Therapy is surely a growth industry (and an industry it certainly is), although it can actually do more harm than good. Sometimes letting out those emotions just drives you into deeper despair which, of course, requires more therapy, and on, and on.
There's something to be said for good old-fashioned stiff upper lip stoicism. It works. I'm not at all convinced talk therapy does.
I think it depends on the person. Some people get benefits talking to others about their troubles, some don't, and if you're a talk about it person and you don't have anybody to talk with then a shrink is probably a good idea. And some people just never learned how to deal with reality which shrinks can be good for. But I've never been one of those talk about it kind of guys, which is funny because I've always been one of those people that's willing to listen and advice, but whenever I start thinking about talking through my troubles I just feel like I'm being whiney.