A mentor helps you to understand yourself better, discover your strengths, and take concrete steps towards personal growth, balance, and self-confidence. A counselor guides people through personal and emotional problems by listening, providing insight, and offering practical support. The focus is on better understanding thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and taking concrete steps towards change. Counseling is usually short-term and aimed at strengthening self-confidence and self-direction. It is used for stress, relationship problems, loneliness, and insecurity, among other things. For more severe psychological complaints, a referral is made to a psychologist or therapist.