Lofty ideas

This is a follow up on my earlier blog "Is the norm really existent?" wherein I mentioned about the book by David Smail. After further reading , I conclude this guy is a socialist. Basically he feels that a person is born to contribute to the social world, otherwise his life is meaningless even if he manages to fulfil all the needs that are dreamed of in modern society. Indeed much of our distress arises from the "preoccupation with ourselves and our needs". (This focus on private satisfaction is reinforced by the commercial culture). When reading this I link this rationale to that of the Buddhist concept of reducing self importance.

However I am puzzled how Smail operates as a psychologist when he is sceptical about the various approaches and techniques in psychotherapy. Does he preach such lofty ideas to a suffering client instead? It may work with certain clients I suppose.