Managing one's mental and emotional health can be a complex and challenging process. While friends and family can be a source of comfort and support during difficult times, sometimes their support may not be enough.

This is where seeking help from a professional counsellor or therapist can be an invaluable addition to the emotional support provided by our loved ones. 

Despite the increasing acceptance and recognition of counselling and therapy, some still believe that having good friends is enough to cope with life's difficulties. However, seeking professional help alongside our friends can be beneficial for several reasons, which we will explore in this article.

Firstly, sharing personal struggles with friends can be helpful, but it can also feel like we are burdening them with our problems. In contrast, a professional counsellor is trained to cope with the sadness and despair that clients bring to them. They provide a safe space for clients to offload their troubles, and their expertise lies in helping clients work through their emotions and problems in a constructive way.

Emotional health refers to the state of a person's emotional well-being, which includes their ability to manage their emotions effectively, cope with stress, and maintain positive relationships with others. Emotional health involves being aware of and accepting one's own feelings, as well as having the ability to express them in a healthy and constructive way. It also includes the ability to deal with and manage difficult situations, such as loss, change, or trauma, in a way that does not negatively impact overall well-being. Good emotional health can lead to greater happiness, satisfaction with life, and improved relationships with others.

Moreover, while we may have one or two friends whom we trust to keep our confidences, there may be times when we feel unable to share a private thought or problem with them, even though we desperately need to talk about it. In therapy, we can offer our private information secure in the knowledge that it will not be shared with others.

All counselling and therapy sessions are confidential, and clients can speak freely without fear of their secrets being revealed.

Furthermore, friends may have their own opinions about our behaviour and can exhibit disapproval or disappointment in us, leading to feelings of guilt or shame. In therapy, we enter a non-judgmental space where we can explore our emotions and thoughts without fear of negative judgement. We do not need to hide aspects of our true selves, and we experience impartial objectivity, which friends may sometimes lack.

Perhaps most importantly, an accredited counsellor is an expert in mental health and emotional difficulties. They know how to manage difficult mental states and are trained to help clients work through and overcome challenging emotional issues. Friends, even the most caring and supportive ones, may not have the necessary knowledge or expertise to help us manage our problems effectively.

Lastly, our friends and family may not always have the time or emotional energy to devote to our problems.

While they may be willing to offer support, they may also have their own struggles and responsibilities to deal with. Therapy offers a dedicated one-on-one space where we can work through our issues with the support of a trained professional.

In conclusion, seeking help from a professional counsellor or therapist does not negate the value of our friendships. Both have unique value and roles in our lives, but these roles are not interchangeable. Friends and family can provide a vital source of emotional support, but counselling and therapy offer additional support from an expert in mental and emotional health.

By using all the resources available to us, we can manage our struggles and achieve greater mental and emotional well-being.