Counseling' and 'psychotherapy' are not identical.
Counseling is meant to assist people with problems of daily living.
There are specialized forms of counseling tailored to specific presenting problems, such as substance abuse counseling. The therapist is trained to listen to you in a special way. There are specialized forms of therapy, such as 'cognitive-behavioral therapy,' 'psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapy,' 'interpersonal therapy,' and others. With teen-agers, it is hard to know when the assistance of a professional mental health practitioner is needed because most adolescents display a broad range of symptoms that could indicate a need for professional help but often don't. For instance, it is normal for teens to experiment with alcohol and drugs on at least a few occasions.