Self-help books are a wonderful resource to gain motivation during phases of life where we tend to feel low and lost. Yet, often in life we stumble and lose direction and may not always be able to identify the reason for our conflict, ways to resolve it or may just not be able to implement the changes required.
While self-help books do give a general outlook for solutions for common life hassles and situations, yet these books are unable to consider the minor differences in the lives of each individual reading the book. As psychologists we acknowledge the fact that each person is unique in himself/herself hence all their conflicts are subjective to their experiences and personality and cannot be generalized.
Often when we have a traumatic or disturbing experience it is essential to acknowledge and vent out our feelings in the process to overcome it. During these times, we might sometimes feel not understood by friends and family. A counselor is the person who in such situations can be helpful, as all counselors are qualified and trained in understanding human behavior and conflicts. A counselor is an empathetic listener who helps you not only vent out your feelings, but also identify the causes of concerns and facilitate the changes required to deal with situations of distress.