What to Expect from Counselling (And Why It’s Not Self-Absorption)

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t even know what my problem is—how could talking to someone help?”—you’re definitely not alone.

This is such understandable question. Counselling can feel a bit mysterious from the outside, especially if you’ve never tried it before. So let’s take some of the guesswork out of it. Here’s what I

want you to know:

1. You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out

You don’t need to show up with a clear problem or a list of goals. So many people come to counselling feeling unsure—something just doesn’t feel right, or life feels too heavy, or they’re stuck in patterns they don’t quite understand. That’s okay. That’s a perfectly good starting place. Part of the process is discovering what’s really going on—together.

2. Talking Really Does Help

It might sound too simple, but there’s something powerful about putting your thoughts and feelings into words. Talking helps you hear yourself, organise what’s swirling around in your mind, and start to make sense of it all. Sometimes just saying things out loud makes them feel more real, or more manageable. It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about starting the conversation.

3. Why Counselling Feels Different Than Talking to a Friend

Friends and family are incredibly important—but talking to someone close to you is different from talking to a counsellor. A counsellor is outside your day-to-day life. They’re trained to listen in a way that’s focused entirely on you, without judgment, without trying to fix things. The space is yours—to think out loud, to feel what you feel, to explore whatever comes up.

4. It’s Not Self-Absorption—it’s Self-Awareness

Some people worry that counselling is just overthinking or being too focused on themselves. But that’s not what it’s about. Counselling is a space for curiosity, growth, and understanding. It’s about getting to know yourself in a deeper way so you can move through life with more confidence, more clarity, and more choice. That’s not self-absorption—it’s self-awareness. And it can be life-changing.

Thinking About Giving Counselling a Try?

You don’t need to be in crisis. You don’t need to have it all worked out. You just need to be open to exploring what’s going on for you.

Counselling isn’t about fixing you—because you’re not broken. It’s about giving yourself a space to breathe, reflect, and grow. One conversation at a time.