I would agree that psychiatric meds are way over prescribed and that people are to easily labeled. GP's should not be allowed to prescribe psychoactive drugs, they hand them out like candy. Kids are way to easily labeled ADHD and put on meds. There are big problems.

However his approach to therapy does not match my experience. Also my experience with meds does not match what he says. I have been on and off many meds and have not experienced the withdrawal symptoms everyone talks about. Once with paxil I had flu like symptoms for a couple weeks. I have come off effexor very quickly many times with no withdrawal. I am not saying those problems so not exist but just not in my experience. He seems to largely describe mental illness as all situational. I do not believe in my case it is. I am convinced that in my case it is genetic and biological.

My experience with empathatic therapy did not solve my depression. I spent 10 years going to three AA meetings a week. One Alanon meeting a week. One on one counseling. Group dual diagnosis therapy. Adult Children of Alcoholics. Two years of really practicing the Course in Miracles. I have worked the steps with a sponsor and on my own over and over. I have applied the steps to my depression. Read every self help book I could get my hands on including work books. Took up meditation and practice it regularly. Did alot of CBT which I still practice on my own. Do alot of journaling. All this has helped my life in many ways. My depression is not so much a thinking disease but a physical one. I do not feel sad. My self esteem is not low unless I am severely depressed then my thinking gets whacked. Feeling and thinking wise I just get numb. My biggest symptoms are no energy no motivation and sleep all the time.
The thing is during all this time I still went into severe depressions three times a year like clock work. During all this I was moderately to mildly depressed as I have been my whole life. I can function when mildly or moderately depressed but it is always forcing it and gets old.
It seems to me the consensus is that meds with therapy is the best approach. I believe there are many different causes for depression and that biology and genetics play a huge role for many people. We are back to what therapies or combinations will work for us. My experience is very discouraging as far as what has worked for it. It has gotten worse. I lost my last job due to missing to much work due to depression. It was not losing the job that caused depression it was depression that caused the job loss. I was forcing myself to go to work for four months and my performance was slowly declining and people started to notice. It finally got severe enough that i just could not make it to work.

I am just relating my own experience. One person among many. I am very open minded and always willing to learn and will read more of his articles.