I presume you are arguing against counselling for people newly diagnosed with Diabetes and not against the efficacy of counselling itself? So, I take it you deem diabetes to be not such a bad thing compared to other conditions? Or are you saying all counselling is pointless?
We have come a long way in dealing with mental health and reactive stress. Wartime "spirit" and using neighbours and family was not enough for many. Post traumatic Stress disorder is a classic example. Surely you would not deny people access to counselling for that? Surely not deny people bereavement counselling also? So what's ok for counselling and what is not in your book?
Of course that example of PTSD is extreme and might not be on the same level as being told you have a condition that shortens your life expectancy that may lead to cardio vascular disease, loss of sight and limbs! People need support and often it is too much of a burden to place on friends and family all the time. Professional services offer a degree of objectivity, people you can speak to who are not emotionally involved with you. The fact that the Samaritans are busy 24-7 only goes to show that thousands need someone to talk to about their problems. It is nothing to do with education or information. People don't turn to the Samaritans for information! They turn to medics, books and websites for that. Many of those people have husbands, wives , friends but choose to speak to someone they don't know. This doesn't mean they don't welcome support from family, friends and employers. They need both.
I'm glad you feel so secure and well supported that you don't feel you need counselling. Plenty do and should have the opportunity to turn to counselling services if they do. It is clear that you do get some degree of satisfaction in airing your views with complete strangers otherwise you wouldn't still be on this forum. Seems odd to me, therefore, that you are so anti counselling for everybody else when you clearly liked to be listened to yourself.
