I think there is a lot of stigma behind the words therapy and counseling. As a society, we tend to associate these two words with people who are clinically depressed, suicidal, or just plain crazy. However, therapy and counseling are also meant to help a multitude of people who are not depressed, suicidal, or insane. While I do not think everyone needs to be in therapy, I do believe that many people can benefit from seeking help, and there should be no shame in that.

As an imperfect and judgmental human being, I used to secretly have a slight prejudice against those who were in counseling. I thought those people were too weak to make it on their own; I thought they needed to stop whining about their small problems when there were others who had “worse and more serious” mental issues. My perspective began to change as I grew older and began to befriend these so called weak people. Over the past few years, I have come to know some people who either have been or are currently in counseling for one reason or another. I have seen with my own eyes how therapy has helped them overcome past tragedies and pave a way for a better future. Because of counseling, my friends seemed happier and more serene; I envied them for that.

Here is a hard fact about life—it’s hard and painful and cruel. Everyone has experienced their share of hurt and issues. Sometimes, the baggage people carry become too much to bear alone; so people seek help elsewhere. Some people go to religion. Others repress everything and bury themselves in work, relationships, or other distractions. Then there are those who go to therapy. Personally, I believe that counseling can never fully heal or fulfill someone, but it can be a giant step in the right direction. There is something terrifyingly comforting about talking to someone who is bound by degrees and ethics to listen and not tell a soul. We all need someone to talk to from time to time. We all need someone to help us figure out what exactly is wrong and how we can go about fixing the problem. Therapy will never be our salvation, but it can be our map to deliverance.

After watching my peers attend therapy, I came to the revelation that people do not go to counseling because they are too weak; they go because they are strong, courageous and smart enough to realize that they are not okay and want to be okay. There should be absolutely no shame in that. Granted, therapy is not a one stop shop to healing; it’s a process and experience that everyone should consider or at least understand. Everyone should be open-minded to the idea of seeking help because in the end, everyone needs help at one point or another. Whether it’s through therapy or supportive loved ones, we cannot make it on our own, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. When someone decides to take action and seek help, it does not display a hint of weakness; instead, it shows this person knows that life is so much more than merely suffering alone, and that is a glorious realization.