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Counteracting is a bit difficult to understand, it is the rule base for dispel magic, counterspell etc.
Basically you roll a check, and if the effects (spells) are the same rank/level you check for success against the enemy caster DC, which would mean rolling 11+ if you both have the same stats.
The text of the spell says that it "counteracts" magical darkness. Does this mean the darkness spell is dispelled or is the effect suppressed, and if so, for how long?
Yes, that is what Counteract does. It is a general purpose game mechanic and process for any of the 'dispel magic'/'remove poison'/'exorcism' types of things.
For most effects, it will end them entirely. If the effect is a permanent item or a stand-alone effect caused by an artifact it may only suppress the effect for a while. That 'a while' isn't really specified in most cases - a lot of the details of that are left up to the table to decide. But it should be suppressed for long enough for the current encounter to finish.
I might need someone to ELI5 the Counteract mechanic, which also Disrupts evidently. It's very confusing and has caused arguments at the table. Thanks.
The first confusing thing is that Counteract runs on the scale of Rank, not level. Anything measured in 'level' has to be converted to Rank instead. Spells are already listed in Rank scale. Most everything else (abilities of monsters, NPCs or even PCs, effects caused by items) has to be converted using the same conversion that spells use: Rank = half level rounded up.
From there it is a matter of picking a DC for the effect, and getting the bonus to the roll. Most of the time this is fairly simple. Spell effects generally have a DC listed or will use the DC of the spellcaster that cast them. Most Counteract abilities are from spells and so will use the spellcasting bonus (without any of the currently non-existing bonuses that apply to spell attack rolls, but adding any of the few bonuses that apply to Counteract checks).
Once you know the Rank of both the effect being targeted and the ability or spell doing the Counteract, and you have the DC and bonus to roll with - roll the check and determine the results.
Critical Success: Counteracts an effect up to +3 Rank of the spell/ability used.
Success: Counteracts an effect up to +1 Rank.
Failure: This one does Counteract some things. It Counteracts an effect up to -1 Rank of the spell/ability used.
Critical Failure: Never Counteracts anything.
You will want to keep that relationship between roll results and Rank comparison in mind when choosing what spell Rank to use when trying to Counteract something. If you are trying to Counteract an effect caused by an on-level enemy that is currently wrecking your party, you will need to use your top Rank spell slots for it. If it is a minor plot point of an NPC and the effect is mostly for narrative flavor, you may be able to use a lower Rank spell slot for the dispel/remove poison/exorcism.