yeah I get you, don't worry, in the things will change, you're still young , believe me the best days of your life are still ahead of you.

yes, i definitely recommend going far away for your studies that way both of you get a break from things. you mum might have other things she is stress d about and is taking it all out on you .

and you should definitely do the counselling thing because you need to let it out, and yea councillors have to keep things confidential unless they feel their clients are planning to harm themselves. don't worry about exaggerating feelings because i get that you don't want to sound like you are complaining!
but
this is really affecting your life, and you only have one so i say you need to map the most of it. You're not some crazy party person, you're a good person who gets good grades and knows that to have a career is important. that is the main thing. Don't sit their and emotionally suffer on your own because our mind often makes thing appear a lot worse then they are making you feel a lot worse,
so talking to someone will let that out and keep your mind clear.

you are doing the right thing by seeing a councillor. don't back down. don't settle.