It’s not just “dispensing advice”. It’s having an objective ear. Everyone needs someone to talk to, and while talking with loved ones is nice, often they are nogeiah b’davar. (I once dated a guy who would ask me after every therapy session what my therapist had said. He even stayed in the room once while I was on the phone with her, completely defeating the purpose of the therapy.)
And by the way, if you have insurance, you aren’t paying $100 an hour.