Psychological counseling is recommended to choose when a person seeks advice or guidance from a specialist who has experience in addressing those situations or problems that concern the client. This type of support is often sought when individuals are looking for new ways to solve a problem or gain new ideas on how to handle a difficult situation. Counseling can also be helpful when someone wants to assess the soundness of their decisions.
Before starting counseling sessions, it's important for the client to first formulate their issue: What is the problem, or what are the topics, which advice is needed for? Consider what outcome you expect from the counseling, for example, various approaches to solving a problem or alternative decisions on a critical matter. This helps set the direction for the counseling session, making the counselor's work more effective and time-efficient.
Regardless of the desired outcome – whether specific solutions, new ideas, general recommendations or guidance for implementing existing ideas, it's important to approach counseling with an open mind and be willing to consider new perspectives, even if they initially seem "unrealistic."
There are, of course, different counseling approaches in psychology, and the right one for you depends on your personal issues, needs, and goals. In any case, it's essential to find a psychological counselor whose expertise and experience you trust and with whom you can communicate in a way that leads to the desired outcome.
If you want to better understand the difference between consulting and coaching, I recommend the article: Coaching vs. Counseling. What’s the Difference?