This is really weird advice.

Yea it's mainstream and to be expected under legaleeze circumstances.

But it's not the kind of advice I would give to a friend whom I'm genuinely concerned about.

Have you known anyone who was depressed and managed to get better by following the advice of a generic "profressional"?

I haven't.

Quite the opposite. I've seen people get worse in one dimension or another by taking medication or following other professional advice.