Is Counselling a Sign of Weakness? What Most People Get Wrong About It

In this current age we all have pretty much a small idea about what counselling and therapy is. With this growing awareness about mental health care, more people are discussing counselling and therapy, which also raises key questions like who should seek it, and why? But in reality, a lot of people still misunderstand counselling. India has a significant mental health burden, with approximately one in every ten people suffering from mental disorders, high rates of anxiety (particularly among youth), and major treatment gaps. These major treatment gaps arise from lack of awareness and stigma around therapy. 

Counselling can effectively support nearly anyone facing mental health challenges, social difficulties, or personal growth needs. However, each individual is unique and experience and respond to therapy in their own way. One approach that works for someone may not work for another. Most people give up on counselling before even getting into the process of it because they all expect to get solutions in their first session itself. The main thing to understand about counselling is that it is a collaborative process where counsellors help the clients understand, reflect, and come to form a conclusion regarding the challenges they are facing.

Talking about the myths that majority of people have about counselling, the one which is the most common is that it is a sign of weakness to acknowledge the need for help and seek counselling. The first thing to understand here, is to learn to differentiate between vulnerability and weakness. When you share what you are going through and what emotions and feelings you are having, there is vulnerability in that but this does not indicate weakness. To open up to someone means you have courage and taking steps to better yourself when you are not doing your best shows an act of strength. Being vulnerable is something to be proud of rather than something to be ashamed of. 

The second most common myth is that counselling takes a very long time and costs a lot. The amount of time or number of sessions required with a counsellor will vary significantly based on numerous factors such as, how long you have been dealing with the issue, the intensity of the problem and the time you need to make the necessary changes. Since every individual is different in their way of coping because they have different personalities and resilience, the healing process can vary depending on that. Next, the reason why a counsellor or therapist charges a particular amount for their session is due to their comprehensive credentials (master's/doctorate plus supervised training), continuing education, supervision, malpractice insurance, office expenses, and post-session tasks like case notes, case history, and preparation, usually requiring an additional 30 to 45 minutes per client.

Despite therapy's emotional intensity limiting caseloads to 5-7 clients per day, people view it as expensive due to limited insurance coverage for mental health, no government subsidies for private practices, high demand compared to supply, and comparisons to quick-fix services. When considering long-term benefits, counselling should not be viewed as expensive also because research indicates that it produces a significant return on investment through enhanced relationships, productivity, and mental health, often greater than solo coping or medication alone. The fees you may pay for therapy goes to professionals who provide ethical, research -based care, not just for casual venting sessions. Counselling can be a very helpful tool if you just take a step towards it. To understand more about what counselling is join our workshop; Truth Behind the Couch: Debunking Counselling Myths on 29th January, 2026. (https://shorturl.at/PZKDj)