My therapist told me that the way people perceive us, or whether they like or dislike us, is out of our control

I stand closer to your therapist's view.
She's not talking to you as a public figure.
She's talking about the closest relationships in your life, your life-partner, family and friends. WIth these people, whom we see almost every day under all kinds of conditions, we need to be able to relax and be ourselves. In order to do that and yet also get along well, we need to develop the skills of insight into ourselves, empathy for the feelings and needs of others, become good listeners and communicators, and we need to feel good will and warmth towards them.
We can influence another's feelings through how we behave, but we cannot [i]control[/i] their feelings, nor do we have the right to try. If a person tries to control another, it soon creates intense resentments and the relationship is doomed to misery and failure.

People aceept or reject influence according to their values, attitudes, past traumas, fears and unconscious triggers - and most off us react more according to our inner realities.

The way PR and media influence the public is an extremely shallow process which depends entirely on the celebrity or power-figure[i] operating from a distance[/i].

PS $11 per session? Seriously? That wouldn't pay a cleaner's wage! I'd check her qualifications.

What you are doing is condoning the behavior. She was correct, if you have morals. No morals, of coarse, then it's even promoted.

Tell her that you have no morals, then see what she says! Her assumption is you have morals.

Which is normally a given. Most do obey certain morals. Such as not to lie.

Capitalism is really promoted by the few with no morals. They normally yell the loudest. Hence they are even rude with their complaints. Just to get their way.

Why arrogance is often associated with capitalism.

Capitalism just wouldn't work if the majority would ignore the behavior and do as they believed is moral.

Yet by ignoring the behavior and their own morals, capitalism will insure they are under control.

Find anyone that condones rape and figure out why they do it! No morals and a huge desire to control will be the reason. Why? Because of the very existence of capitalism is their example!

Public figures create an image in the hope of being perceived a certain way, but they cannot control he we decide to perceive them.

They can create whatever image they like, but we will take that image and other things from our experience, knowledge, tastes and other things to determine how we perceive them.

For example, if you are a strong Republican supporter every Democrat will create their choice of image. You may not even consider the image provided, you will perceive them in your own way because of the strength of your party support.

There is nothing anyone can do to control how you perceive them.

In the final analysis, who cares which is "right" or if both have some element accuracy (my own conclusion)?

In the end, we have the choice to ignore or move on... Others can have our power only if we consent to do so. It can be inconvenient or even dangerous, but we have choices always. Sometimes is between ankle deep or hip deep crap, but there is a choice.

You're not a public figure, and capitalism is a theory not a current reality. If you don't believe me about the latter, you could visit North Korea or Cuba, and see for yourself.

It would be a good bet that neither public-figure status nor a capitalistic world is going to become a reality during your mortal existence.

Because the entire premise of your argument is false, your position is without sound foundation. Using your time with your therapist to argue in this way is a waste, and it is you who chose to waste your time and money that way.

If you don't find value in your current therapy relationship, find a new therapist or try something else.

I think you're wrong. Biden can try to be perceived as a president who knows what he's doing but he can't control who think he's a clown in a fancy position.

you are NOT a wealthy politican or business owner...a negative first impression is very hard to correct

I perceive you to be my wife 👀

There’s some truth to what both of y’all say.

How did that work out?

Tell her that this then is also true that others cannot perceive how you think about them.

Then tell her that if you believe someone to be perceiving you poorly, you’re going to choose to summon the powers of the Earth to cast a hoax of bad luck on them. And if it works then you’re going to call yourself a Druid and start walking the earth saying “BOOBLYBOOBLYBOO!!” to anyone who gives you a side eye look.

Tell your therapist this and let us all know her response.