I should inform her that I won't be seeing her 'therapist' in the future.

I'm living in a theocratic country, where people have to study religion in schools and universities extensively, no matter the field of study. And holding different views from the mainstream religion can be dangerous.

I am a very irreligious person, and my family is aware of my views, they've been supportive most of the time.

I've recently come back from university to my hometown. I haven't done well this semester, so my mother asked me the reason, and I explained to her about how I have been really depressed, and how I didn't have the power to study. She suggested getting help from a therapist to which I agreed.

The problem was that the 'therapist' she had in mind was a cleric, while I was thinking that I need a psychologist. When I expressed my doubts she insisted that the cleric wasn't 'a radical person' and that he would be able to help me, reluctantly I agreed to meet him.

Admittedly the cleric was more open-minded than I expected but still, I don't think he really had the competence to help solve my problem, and of course ultimately he tried to convince me that the solution to my depression should be 'on a spiritual level'.

Now, I'm an adult, so I can talk to a proper psychologist myself. But my mother doesn't usually react rationally when I refuse her help. The last time I tried that, my life was a living hell for months, until I proved her wrong. She would constantly push me to accept the 'help' she had to offer, and would practically bring up the matter anytime she could. so right now I'm trying to figure out how I should inform her that I won't be seeing her 'therapist' in the future.