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Socratic Questioning Technique

Socratic questioning is a technique used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) where the therapist asks a series of open-ended questions to help clients gain insights and awareness. It involves a thoughtful dialogue where the therapist questions clients' beliefs and assumptions to help them identify problems and modify unhelpful thoughts. There are different types of Socratic questions focused on classification, assumptions, reasons, perspectives, and consequences. The technique follows three stages - starting with challenging a non-adaptive belief, providing alternatives, and ending when the client expresses a new, healthier perspective. Benefits include reducing relapse and stress from unhealthy cognitions.

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65 views4 pages

Socratic Questioning Technique

Socratic questioning is a technique used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) where the therapist asks a series of open-ended questions to help clients gain insights and awareness. It involves a thoughtful dialogue where the therapist questions clients' beliefs and assumptions to help them identify problems and modify unhelpful thoughts. There are different types of Socratic questions focused on classification, assumptions, reasons, perspectives, and consequences. The technique follows three stages - starting with challenging a non-adaptive belief, providing alternatives, and ending when the client expresses a new, healthier perspective. Benefits include reducing relapse and stress from unhealthy cognitions.

Uploaded by

sawerakhanniazi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Socratic Questioning Technique

Submitted By
Sawera
Course
Clinical Psychology

NUML, Islamabad
Date: December 30th, 2022
Socratic Questioning Technique

The Socratic Method takes its name from “Socrates”, the Greek philosopher who avoided the

use of direct teaching and instead use enquiry to encourage the students to reach their own

conclusion. According to Socrates:

“I can’t teach anybody anything

I can only make them think”

Socratic questioning are series of sentences, phrase or word that used to test someone

knowledge. This method is often describes as the cornerstone of Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy (CBT), solve this inadequacy by asking a series of open-ended and focused

questions that encourage reflection. By surfacing knowledge that was previously outside of

our awareness. This technique produces insightful perspective and help us to identify positive

actions. Socratic questioning involves a disciplined and thoughtful dialogue between two or

more people. It is widely used in counseling to expose and reveal deeply held beliefs that

frame and support what we say and think. By using a series of open ended questions we can

unpack our beliefs. In CBT, this technique is recognized as helping clients define problems,

identify the impact of their belief and thoughts and examine the meaning of events.

The use of Socratic Method by CBT Therapists helps clients become aware of and modify

processes that perpetuate their difficulties. The subsequent shift in perspective and

accompanying reevaluation of information and thoughts can be hugely beneficial. It replaces

the didactic or teaching based approach and promotes the value of reflective questioning.

It is an umbrella term for using questioning to “Clarify meaning, elicit emotion and

consequences as well as to gradually create insight or explore alternative action”.


R.W Paul classified Socratic questions into 6 types:

1. Questions for Classification:

Why do you say that?

How does this relate to our discussion?

2. Questions targeting assumptions:

What could we assume instead?

How can you verify or disapprove that assumption?

3. Questions targeting reasons and evidence:

What would be an example?

What do you think causes to happen? Why?

4. Questions about viewpoints and perspectives:

What would be an alternative?

What is another way to look at?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of?

5. Questions targeting consequences:

What are the consequences of that assumption?

How does that thing affect another?

6. Questions about question:

What was the point of this question?

Why do you think I asked this question?

Structure of Socratic questioning:

There are three stages of Socratic Questioning technique:

1. Start: The therapist decides to apply restructuring in response to a non-adaptive

verbalization and aims to challenge this through verbalizations.


2. Course: The therapist provides alternative and checks whether the client expresses

the purposed alternatives.

3. End: When the client emits the “target verbalization” the therapist expresses

approval, assign homework and summarize previous information.

Benefits:

 Reduce the likelihood of relapse.

 Reduce stress associated with unhelpful cognitions

 Increasing engagement and autonomy in therapy

 Allowing clients to internalize the Socratic Method and develop skills in critical

thinking in order to evaluate unhealthy cognitions.

 Resulting in more convincing and memorable insights and conclusions.

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