Socratic Questioning and Guided Discovery (2024)

Psychotherapy Skills and Methods That Work

Clara E. Hill (ed.), John C. Norcross (ed.)

Published:

2023

Online ISBN:

9780197611043

Print ISBN:

9780197611012

Contents

  • < Previous chapter
  • Next chapter >

Psychotherapy Skills and Methods That Work

Chapter

Get access

James C. Overholser,

James C. Overholser

Find on

Oxford Academic

Eleanor Beale

Eleanor Beale

Find on

Oxford Academic

Pages

74–C4P185

  • Published:

    July 2023

Cite

Overholser, James C., and Eleanor Beale, 'Socratic Questioning and Guided Discovery', in Clara E. Hill, and John C. Norcross (eds), Psychotherapy Skills and Methods That Work (New York, 2023; online edn, Oxford Academic, 20 July 2023), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197611012.003.0004, accessed 4 June 2024.

Close

Search

Close

Search

Advanced Search

Search Menu

Abstract

Socratic questioning is based on a thoughtful integration of ancient philosophy and contemporary psychotherapy with a particular reliance on cognitive therapy. Socratic questioning is used to enhance the process of guided discovery in psychotherapy sessions. This chapter defines the terms, provides clinical examples, and reviews the limited research evidence on the impact of Socratic questioning. That scant research suggests that Socratic questioning significantly reduces depression from one session to the next, particularly with patients with a pessimistic cognitive bias, but there is no research on patient improvements at the end of psychotherapy. The chapter concludes with diversity considerations, training implications, and therapeutic practices based on an integration of the research evidence, ancient philosophy, and contemporary cognitive therapy.

Keywords: Socratic questioning, Socratic method, psychotherapy, psychotherapy outcome, guided discovery

Subject

Clinical Psychology

Collection: Oxford Scholarship Online

James C. Overholser and Eleanor Beale, Socratic Questioning and Guided Discovery In: Psychotherapy Skills and Methods That Work. Edited by: Clara E. Hill and John C. Norcross, Oxford University Press. © Clara E. Hill and John C. Norcross 2023. DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780197611012.003.0004

You do not currently have access to this chapter.

Sign in

Get help with access

Personal account

  • Sign in with email/username & password
  • Get email alerts
  • Save searches
  • Purchase content
  • Activate your purchase/trial code
  • Add your ORCID iD

Sign in Register

Institutional access

    Sign in through your institution

    Sign in through your institution

  1. Sign in with a library card
  2. Sign in with username/password
  3. Recommend to your librarian

Institutional account management

Sign in as administrator

Get help with access

Institutional access

Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:

IP based access

Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.

Sign in through your institution

Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.

  1. Click Sign in through your institution.
  2. Select your institution from the list provided, which will take you to your institution's website to sign in.
  3. When on the institution site, please use the credentials provided by your institution. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
  4. Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.

If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.

Sign in with a library card

Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.

Society Members

Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:

Sign in through society site

Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:

  1. Click Sign in through society site.
  2. When on the society site, please use the credentials provided by that society. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
  3. Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.

If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.

Sign in using a personal account

Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.

Personal account

A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.

Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.

Viewing your signed in accounts

Click the account icon in the top right to:

  • View your signed in personal account and access account management features.
  • View the institutional accounts that are providing access.

Signed in but can't access content

Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.

Institutional account management

For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.

Purchase

Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.

Purchasing information

Metrics

Total Views 291

182 Pageviews

109 PDF Downloads

Since 7/1/2023

Month: Total Views:
July 2023 3
August 2023 21
September 2023 36
October 2023 48
November 2023 33
December 2023 21
January 2024 36
February 2024 34
March 2024 22
April 2024 18
May 2024 18
June 2024 1

Citations

Powered by Dimensions

Altmetrics

×

More from Oxford Academic

Clinical Psychology

Psychology

Science and Mathematics

Books

Journals

Socratic Questioning and Guided Discovery (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 5801

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.