This is an interesting view point. I could see a mental illness being a reaction of the subconscious mind dealing with current situations.

I think your brain changes when you have a mental illness and it needs treatment to become better. I think maybe his theory could work if a person maybe has mild systems of OCD, panic attacks or situational depression ( depression caused by current events). But for other illnesses like Bi Polar, clinical depression and other mental illnesses that seriously effects a persons brain. I feel they don't have much control over their illness unless they have professional help with maybe medications.

Think his theory could only work for a small group of people. But interesting topic.

Lisa