He was interested in psychosomatic medicine, eventually gaining a reputation as a highly regarded psychotherapist.

Dubois was influenced by the writings of German psychiatrist Johann Christian August Heinroth (1773–1843).

Dubois is known for the introduction of "persuasion therapy", a process that employed a rational approach for treatment of neurotic disorders.

Within this discipline, he developed a psychotherapeutic methodology that was a form of Socratic dialogue, using the doctor-patient relationship as a means to persuade the patient to change his/her behavior.

He believed it was necessary to appeal to a patient's intellect and reason in order to eliminate negative and self-destructive habits.