Many myths surround counseling, and it might be helpful to begin with what counseling is not. Counseling is not having someone else work out your problems.
Counseling is much more like learning a new athletic skill.
A coach is helpful in pointing out options, but you are the one that does the hard work. Counseling is not having someone else make your choices for you. Counseling is not for the weak person who can't figure things out on her or his own. Most people, who avoid counseling based on this argument, actually are avoiding it because of their own weakness and discomfort. They may not be able to comfortably talk out loud about personal issues.