Should Everyone Go Through Therapy?

The unexamined life is not worth living, said Socrates. I believe that. Or at least I think I do.

But if I really believed that, a friend told me recently, I would be seeing a therapist, because only with a professional therapist -- the one person in our life who has no other connection to us besides listening -- can we explore the issues in our life which we repress.

I've never been to a therapist, but I see my friend's point. Certain issues are just impossible to discuss with anyone who's connected to our life because of their vested interests, our own self-censorship, and the fact that their involvement in our life might be at the very source of the issue.

Beyond the deeper self-understanding, there is also something to be said for the experience of being 100% completely honest with someone without any hidden agenda.

But it is worth it to excavate issues for that sake alone? Has anyone ever gone to a therapist without a specific "problem"? Should everyone go to therapy at least once? Does the fact that money trades hands corrupt the process for just the friendly chit chat?