Hello and welcome!
I’d like to open the blog section by shedding some light on the counseling profession—often described as a “helping profession.” I believe I’ve always been a counselor, in a natural and intuitive way. Drawn to listening, curious about people’s lives, and innately empathetic.
I remember, some twenty years ago, sitting in a therapist’s office. My brother’s illness had deeply shaken our family, and I had turned to therapy for support. That therapist—a radiant spirit I still remember with gratitude—encouraged me to pursue a counseling course, to give form and certification to what I was already offering others.
At the time, I was working in social education, supporting professionals on the frontlines. Since then, life has brought me through experiences, pain, joy, grief, surprises, and change. And through it all, my curiosity for people and their stories never left me.
Over time, I’ve come to understand how deeply we miss being truly heard, and how rare it has become to tell our stories. Messages, emails, short voice notes—communication today is brief, functional, efficient. But what about the rest?
For millennia, human beings have survived and evolved through storytelling. Through the sharing of lived experience, we release energy, activate inner movement, and generate connection.
I felt this truth most powerfully when it was absent. When the silence around me began to erode my inner world. I had always been a reference point—for my work, my family. Suddenly, I no longer knew who I was.
So, I stopped.
And stopping, in our society, takes courage.
I turned down the external noise and tuned into the quiet hum of my inner self—the part of me I had neglected. I listened. I welcomed. I rebuilt.
Desires slowly turned into plans. Plans that nourished me and brought me back to life.
Because every life is a project: it must be written, revised, lived, loved.
This is how I understand counseling: as a journey made of real life, professional tools, and a profound respect for each person’s path.
What Is Counseling?
Counseling is a relational support process that helps individuals explore and resolve emotional, behavioral, or relational challenges in the safety of a non-judgmental space. While it is not psychotherapy, counseling offers a meaningful space for transformation.
A counselor does not “fix” a problem, but supports the person behind it—respecting their wholeness, story, and pace. The process fosters self-awareness, emotional well-being, and positive change.
Key Goals of Counseling
- Personal development: Cultivating self-understanding and self-esteem.
- Stress management: Finding strategies to cope with life’s demands.
- Relationship support: Enhancing communication and resolving conflict.
- Life transitions: Navigating loss, change, relocation, or new phases of life.
Types of Counseling
- Individual Counseling
- Couples Counseling
- Family Counseling
- Group Counseling
The Role of the Counselor
A counselor listens without judgment, guides without imposing, and walks beside—not ahead—of the client. The counselor offers light, presence, and tools to reconnect with what’s already within you.
Each of us holds a personal toolbox for well-being—we sometimes just need someone to help us unlock it.
When to See a Counselor?
Sometimes life feels overwhelming. A job that no longer aligns, a relationship in crisis, a new city that leaves us disoriented. We lose motivation. We ignore the signals our body sends. We feel disconnected—from ourselves and others.
That’s when counseling can help.
To reclaim your inner compass.
To move toward a consciously joyful, meaningful life.
Counseling Today
In Italy, the profession is still growing. A counselor is not a psychologist or psychotherapist—they do not diagnose or treat mental illness. Instead, they focus on the well-being of the person within their unique context.
In a world that silences nonconformity, a counselor offers deep, active listening—without prejudice or prescriptions. Together, counselor and client build or rebuild habits, routines, and inner balance.
Mind and body are not separate. Science confirms this more than ever. The Cartesian divide has been surpassed.
Choose a Counselor Who Honors Your Path
Ask questions. Notice how you feel in their presence. Do they listen to you, or only promote their method? Because no method matters more than your own.
A good counselor will offer you tools and space—but never walk in your place.
I’ll be here, if and when you need me.
In person (if you’re in Gothenburg), or online.
g.l.