A while ago, I thought it would be a good idea to try counseling at my school. It is still something I will transition myself into because it is an unfamiliar concept for me. For me, it has been a couple of years since I have done something similar. It can be a little intimidating if you are not used to this, so I would like to extend some advice.
It is important that you know that therapy is for anyone. There are stigmas where people think it is for certain individuals, but I believe that we all benefit from a counseling session. It can help us process our lives, and learn how to develop healthier habits. We are all going through an interesting, but stressful time. If your school has a counseling center, I would at least try it out. Everyone is going to have a different experience depending on their own situation, so it would be best if you see it for yourself. There is no way of knowing what will happen until you witness it yourself.
For me, I never thought I would need it. There are moments when I go through hyper-independence. In my case, I tend to do as much as I can on my own. I know asking for help is not a weakness, but I cannot always bring myself to ask for that help at first. It takes a lot of time for me in order to finally let go of those thoughts. If you need more reassurance, I wrote an article about how asking for help is okay because, at the end of the day, it is fine to have that extra support.
Next, I would go at your own pace. It is not going to benefit you if you go into counseling without feeling comfortable. I would go when you are ready. Readiness comes in different forms. Listen to your needs, and that is your best guide. There will be exceptions, like those who are hyper-independent. At that point, we may be ignoring our own needs because something is telling us that we will be fine. It takes a lot of reflecting to know when you are ready. When I made the decision to get help, it is because I was recognizing my need to change what was happening to me internally. I knew that it is something that required more support than from family or friends.
Do what you think is right for you. You should not have to feel like you have been forced into it. However, if you need that help, please know that going to counseling may help. It may take a few tries to get fully comfortable too. The nervousness that you may have going into it is normal. However, at the end of the day, this should be helping you slowly.
Recently, I got this advice about counseling that changed how I viewed it. It seems like a no-brainer, but you can still set boundaries when it comes to counseling. I am used to spilling out my life to the point that it does not feel like my own life anymore. You are able to say as much as you want. I was told that it is okay to say that I am not ready to talk about certain things. It is your life. Process it at your own time. Eventually, maybe you will have to talk about things, but if it is not today or tomorrow, then maybe later. A healing process can take time, so it is fair that you move at your own pace.
Overall, if going to counseling will help you, I hope that you get what you want from it. I hope you experience growth, and come out of it feeling that you can perform healthier habits. It takes time sometimes to see that growth. The experience is fulfilling. When I first sought out help in high school, I was nervous about how to approach the situation. However, I am glad that I was able to talk about my life in a space that made me feel safe. I hope your experience gives you a feeling of security.