The research shows that CBT clearly has something to offer many people who are depressed. But, as you both point out, it's by no means a perfect system, and, as ever, we are all different and require different approaches to treatment.

I once had a bit of "cognitive behavioural therapy", the premises and methods of which sound similar to what you have written. Whilst I find it interesting, and in a logical sense think this is a very effective and realistic form of treatment, I also have my reservations.

The problem for me is that this kind of logical approach to the causes of depression ignores the hugely personal and inexplicable side that exists to every depressive. You can talk me through why I think what I think, and why I do what I do, and that will no doubt help. But you are trying to give me a structure of thought, feelings and behaviour to impose upon the hugely complex, damaged and confused entity of my self. Depressives want help, and will welcome ways to get out of their problem, but I think that this logical approach can miss the deep seated needs of the underlying personality. Teaching someone to think positively does not stop them from being depressive, it just helps them deal with it. And the problem with depression is that sometimes you just can't cope, you can't think logically, and you fall apart, and it is that state that is the real problem. There is a part of me that cannot be happy, and that is the part of me for which my own resources are not enough, and for which I need someone's help.

Find out more about NLP from a sceptical perspective here.