>With isolation becoming a major issue during the pandemic, I'm not surprised people want to hire someone with these skills to just listen to their ideas and stories.

I think you make a great point, but at the same time it feels like you're also describing conventional talk therapy. And if you have good insurance, it's free. If you don't, it still doesn't break the bank.

I frequently joke with my friends that I'm only paying for a therapist to have someone to vent to. I pay them, and they listen my bullshit without judging me. (There's more to it than that of course, but it's a lighthearted way to suggest therapy to someone you feel could benefit.)

I've even found myself rambling about side project ideas with my therapist, which was surprisingly helpful when they pushed back against the inevitable "but it's a stupid idea of course, so I probably wont do anything with it."