Talking About Problems With Friends

In her article, The Psychology Of Psychologizing, Ayn Rand wrote:

"Allowing for exceptions in special cases, it is not advisable to discuss one's psychological problems with one's friends. Such discussions can lead to disastrously erroneous conclusions (since two amateurs are no better than one, and sometimes worse) -and they introduce a kind of medical element that undercuts the basis of friendship. Friendship presupposes two firm, independent, reliable and responsible personalities."

Judging from Valliant's book, she had nonetheless spent a lot of time trying to help "patients" of her own - including Nathaniel Branden.

But this passage was written after the break up, so it looks like a re-consideration of her own practice.

It reminds me of that country song, the one where the singer keeps telling you very specific do's and don'ts, but avoids mentioning that he learned his lessons the hard way. It ends like this: "Don't drink the water in Mexico. Don't ask me how I know."

As to the issue of talking about problems with friends,
I think it all depends.