We are a social species, programmed to relate to one another and from birth we derive our sense of ourselves from how those around us relate to us. When problems occur it is natural to look to our social networks to help us cope. Sometimes these ways of coping are enough. Sometimes not. Some people feel they lack support or that they don't want to burden those close to them. Sometimes the people closest to us are too emotionally involved to be able to offer an empathic and impartial perspective, sometimes they too need support and it can be hard for us to ask for help. And sometimes those closest to us are, sadly, part of the problem. 

When we can't turn to others for support we may rely other coping strategies. Often what brings people to counselling is the realisation that these coping strategies are no longer helpful and in some cases only making things worse. 
A counselling relationship is quite different in some ways from other interactions. The confidential nature of counselling brings with it a feeling of safety which can allow people to speak about things which may have gone unsaid for a long time.