Socratic Style Philosophical Counselling

Socratic Style Philosophical Counselling

Rooted in the philosophy of Socrates, this style combines well with Humanistic and Cognitive Behavioural therapy. It assumes that there are certain truths and facts that can be established (philosophical premise testing) and that the client needs to “remember” the truths that on some level are already known to him or her.

The Socratic challenge, also known as Socratic questioning, is a therapeutic technique used in various forms of therapy, most notably in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It involves the therapist asking a series of open-ended questions to guide the client towards:

  • Examining their thoughts and beliefs: Helping the client identify and challenge unhelpful or inaccurate thought patterns.
  • Exploring alternative perspectives: Encouraging the client to consider different viewpoints and interpretations.
  • Developing new insights: Guiding the client towards discovering new understandings and solutions.

The Socratic challenge is not about the therapist providing answers or telling the client what to think. Instead, it’s about facilitating a process of self-discovery and critical thinking. The therapist acts as a guide, using questions to gently nudge the client towards greater awareness and understanding of their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Key Elements of the Socratic Challenge:

  • Open-ended questions: Questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” encouraging the client to elaborate and explore their thoughts.
  • Guided discovery: The therapist uses questions to lead the client towards their own conclusions, rather than imposing interpretations or solutions.
  • Collaborative approach: The Socratic challenge is a collaborative process between the therapist and client, working together to explore and understand the client’s experiences.
  • Respectful and non-judgmental: The therapist maintains a curious and accepting stance, creating a safe space for the client to explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.

Examples of Socratic Questions:

  • Challenging thoughts:
    • “What evidence supports this thought?”
    • “What are some alternative explanations?”
    • “How might someone else view this situation?”
  • Exploring emotions:
    • “What does this feeling tell you?”
    • “How does this feeling affect your behavior?”
    • “What would happen if you allowed yourself to feel this fully?”
  • Identifying values and goals:
    • “What is important to you in this situation?”
    • “What are your goals for the future?”
    • “What steps can you take to move towards your goals?”

Benefits of the Socratic Challenge:

  • Increased self-awareness: Helps clients gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
  • Challenge unhelpful thoughts: Encourages clients to question and reframe negative or distorted thinking patterns.
  • Promote critical thinking: Develops the client’s ability to analyze situations and consider different perspectives.
  • Empowerment: Empowers clients to take ownership of their thoughts and feelings and develop their own solutions.
  • Improved problem-solving: Helps clients develop more effective problem-solving skills.

In Summary:

The Socratic challenge is a valuable therapeutic tool that can be used to promote self-reflection, critical thinking, and personal growth. By guiding clients through a process of questioning and exploration, therapists can help them develop greater self-awareness, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and create positive change in their lives.

Midwife of knowledge

In Socratic style counselling the psychotherapist works with the client to help them remember the truths buried under layers of learnt and developed responses. In other words when first born the client is a “blank slate” developmentally, but has certain innate instincts. A basic empathy for others, a concept allowing language learning, spatial awareness ability and a basic concept of right and wrong as examples. As we develop, we adapt and when life is not ideal we adapt in certain ways for survival. This is natural, but if these patterns become ingrained and the new “default”, we are moving away from the authentic us.

Process based

Socratic style therapy tests the knowledge of the current behaviours and perceptions and has a “destruction” phase where inappropriate patterns are challenged and broken down. In cognitive behavioural therapy this would be:

1. Identify the actual thoughts and patterns –  self awareness

2. Identifying and challenging toxic thought patterns.

3. Establish what appropriate behaviours or perceptions might be (for the client’s personal authentic culture)

4. Goal setting and change processes

Similar therapies

Similarities exist between this method and mindfulness based analysis, cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive behavioural analysis. In fact Socratic style counselling or therapy is a variation of style, and therefore it is quite possible to employ a number of empirically tested and NICE recommended methods (CBT, MBCT, DBT etc) using a Socratic style.

Stuart is a multi modal clinical psychotherapist, hypnotherapy, analyst and mindfulness practitioner with cross training in additional areas including philosophy, psychology and theology (University and or Post graduate levels).

Key Words

Philosophy, psychology, Socratic counselling, Socratic psychotherapy, goal orientated therapy, solution focused therapy, philosophical psychotherapy, toxic thought patterns, CBT, MBCT, DBT, depression, anxiety, mental health, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Scotland, psychotherapist, counsellor, hypnotherapist.