Alice McGurran

Donald J. Robertson is a CBT psychotherapist who has been researching philosophy and applying it in his work for twenty years. He is one of the founding members of the non-profit organisation 

, blends history, philosophy and psychology, providing a semi-fictionalised account of Socrates' life based closely on accounts found in ancient sources. 

So, why Socrates? Robertson sees him as a forerunner to modern cognitive psychotherapy, exemplifying not only what it means to be mentally flexible and how to clarify your values, but also standing for the benefit of dialogue with another person – one way of describing therapy – as the best means of gathering wisdom and self-knowledge. 

Watch our interview with Donald Robertson here: 

photo of the acropolis

Tiffany Watt-Smith is research fellow at the QMUL Centre for the History of the Emotions, and was also a 2014 BBC New Generation Thinker. Before beginning her career in research, she worked as a theatre director for seven years, including as Associate Director at the Arcola Theatre and International Associate Director at the Royal Court. She lives in London.

Tiffany Watt-Smith

Apathy, Stoicism and the 'Bystander Effect': What's the Connection?

Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist and author. He blogs at: philosophy-of-cbt.com.

Donald Robertson

Stoicism: A Simplified Modern Guide

Steve Altman

The Wisdom of Uncertainty and Not Knowing

Louise Chunn is a prize-winning journalist and former editor of a number of magazines, including Psychologies, Good Housekeeping and InStyle. She is the founder of Welldoing Ltd.

Donald Robertson on Stoicism, Socrates and the Roots of Modern Psychotherapy

Alice McGurran