The term "counseling" has many confusing meanings and there are many wide applications to it as well. To go by the dictionary meaning, the term counseling means "the provision of professional assistance and guidance in resolving personal or psychological problems." Many of us might have found ourselves in the role of a counselor at times and also many of us might have used counseling and guidance of others in our life. But the actual meaning of counseling, the role of a counselor and its importance are quite unclear concepts to many of us.

When facing a dilemma or some psychological problem, we often tend to socially isolate ourselves from everyone and keep probing our minds to find a solution. But there are times when we are not able to help ourselves and there seems hopelessness in every pursuit we take. This is the situation when problems eat away self conscious that one needs to seek a counselor and get life back on track. Children, students, adults, and old age people everyone can go to a counselor for help at any point of time in life.
In layman’s language the term counseling might be defined as the process where one person seeks advice and guidance from counselor (may or may not be a professional counselor) by sharing their personal grievances or dilemmas. Because the person who seeks advice entrusts the counselor with all his/her private thoughts, emotions and feelings thus the role of a counselor becomes very crucial. 

Many people today are apprehensive about sharing their deep feelings with someone and do not find someone to confide their secrets in, here the role of a counselor fulfils such demands. A counselor hears all the problems, thoughts, feelings of his/her subject, finds out his/her solution and do not judge them on any account. This is what makes one feel more comfortable and establishes a relation with the counselor.
We all have guided and counseled many people in our lifetime and when we need to seek advice from someone we also to people who are elder to us, more experienced than us or to people who are trusted by us. But there comes a situation in life when we do not find an appropriate listener and counselor. 

The experienced people can advice us but there is a possibility that they might not have been in the same situation as the one you are facing and thus their experiences and results might not be helpful to you. Here, the counselor plays an important role as he/she analyses your problem and look over the situation with a fresh perspective (unlike comparing it to their own experiences) and give the subject as many solutions as possible.
Also, a counselor is not attached to his/her subject and thus his advice and counseling is not biased or judgmental. He/she observes and listens patiently to the subject’s situation and work in a direction to bring their subject out of the depression or problematic phase of life. Students who face lack of concentration and confidence, mentally affected by family or academic stress or bullying of some kind must see a counselor who can shape their potential minds in a better way so that they does not grow up as shy and afraid people.
Sexually assaulted and molested people often are stuck in the dark phase of life and by counseling they can start accepting the life and be more optimistic towards it. Adults who are frustrated with not achieving desired results or are failing hopelessly can also seek counseling to help them keep motivated and focused on their aims. 
Many old age people who are often treated as commodity in their houses feel the need of some counseling so that they do not take any wrong decision and a counselor becomes a friend to whom they can share everything they want to and thus stay happier and merrier.
In India, the awareness about need and importance of counseling is quite low as compared to foreign countries. But here as well, people now understand the need to communicate their deepest feelings to a counselor inside of bottling them inside. 
Schools have started keeping a position of counselor who can deal with children who require counseling. This is quite an important step because the children are the future of the country and if some things are holding them back then they do need expert advice to break free and live a fully cherished childhood. 
Adolescent is the age when many children often make wrong decisions in lack of guidance and if there is a counselor who is there to listen and guide them without judging or punishing them, then they can actually be more frank and focus on good things.
Every relationship involves conflicts and conflict management is a skill that many of us lack in. Counseling in marriage and relationships help people to bond better and make relationships smoother and with fewer conflicts. 
Counseling also helps one improve the skill of decision making, reduce tension, maintain a better self-esteem and confidence and feel more positive and optimistic towards life. So, instead of pushing oneself in dark one can actually seek a professional counselor and try live life with a better approach to it.
It is true that complications and problems are inevitable in human life but we all acknowledge the fact that great disasters also hurt less if we have someone to support us. If you feel emotionally tired and helpless, you must seek counseling from someone you trust. Sharing your problems does reduce the pain but if the issue is way too complicated then seek an expert advice from a counselor.

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