James C Overholser

James C Overholser is a Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, with additional appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at University Hospitals Case Medical Center since 1988 and Brown University Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior since 1990. His academic career spans over three decades with extensive contributions to clinical psychology research and practice.

Dr. Overholser's research primarily focuses on depression, suicide risk factors, anxiety disorders, and personality pathology. His approach integrates cognitive-behavioral strategies with a special emphasis on the Socratic method of psychotherapy, which he has explored in depth, including authoring a book on the subject. He actively conducts psychological autopsy studies to identify risk factors associated with suicide, with particular attention to cognitive and social factors related to depression onset, recovery, and treatment.

His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate continued scholarly productivity across multiple domains including suicide prevention strategies, depression treatment innovations, psychotherapy methods, and the assessment of risk factors for suicidal behavior. His work frequently employs psychological autopsy methodology and focuses on vulnerable populations including veterans and adolescents.

• Board Certified in Clinical Psychology

Dr. Overholser maintains an active research laboratory with multiple graduate students (Stephanie Gomez, Silvia Rodriguez, Eleanor Beale, Chris McGovern, Christi Silva) and undergraduate research assistants (Kenzie Fox, Ellie Rapp). He collaborates extensively with researchers including Craig Stockmeier, Josephine Ridley, and Maria Dawson on suicide and depression research. In addition to his academic work, he consults with a local mental health clinic providing psychotherapy services using cognitive-behavioral approaches.