Is counseling supposed to work like that?

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I have been relying on a free e-mail counseling service because I can't afford face-to-face counseling sessions. The counselor keeps asking me to share details even though I'm not very comfortable with divulging such details. (For example, she keeps asking me to describe my suicidal thoughts in detail.) So far, she has never given me advice/suggestions on any of my issues. Should I continue to exchange e-mails with her? Thanks in advance.

My family therapist does similar things (asking me to describe redundent details rather than focusing on the substance of the issue), and it's not nescessary. Maybe your therapist is trying to get you commited.

An email therapist is not a good way to get help. Every state has places you can go for free or low cost therapy sessions, usually on a county basis. Check the government pages in the local phone book under mental health, or call the welfare office and they can get you the number. If you don't have a local phone book, look up your state and county government offices online, and once at the site, do a site search for mental health.

I used eHeadSpace service here in Australia. Never had any issues about the privacy and that. They apparently did help me pretty well. However the time is quite limited due to amount of people wanted to talk. Its quite high at later in nights.

Maybe try that website for yourself? It could help a lot.

It doesn't sound so good to me. Have you told the counselor that you don't want to talk about the suicidal thoughts in detail? and that tips on how to deal with it might help you more? If you have and he/she is ignoring your needs regarding counseling, is there a way to change counselors?

You have to give out more details in order for her to help you. You can't expect her to help you if she can't get to the root of your problem because you wont share enough for her. In counseling you have to be able to open up a bit and you have to be able to trust your counselor.