Socrates, Cognitive Flexibility, & Why Modern "Self Help" is Ruining Lives — Donald Robertson

Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, author, and a leading expert on ancient Stoic philosophy and its modern applications. Originally from Scotland and now based in Canada, he has spent his career examining how ancient philosophy can help address modern psychological challenges.

In this episode, Niall speaks with Donald about his book: “How to Think Like Socrates” and the continued relevance of Socratic philosophy for modern life and mental wellbeing.

In this conversation, they explore:

— Why Socrates was a “street philosopher” who brought philosophy into everyday life

— How Socratic questioning can build cognitive flexibility and soften rigid thinking

— The link between wisdom and emotional wellbeing that underpins cognitive therapy

— Why clarifying values matters for living a meaningful life

— How ancient philosophical practices can be applied to modern psychological challenges

And more.

You can learn more about Donald’s work at http://donaldrobertson.name.

—

Donald is a writer, cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist and trainer. He is one of the founding members of the Modern Stoicism nonprofit, and the founder and president of the Plato’s Academy Centre nonprofit in Athens, Greece.

Donald specializes in teaching evidence-based psychological skills, and known as an expert on the relationship between modern evidence-based psychotherapy and classical Greek and Roman philosophy. His work is highly interdisciplinary, combining philosophy, history, and psychology.

He was born in Irvine, Scotland, and grew up in Ayr. He worked as a psychotherapist for about twenty years in London, England, where he had a clinic in Harley Street, and ran a training school for therapists. He emigrated to Canada in 2013 and began focusing more on writing and consultancy. He now divides his time between Greece and Canada.

Donald is an experienced public speaker. His therapy practice specialised for many years in helping clients with social anxiety and self-confidence issues. His work, and that of his colleagues, has often featured in the media of different countries, including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, etc.

---

Interview Links:

— Donald’s website - http://donaldrobertson.name

— Donald's books - https://amzn.to/4bwfdUY