What can we learn about self-improvement or even psychotherapy from the writings of ancient Stoics such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius? In his free public lecture “The Psychology of Stoicism,” Donald Robertson will explore parallels between ancient philosophy and modern psychotherapy in terms of both theory and practice, Thursday, Jan. 30.

Robertson is the author of several books, including Stoicism and the Art of Happiness, the graphic novel Verissimus: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, and How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, which has been translated into 20 languages and has sold over a quarter of a million copies worldwide. A former cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, he is one of the founders of the Modern Stoicism nonprofit and the founder and president of the Plato's Academy Centre nonprofit in Athens.

His talk on the philosophical and psychological benefits of this ancient system of ideas is hosted by the Humanities Research Group. It is set for at 6 p.m. in the Performance Hall at the Armouries at 37 University Ave. East.