There is an excessive amount of stigma around going to a counselor. I would know, because I've perpetuated it just as much as anyone else. I've been in and out of so many different therapists and counselors, sometimes because they were insane (one of them was going to perform hypnosis on me when I was nine years old... My mom stopped that real quick), and other times because I just didn't like them and refused to work with them (I've been a diva since day one).
In all that time of going to therapists and counselors, I only found one to be entirely helpful. I'm also not sure if it's just because she was the only one who I really ended up liking, or if its because she was really the one who fit exactly what I needed from a counselor. Even though I don't have any diagnosed mental disorder, it was by far the most helpful thing that I could've ever done. Here's just a short list of reasons why.
It's someone who is being paid to listen to you.
We all need someone to vent to about the daily things that bother us. What's better than having someone paid to listen to all of those little things that your partner or best friend did that annoyed you that week? And the best part? They have a degree to help you work out any issues or concerns you have.
It's healthy to vent.
While a lot of times people say its bad to talk about yourself, this is one of those moments when it's a good thing. Building up and keeping all those little things that are bothering you aren't healthy, and even just being able to say what's on your mind to someone is honestly a good thing.
It doesn't mean you're "broken" to go.
This is probably the biggest point that needs to be made. I've been going to counsellors all my life for reasonable (kind of) things. When I was younger, I went to a counselor to help me get over my fear of thunderstorms (not the lightning. Just the thunder), to get over my fear of "the end of the world" (December 22nd, 2012 was an awesome day for me), and to get over a really rough breakup I had. These all had varying degrees of severity, but each time I went it helped in some way to give me coping mechanisms to help myself if I have any of the anxiety over the thunderstorms or doomsday, or even just various emotions that have come up that I need to work through. Counselors aren't here to diagnose you and stamp your forehead with "Dissociative Identity Disorder" or "Severely Depressed", they're here to help give you coping mechanisms to deal with every day emotions, and if they do diagnose you, then they give you ways to live with the disorder, not just label you and leave it there.
I've never had an official diagnosis for any mental disorder, but I know that if I ever need to, I should go find a counselor or someone to help me. I feel that it's the healthiest way to work through any issues, and definitely helps for just every day wellness for yourself. So if you're nervous about going, please go. Try out different counselors. You don't have to like all of them, but you do need to find the one you like the best. A symbiotic relationship with your counselor is the most important thing.
