There is a lot of confusion about confession. E.M Wilson, at Catholic 365 says:
When I need internal healing, the Sacrament of Confession is my first stop. Because, contrary to popular belief, Confession is not a place to go and list your sins in front of God so you can feel bad about yourself for the rest of the day. No, Confession is, to borrow the words from one of my favorite Dominican priests of all time, “a place to come and experience the mercy of God.”