Is talking to a therapist enough?

When people are in trouble, and have no one to turn to, they are often urged to see a therapist. You can say anything to a therapist and, by law, they can’t pass it on to anyone else.

I think therapists are useful in many ways, but I find them lacking in a way that I’m not sure I can describe. I’m not sure how to get at this, because it’s not as simple as how does talking to a friend differ from talking to a therapist. Or maybe it is.

How would you characterize the difference between friends and therapists? What is the implication of paying for an ear compared to having the ear given in friendship? How is it different when a friend listens to you? Are there things that friends give you that you can never get from a therapist?

I’m really trying to figure out why is it that I find therapists dissatisfying? Why do I wish I had a friend I could talk to? I’m hoping that if you talk about your experience, I might find something that makes sense in my situation.