“PROFESSIONAL HELP” ! ! ! ! ! !
For at least the last 5,700 years, members of the Judeo-Christian faiths have managed to deal with life and life's adversities with the Old/New Testament.
Only in modern day Big Sh*tty culture are “professionals” considered an essential to cope with life.
Thanks to such delusions as produced the Big Sh*tty Syndrome, schools now produce ‘grief counselors’ for any perceived “stressful situation”, talented/educated wives are in need of “professional counseling, and the Nanny State seems to have successfully sold its intrusions as “needful”, “helpful”, even “essential”.
Doesn't anyone take charge of, and accept responsibility for, their own life?.
Sometimes people need others who are trained in some manner, and a distance from the emotion of the problem to help them endure it and find the right route to deal with it. In the days you speak of, the clergy was the source of most of the comforting. But, people always turned to others in addition to the comfort the might have found from religious readings. Often, if a religious person is involved, they pray with you and help to understand passages in the Bible that will give a person strength and clarity. Many therapists also use the Bible. You seem to have an anger about seeking help, yet even your reading and posting on here shows you feel the importance of hearing others' words and viewpoints. We all have some need for talking and listening to people who can clarify things for us, and help us form opinions, and make decisions. That is even more important when something rocks your world and your faith is being tested.
Yes, we have the Bible, and prayer, but God also sent His Son to guide us by example and offer words that gave people comfort and peace. Even He knew no one can, alone, overcome devistating challenges that bring great sadness. Our Lord, Jesus, was just such a "professional" in His ability to bring comfort to people, to show them ways to deal with situations, and to offer them hope and strength.