Thank you for your cooking therapy :) Similarly, I like cleaning dishes LOL Cleaning dishes can be a therapeutic activity as well, providing a sense of order/clarity and helping unclutter the mind.
Yes, I'm currently doing market research to understand what people seek in counseling. From my personal experience as a counseling service user, I've found that existing services often don't cater to my specific needs. Traditional counseling is primarily designed for illnesses and severe mental issues. What about taking care of people's mental well-being, not illness? In our fast-changing society with significant technological advances, we have increasing demand and also encounter new challenges in our daily lives. For example, older generations may not experience the anxiety caused by FOMO, which is an emotional response to social media. Many people have shared their experiences of how to deal with their mental well-being with or without using counseling, which is very helpful. So, I'm here to listen and learn from your experiences :)
As human beings, we are naturally born with a variety of feelings and develop all kinds of thoughts. It's important to embrace who we are. Everyone likely harbors some secrets and encounters feelings that are challenging to handle. Counseling professionals are typically non-judgmental and provide a secure and safe space to discuss your issues.
Everyone has a preference in terms of counseling methods and duration. The shortage of counseling professionals is a nationwide issue, so you are not alone in having a hard time finding a counselor. While you are still in the process of searching, you can try to use some self-help apps (some of them are good and free as well) or public helplines. During the pandemic, each state launched additional free public help services for mental health. So, it does not hurt to give it a try. Sometimes the specialist on the line can point you in the right direction.
Good luck with your software projects and stay positive :)