Literature Review: Socratic Questioning Method in CBT - Psychology

This literature review examines the Socratic Questioning method within the context of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It begins by introducing a case scenario of a 39-year-old male experiencing job loss and relationship breakdown, highlighting the potential usefulness of CBT interventions. The review then explores the role and function of the Socratic Method, emphasizing its importance in helping patients evaluate distressing cognitions and develop critical thinking skills. It delves into the challenges of using this method, such as the lack of clear guidelines and standardized measurement tools. The review identifies a literature gap concerning the empirical evidence supporting the benefits of Socratic Questioning in CBT and suggests five assumptions that warrant further research. The conclusion underscores the method's conceptual significance while acknowledging the existing challenges and the need for additional studies to validate its effectiveness.

Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW
Socratic Questioning Method
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1LITERATURE REVIEW
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Literature Review............................................................................................................................2
Role and function of Socratic Method.........................................................................................2
Challenges of using Socratic Method..........................................................................................3
Literature Gap..............................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6

2LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
The case scenario is of a 39 year old male named Steve. The subject has recently lost his
job as civil engineer for unsatisfactory performance followed by a breakdown of his 10 year old
relationship. This was the first negative feedback that he experienced in his career that left him
de-motivate. He is now experiencing low amount of sleep and lost his interest in searching jobs
or socialize. His parents failed inspiring him. The Socratic questioning intervention method of
cognitive behavioral therapy can prove to be useful in this particular case scenario. A detailed
study of the method form the earlier scholarly work is presented in this part of the assignment.
Literature Review
According to Ehlers et al. (2005) Socratic Method comprises an important part in the
cognitive behavioural therapy and proved to be a competent approach in CBT (Roth and Pilling,
2007). Beck (2003) suggests that the questioning method promotes the acquisition of abstract
conceptual skills, which guides the patient to create distance from and an ability to evaluate,
distressing appraisals.
Role and function of Socratic Method
The patients with high level of distress are treated with the help of CBT as it aims to help
the patients develop skills that allow to re-appraisal and modification of distressing cognition.
The role of the method under study that is Socratic Method is to give confidence to the patients
for considering evaluating their thinking. It studies the information of the situation background
of the patient and helps them to consider their upsetting cognition. The method only guides the
patients, where they have to reach their own conclusions considering the validity of the upsetting

3LITERATURE REVIEW
thought (DeRubeis et al., 2009). It helps the patient to focus on the facts relevant for their
appraisal instead of making conclusion on the basis of their affect, thus attenuating the impact of
emotional reasoning. The theory of self determination states the efficiency of the decision to alter
the behaviour is greater in case of personally taken from the case of imposition (Kennerley,
2007). The patients in this case response greater in developing higher level of intrinsic
motivation to engage in change. the Socratic Questioning method uses the patients’ information
in patients’ awareness in which, the patients may recognize and resolve the logical
inconsistencies and discrepancies in reasoning. Socratic Questioning Method has potential
significance value within the treatment in the belief change model of CBT as the central
principle states the changes in cognitive process that will mediate symptom improvement.
The idea formed in the above section presents the Socratic Questioning method as a
verbal-based procedure and most closely associated with the cognitive work in CBT. The method
of implementation of Socratic questioning involves the process of planning, rational and
evaluation of behavioural techniques. Veale (2008) suggests for optimal delivery of behavioural
activation to incorporate the Socratic Questioning Method where it is expected from the patient
to be active and try generating solution.
Challenges of using Socratic Method
Like any other methods in cognitive behavioural therapy, Socratic questioning also
comes with variant challenges. It is suggested not to use the pure Socratic questioning method in
the CBT for avoiding the hurdles that might come. The Socratic Questioning Method is always
used alongside of the non-Socratic dialogues. Despite of the high level of usage of Socratic
Questioning method in cognitive behavioural therapy and the importance of it, there is little to no
proper description found on how and when a Socratic approach should be implemented.

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Similarly, a lack of clearance exists in the uniformity of the approach over the CBT intervention
(Kazantzis et al., 2014). On the other hand, James et al. (2010) has identified the problem of
identifying the applicability of the approach on the patients. The problem arises in the selection
of questioning process due to the differences in attention, motivation, executive functioning and
memory that will be appropriate for particular psychiatric disorder. Kazantzis et al. (2014)
worked on the qualitative differences within the nature of the appraisals required across specific
disorders. They found that the efficiency of the Socratic approach reduces with the cultural gap
between the therapist and the patient. Besides, as mentioned earlier, there is no proper guideline
prescribed about the usage of Socratic questioning. Moreover, a detailed analysis demonstrates
the challenge of evaluation of the role of the Socratic Questioning Method is the lack of an
adequate tool. The cognitive behavioural therapy lack in providing a proper measurement tool
for the Socratic Questioning Method and uses a universal Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale for all
the methods incorporated. It limits the effectiveness of the proposed method (Blackburn et al.,
2001).
Literature Gap
The review of the empirical research fails to identify the beneficial effects of Socratic
Questioning method in the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This absence suggests the need of
conducting research on the benefit of the approach. Five assumptions could be made regarding
the benefits of suing the approach in CBT. They are assumption reducing distress associated with
unhelpful cognitions, assumption allowing patients to internalize the approach and develop skills
in critical thinking for evaluating unhelpful cognitions, assumption resulting in memorable and
convincing insights and conclusions, assumption increasing engagement and autonomy in
therapy and assumption improving the outcome of CBT and Reducing the likelihood of relapse.

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Conclusion
The importance of Socratic Questioning method has been conceptualized as an important
element of CBT interventions. The review of the literatures existing in the market suggests the
theoretical rationale for its use within the CBT. However, several challenges lies within the use
of the approach in CBT as there is no proper guideline proposed for its implementation.
Moreover, the investigations conducted by the scholars fail to identify the value of the approach
within the therapy. The challenges that are spotted in the use of Socratic Questioning Method
might be a reason for neglecting the consideration of finding the benefits of the approach. Five
distinct assumptions have been made regarding the benefits of using the approach in CBT that
have scope for research.

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References
Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive therapy for challenging problems: What to do when the basics
don't work. Guilford Press.
Blackburn, I. M., James, I. A., Milne, D. L., Baker, C., Standart, S., Garland, A., & Reichelt, F.
K. (2001). The revised cognitive therapy scale (CTS-R): psychometric
properties. Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy, 29(4), 431-446.
Dobson, K. S. (Ed.). (2009). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies. Guilford Press.
Ehlers, A., Clark, D. M., Hackmann, A., McManus, F., & Fennell, M. (2005). Cognitive therapy
for post-traumatic stress disorder: development and evaluation. Behaviour research and
therapy, 43(4), 413-431.
James, I. A., Morse, R., & Howarth, A. (2010). The science and art of asking questions in
cognitive therapy. Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy, 38(1), 83-93.
Kazantzis, N., Fairburn, C. G., Padesky, C. A., Reinecke, M., & teesson, M. (2014). Unresolved
issues regarding the research and practice of cognitive behavior therapy: The case of
guided discovery using Socratic questioning. Behaviour Change, 31(01), 1-17
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre
Essential Guides.
Roth, A. D., & Pilling, S. (2007). The competences required to deliver effective cognitive and
behavioural therapy for people with depression and with anxiety disorders.
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford

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Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
Kennerley, H. (2007). Socratic method. Oxford, England: Oxford
Cognitive Therapy Centre Essential Guides
eale, D. (2008). Behavioural activation for depression. Advances in
Psychiatric Treatment, 14(1), 29–3
Veale, D. (2008). Behavioural activation for depression. Advances in psychiatric Treatment,
14(1), 29-36