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If you go the therapist route, please change therapists until you find one that works well for you. Not all therapists work well with all people. Theoretically they should, but practilally they don't and the wrong therapist can be worse than no therapist.

Good disclaimer. I 100% agree.

I think therapy provides benefits that friends don't/can't. Your therapist shouldn't be your friend. They're an objective outsider that can help give you new ways to think about your life.

Some problems don't need a therapist, e.g. Problems with people can be best dealt with (sometimes) by talking to those very same people.

I guess that's what I meant, some problems simply need good friends.

A lot of friends are terrible therapists. They give bad advice, advice when you don't need it, victim-blame you (e.g. Job's friends from the Bible), etc. These can even be otherwise good friends.