The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review
The Socratic Method has been described as an important component of CBT interventions yet an empirical case for its use has not been made. The objective of this paper is to review the role of the Socratic Method in CBT in four stages. First, a review of the literature describes how the Socratic Meth...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Springer New York LLC
2015
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42340 |
| _version_ | 1848756392856387584 |
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| author | Clark, G. Egan, Sarah |
| author_facet | Clark, G. Egan, Sarah |
| author_sort | Clark, G. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The Socratic Method has been described as an important component of CBT interventions yet an empirical case for its use has not been made. The objective of this paper is to review the role of the Socratic Method in CBT in four stages. First, a review of the literature describes how the Socratic Method is applied and defined within CBT, with assumptions regarding its proposed benefits identified. Second, a review of empirical literature demonstrates that multiple challenges to the evaluation of the Socratic Method exist and that no direct evidence supports the premise that it is beneficial in CBT. Evidence is examined which may suggest why the Socratic Method could be beneficial in therapy. Finally, the hypothesised function of the Socratic Method within therapy is discussed in reference to the Interacting Cognitive Subsystems framework. A number of avenues for future research are proposed in order to determine whether this potentially valuable therapeutic component contributes to the efficacy of CBT. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:11:29Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-42340 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:11:29Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Springer New York LLC |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-423402017-09-13T14:24:47Z The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review Clark, G. Egan, Sarah The Socratic Method has been described as an important component of CBT interventions yet an empirical case for its use has not been made. The objective of this paper is to review the role of the Socratic Method in CBT in four stages. First, a review of the literature describes how the Socratic Method is applied and defined within CBT, with assumptions regarding its proposed benefits identified. Second, a review of empirical literature demonstrates that multiple challenges to the evaluation of the Socratic Method exist and that no direct evidence supports the premise that it is beneficial in CBT. Evidence is examined which may suggest why the Socratic Method could be beneficial in therapy. Finally, the hypothesised function of the Socratic Method within therapy is discussed in reference to the Interacting Cognitive Subsystems framework. A number of avenues for future research are proposed in order to determine whether this potentially valuable therapeutic component contributes to the efficacy of CBT. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42340 10.1007/s10608-015-9707-3 Springer New York LLC restricted |
| spellingShingle | Clark, G. Egan, Sarah The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review |
| title | The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_full | The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_short | The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | socratic method in cognitive behavioural therapy: a narrative review |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42340 |