The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review

Clark, Gavin I.; Egan, Sarah J.

doi:10.1007/s10608-015-9707-3

Cited by 88Psychological Treatments and AssessmentsPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

The Socratic Method in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Narrative Review

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Clark, Gavin I., Egan, Sarah J.·2015·Cognitive Therapy and Research

DOI 10.1007/s10608-015-9707-3

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Asking good questions is considered a key skill for any therapist and receives considerable attention in their training through techniques like Socratic questioning and motivational interviewing.
“Asking good questions is considered a key skill for any therapist and receives considerable attention in their training through techniques like Socratic questioning [50] and motivational interviewing [51].”
From Using person-specific networks in psychotherapy: challenges, limitations, and how we could use them anyway (2020) · cites this paper as [50]

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Background
Using Socratic Questioning to Promote Critical Thinking Skills Through Asynchronous Discussion Forums in Distance Learning Environments
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“Socratic questioning is identiﬁed as an essential component of CBT interventions [57] and is deﬁned as “a method of guided discovery in which the therapist asks a series of carefully sequenced questions to help deﬁne problems, assist in the identiﬁcation of thoughts and beliefs, examine the meaning…”
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“tention in their training through techniques like Socratic questioning [50] and motivational interviewing [51].”
Method
Using Socratic Questioning to promote cognitive change and achieve depressive symptom reduction: Evidence of cognitive change as a mediator
Vittorio, L. N., Murphy, S. T., Braun, J. D., & Strunk, D. R. (2022) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2022.104035 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Investigating the effects of an LLM-based Socratic conversational agent on students’ academic performance and reflective thinking in higher education
Xi, L., Zhang, Y., & Wang, Q. (2025) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2025.105494 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
ExploreSelf: Fostering User-driven Exploration and Reflection on Personal Challenges with Adaptive Guidance by Large Language Models
Song, I., Park, S., Pendse, S. R., Schleider, J. L., Choudhury, M. D., & Kim, Y. (2025) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3706598.3713883 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
“Second, once the user selects a theme, the system suggests multiple “Socratic questions” [18], an evidence-based approach that encourages critical thinking and self-reflection.”
Designing a Scalable, Accessible, and Effective Mobile App Based Solution for Common Mental Health Problems
Ha, S. W., & Kim, J. (2020) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2020.1750792 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
“In addition, we designed the app to provide the following guidelines – based on the Socratic approach, which is known as an effective CBT method (Clark & Egan, 2015) – when counselors write comments: “ How can you see the situation from a different perspective?, ” “ If your family or close friends…”
Method
In-Session Stuck Points and Pitfalls of Community Clinicians Learning CBT: Qualitative Investigation
Waltman, S. H., Hall, B. C., McFarr, L. M., Beck, A. T., & Creed, T. A. (2016) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2016.04.002 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Feeling Stressed and Unproductive? A Field Evaluation of a Therapy-Inspired Digital Intervention for Knowledge Workers
Chow, K., Fritz, T., Holsti, L., Barbic, S. P., & McGrenere, J. (2023) · ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction · doi:10.1145/3609330 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
“Every fourth completed day in the logging phase (twice in total for each participant), users are also asked to relect on longer-term patterns in their data (see Figure 4), by selecting a row label of interest (a speciic TWS Fig.”
BackgroundInfluential
A thalamo-centric neural signature for restructuring negative self-beliefs
Steward, T., Kung, P., Davey, C. G., Moffat, B. A., Glarin, R. K., Jamieson, A. J., Felmingham, K. L., & Harrison, B. J. (2022) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-021-01402-9 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
“Through the Socratic questioning and cognitive restructuring process, the individual learns to identify and re-evaluate their perspective towards internal thoughts, and modify processes which contribute to the maintenance of maladaptive conceptualizations [5].”
Background
Perceptions of Socratic and non-Socratic presentation of information in cognitive behaviour therapy
Heiniger, L. E., Clark, G. I., & Egan, S. J. (2017) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2017.09.004 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
“However, despite a number of authors citing such proposed benefits, very little has been written regarding the theoretical justification f r the Socratic Method providing such benefits, and little empirical evidence exists to support these claims (for a review, see Clark & Egan, 2015).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSelf-citation
A Case for Translation From the Clinic to the Laboratory
Kredlow, M. A., de Voogd, L. D., & Phelps, E. A. (2022) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/17456916211039852 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“The third step of cognitive restructuring involves challenging automatic thoughts through Socratic questioning (for review, see Carey & Mullan, 2004; G. I. Clark & Egan, 2015) and encouraging flexibility of thinking.”
Background
The art and science behind socratic questioning and guided discovery: a research review
Overholser, J. C., & Beale, E. E. (2023) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2023.2183154 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“In their narrative review of the literature, Clark and Egan (2015) concluded that research on the Socratic method has been plagued by a lack of clarity in terminology and operational definitions of the strategies.”
Background
Robotic Nudges for Moral Improvement through Stoic Practice
Klincewicz, M. (2019) · Techné Research in Philosophy and Technology · doi:10.5840/techne2019122109 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“The link between Stoic practices and CBT is acknowledged by contemporary scholars as well as the founders of CBT themselves (for review look: Murguia and Diaz 2015; Robertson 2016; Beck 1979).”
BackgroundInfluential
Leveraging the Power of Nondisruptive Technologies to Optimize Mental Health Treatment: Case Study
Sadeh‐Sharvit, S., & Hollon, S. D. (2020) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/20646 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“Davis also realized that she was using little Socratic questioning, which may have reduced Kyle’s ability to re-examine his assumptions and information-processing skills [43].”
Background
“Talking About it Publicly Made Me Feel Both Curious and Embarrassed”: Acceptability, Feasibility, and Appropriateness of a Stigma-Mitigation Training to Increase Health Worker Comfort Discussing Anal Sexuality in HIV Services
Kutner, B. A., Wu, Y., Balán, I. C., & Meyers, K. A. (2019) · AIDS and Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10461-019-02758-4 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Differential engagement of the posterior cingulate cortex during cognitive restructuring of negative self- and social beliefs
Agathos, J. A., Steward, T., Davey, C. G., Felmingham, K. L., Ince, S., Moffat, B. A., Glarin, R. K., & Harrison, B. J. (2023) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsad024 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“through therapist-guided Socratic questioning; Leahy and Rego, 2012; Clark and Egan, 2015), are a key treatment mechanism of goldstandard psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT; Clark and Egan, 2015).”
BackgroundInfluential
Mindfulness interventions and quality of life in anxiety-related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Fortes, P. P., dos Santos‐Ribeiro, S., Andrade, J. B. D. S., Moreira‐de‐Oliveira, M. E., de Abreu-Cervone, F., de Faro, L. F. T., Fádel, B. T. M. D. M., de Menezes, G. B., & Fontenelle, L. F. (2024) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.12.103 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
LLM-powered socially assistive robot-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy exercises: an exploratory study with university students
Kian, M., Zong, M., Fischer, K., Singh, A., Velentza, A.-M., O'Connell, A., Ignatova, L., Sang, P., Upadhyay, S., Gupta, A., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Robotics and AI · doi:10.3389/frobt.2026.1802622 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“Cognitive Restructuring supports identifying and altering cognitive distortions and negative/maladaptive thinking patterns [22].”
Inception of a Discovery: Re-defining the Use of Socratic Dialogue in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Kazantzis, N., & Stuckey, M. E. (2018) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1007/s41811-018-0015-z · Cited by 15 · see citing works
LLM-Powered Socially Assistive Robot-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Exercises: an Exploratory Study with University Students
Kian, M., Zong, M., Fischer, K., Singh, A., Velentza, A.-M., O'Connell, A., Ignatova, L., Sang, P., Upadhyay, S., Gupta, A., et al. (2024) · arXiv · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2402.17937 · Cited by 15
“Cognitive Restructuring supports identifying and altering cognitive distortions and negative/maladaptive thinking patterns [22].”
Current Psychological Approaches in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Kormas, P., & Moutzouri, A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-75479-6_10-1 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Guided Discovery: a Clinical Strategy Derived from the Socratic Method
Overholser, J. C. (2018) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1007/s41811-018-0017-x · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Reflexive confessions of a female sport psychologist: from REBT to existential counselling with a transnational footballer
Darpatova‐Hruzewicz, D. (2021) · Qualitative Research in Sport Exercise and Health · doi:10.1080/2159676x.2021.1885481 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“The former (i.e., the counsellor) is endowed with the privilege of knowing the ‘truth’ (Clark and Egan 2015), which assumes the existence of a singular, objective truth in line with the epistemic underpinnings of REBT.”
Background
Adapting the Number of Questions Based on Detected Psychological Distress for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With an Embodied Conversational Agent: Comparative Study
Shidara, K., Tanaka, H., Adachi, H., Kanayama, D., Kudo, T., & Nakamura, S. (2024) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/50056 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“One critical CBT therapeutic technique strategically uses Socratic questioning [17].”
Clarifying the Role of the Socratic Method in CBT: a Survey of Expert Opinion
Clark, G. I., & Egan, S. J. (2018) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1007/s41811-018-0016-y · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citation
Enhanced insightfulness and neural activation induced by metaphorical solutions to appropriate mental distress problems
Yu, F., Zhang, J., Luo, J., & Zhang, W. (2021) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/psyp.13886 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Systematic Curiosity as an Integrative Tool for Human Flourishing: A Conceptual Review and Framework
Cunff, A. L. (2024) · Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science · doi:10.1007/s12124-024-09856-6 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“…therapies, and other positive psychol - ogy interventions, offering a framework for helping clients explore and understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors more methodically, potentially contributing to improved mental health outcomes (Clark & Egan, 2015 ; Zainal & Newman, 2022 ).”
Verbal Change and Cognitive Change: Conceptual and Methodological Analysis for the Study of Cognitive Restructuring Using the Socratic Dialog
Parga, M. X. F., Elvira, A. C., Cebrián, R. P., & de Prado‐Gordillo, M. N. (2018) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1007/s41811-018-0019-8 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Case report: Co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (Level One) and obsessive-compulsive disorder in a gender-diverse adolescent
Guastello, A. D., Lieneman, C. C., Bailey, B., Munson, M. S., Barthle-Herrera, M. A., Higham, M., Druskin, L. R., & McNeil, C. B. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1072645 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Applying cognitive restructuring in therapy: The clinical reality in Spain.
Cebrián, R. P., & Elvira, A. C. (2019) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2017.1341655 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Email: ana.calero@uam.es not yet been properly defined, and that this is an obstacle for its own advancement as well as for the clinical psychologists who employ it (Clark & Egan, 2015).”
Background
Current Psychological Approaches in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Kormas, P., & Moutzouri, A. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-75922-7_10 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Current Paths in the Management of Obesity
Musetti, A., Cattivelli, R., Guerrini, A., Mirto, A. M., Riboni, F. V., Varallo, G., Castelnuovo, G., & Molinari, E. (2018) · InTech eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.72586 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“It could be defined as a collaborative intervention focused on the identification, discussion, and substitution of dysfunctional thoughts and appraisals identified as significant factors in the psychopathology development [39].”
Background
Creative Factors and Psychotherapeutic Insight: Effects of Novelty and Appropriateness
Liu, R., Yu, F., Zhang, J., Zhang, W., & Luo, J. (2021) · Creativity Research Journal · doi:10.1080/10400419.2021.1940032 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“Socratic questioning as a key technology in cognitive behavioral therapy (Beck, Wright, Newman, & Liese, 1993; Clark & Egan, 2015; Neenan, 2009) also emphasizes guiding clients using questioning to clarify the problems and thoughts that they have in their minds so that cognitive restructuring can…”
Background
Cognitive Bias and Medication Use Moderate the Relation of Socratic Questioning and Symptom Change in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Depression
Vittorio, L. N., Braun, J. D., Cheavens, J. S., & Strunk, D. R. (2021) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-021-10224-6 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Several experts have suggested methods for using Socratic questioning effectively and identifying the contexts in which it may be most important (Clark & Egan, 2015; Overholser, 2011).”
Method
Understanding why people with OCD do what they do, and why other people get involved: supporting people with OCD and loved ones to move from safety-seeking behaviours to approach-supporting behaviours
Philpot, N., Thwaites, R., & Freeston, M. (2022) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1017/s1754470x22000186 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“…Kazantzis et al ., 2018), there is still little direct evidence and, to our knowledge, no experimental studies to support its effectiveness (e.g. Clark and Egan, 2015; Farmer et al ., 2017; Harrison et al ., 2019; Vittorio et al ., 2021), although it is perceived to be more helpful, empathic…”
Evaluating an LLM-Powered Chatbot for Cognitive Restructuring: Insights from Users and Mental Health Professionals
Wang, Y., Wang, Y., Xiao, Y., Escamilla, L., Augustine, B. R., Crace, K., Zhou, G., & Zhang, Y. (2026) · ACM Transactions on Computing for Healthcare · doi:10.1145/3820038 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Finally, all MHPs highlighted the CRBot’s capacity to ask Socratic questions [9], open-ended prompts aimed at helping users critically examine their thoughts.”
Cognition and agency-based methods to improve children’s road-hazard perception ability during visually occluded road crossing
Feng, Z., Zhang, X., Chu, C., Liu, J., Huang, Z., Gu, T., & Xue, R. (2024) · Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour · doi:10.1016/j.trf.2024.12.011 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Habenula contributions to negative self-cognitions
Kung, P., Greaves, M. D., Guerrero-Hreins, E., Harrison, B. J., Davey, C. G., Felmingham, K. L., Carey, H., Sumithran, P., Brown, R. M., Moffat, B. A., et al. (2025) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59611-7 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Prior to scanning, participants received training on how to restructure negative self-cognitions using Socratic questioning techniques,suchas logicalreasoning and perspective shifting 51 .”
What works in the Socratic debate? An analysis of verbal behaviour interaction during cognitive restructuring
Cebrián, R. P., Elvira, A. C., Guerrero-Escagedo, M. C., & López-Gómez, A. (2020) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465820000880 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Despite its wide use, cognitive restructuring has a lack of clarity regarding its procedures, applications and therapeutic mechanisms that explain it (Carey and Mullan, 2004; Clark and Egan, 2015).”
Background
Three ways to change your mind: an epistemic framework for cognitive interventions
Moorey, S. (2023) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465822000698 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
The Importance of Internal Marketing in Achieving Job Satisfaction and Organizational Success
Neves, M. S., Gonçalves, J. S., Sousa, B. B., & Veloso, C. M. (2024) · Advances in human resources management and organizational development book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-1994-9.ch016 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Defining Moral Injury: A Natural Scaffold
Smith, D. G. S. (2026) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-026-02626-1 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
DECREASING SYMPTOMS OF SPECIFIC PHOBIAS WITH COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY
Peristianto, S. V., & Astuti, K. (2022) · Malaysian Mental Health Journal · doi:10.26480/mmhj.01.2022.12.14 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Saber qué y saber cómo. Una propuesta explicativa de tres técnicas terapéuticas empíricamente validadas
González-Terrazas, R., & Parga, M. X. F. (2021) · Clínica Contemporánea · doi:10.5093/cc2021a22 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Memory with Meaning: Enabling Value-Centric Long-Term Human-Agent Dialogue
Saveur, T., Axelsson, A. J., Burger, F., Neerincx, M. A., & Oertel, C. (2024) · ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents (IVA) · doi:10.1145/3652988.3673925 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“The dialogue was built around Socratic questioning [6, 11, 25], in order to identify users’ values in cooperation with them.”
Dialogue is a sign of constructiveness in mediation
Portere, V., & Morevs, V. (2020) · Research for Rural Development/Research for Rural Development (Online) · doi:10.22616/rrd.26.2020.043 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Questions are composed using on the principles of Socrates’s method (Clark & Egan, 2015).”
Method
Designing Scaffolding Cards to Facilitate LLM-Based Socratic Instruction: An Exploratory Study of Response Strategies to Support Learning
Mao, L., Dong, L., Li, W., Hu, X., Lee, K.-P., & Zhou, Z. (2026) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3772318.3791696 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“It has long been applied across diverse disciplines [45, 47, 89], including medicine [36, 66], law [77], psychology [17, 84], and business [10].”
Socratic Questioning and Guided Discovery
Overholser, J. C., & Beale, E. E. (2023) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197611012.003.0004 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Socratic Questioning Sebagai Solusi Masalah Waswas: Pendekatan Hadis Terpilih
Rahman, M. Z. A., Razali, Z. A., & Najid, M. H. M. (2023) · Journal Of Hadith Studies · doi:10.33102/johs.v8i1.229 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Online interactive discussion boards: exploring student engagement when critically discussing the concept of confidentiality and telehealth
Collins, L., Johnson, M., & Tyson, C. E. (2023) · Health Technology · doi:10.21037/ht-23-9 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
TriKF: Triple-Perspective Knowledge Fusion Network for Empathetic Question Generation
Chen, T., Shen, Y., Chen, X., Zhang, L., & Zhao, S. (2024) · IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems · doi:10.1109/tcss.2024.3418820 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“In psychology and sociology research, empathetic questions typically guide individuals to express their experiences, feelings, and thoughts, aiming to establish emotional connections and deepen interpersonal understanding [11], [12], [13].”
My climate journey: one cognitive behavioural psychotherapist’s account, and a commentary linking to the scientific and practice literature
Willsher, C., & Freeston, M. H. (2024) · The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist · doi:10.1017/s1754470x24000199 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“For example, Clark and Egan (2015), review the scant evidence in support of Socratic dialogue or guided discovery.”
The impact of information presentation style on belief change: An experimental investigation of a Socratic Method analogue
Harrison, L. M., Clark, G. I., Rock, A. J., & Egan, S. J. (2018) · Clinical Psychologist · doi:10.1111/cp.12158 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“The condition was designed to encourage consideration and possible revaluation of the target cognition by adhering to the process of exploration as outlined in a number accounts of the Socratic Method in CBT (e.g., Clark & Egan, 2015; Kennerley, 2007; Overholser, 1993; Padesky, 1993).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSelf-citation
Towards an understanding of the experience of psychosis: the legacies of Rogers and Gendlin
Crisp, R. (2019) · Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies · doi:10.1080/14779757.2019.1618368 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“However, recent reviews of evidence-based research have reported inconsistent results confounded by relatively small samples and heterogeneous research methodologies, CBTp interventions and clinical characteristics of persons with PE (e.g. Clark & Egan, 2015; Dickerson, 2004; Wykes, 2014).”
BackgroundResult
Verbal Behavior Analysis of Expert and Inexperienced Therapists Applying the Socratic Method
Cebrián, R. P., Elvira, A. C., & Guerrero-Escagedo, M. C. (2022) · The Spanish Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1017/sjp.2022.14 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to Improve Sleep Outcomes in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review of Randomised Control Trials
Khalid, M. A. (2022) · Open Journal of Social Sciences · doi:10.4236/jss.2022.105018 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
Thase, M. E., Khazanov, G. K., & Wright, J. H. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-42825-9_35-1 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Emotion Regulation in Pain : Developing Effective Interventions for Patients with Pain and Emotional Distress
Södermark, M. (2023) · Linköping University medical dissertations · doi:10.3384/9789180753692 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Interaction in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Shidara, K., & Kudo, T. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-1313-7_11 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
SleepPathfinder: A Socratic Questioning and Self-Decision–Based Chatbot to Support User Engagement in Digital CBT-I: Usability and Feasibility Study
Roh, Y., Yoon, A. S., & Oh, H. (2026) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/79242 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“When “cognitive restructuring” is selected, retrieved cases emphasize question-based exploration rather than behavioral instruction, supporting continued Socratic dialogue [57,58].”
Cognitive restructuring and thalamocortical circuit alterations in post-traumatic stress disorder
Agathos, J. A., Harrison, B. J., Felmingham, K. L., Davey, C. G., Bryant, R. A., Korgaonkar, M. S., Kung, P., Ince, S., Moffat, B. A., Glarin, R. K., et al. (2026) · Nature Mental Health · doi:10.1038/s44220-026-00614-8 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
A Brief Rational Disputation Exercise Enhances Cardiovascular, Anxiety, and Affective Recovery Following Worry-Recall
Paolo, D., & Rosalie, M. (2016) · UWM Digital Commons (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
A new purpose for Socratic questioning in coaching
Dominicis, S. D., & Stelter, R. (2018) · Philosophy of Coaching An International Journal · doi:10.22316/poc/03.1.03 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Introduction to the Socratic Method
Montazeri, M. S. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-07972-6_1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Development of Pancasila Student Profiles on the Mutual Assistance Character: Can Traditional Games through Socratic Method-based Learning Help?
Nur, L., Suryana, D., Stephani, M. R., Guntara, R. G., Nilan, F., Rahmanda, M., Nawawi, D. A., & Salam, R. (2022) · JURNAL PENDIDIKAN JASMANI DAN OLAHRAGA · doi:10.17509/jpjo.v7i2.49090 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
A Psychoeducational CBT-based Group Intervention (“Drop It”) for Repetitive Negative Thinking: Theoretical Concepts and Treatment Processes
Rogiers, R., Baeken, C., Watkins, E., van den Abbeele, D., Remue, J., de Raedt, R., & Lemmens, G. (2022) · International journal of group psychotherapy · doi:10.1080/00207284.2022.2066535 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“This discussion occurs using the format of a Socratic dialogue (Clark & Egan, 2015; Harrison et al., 2019), using experiences and knowledge of the participants and introducing new insights by questioning and reflecting.”
Method
Navigating Management Dismissal and COVID-19 in a Professional Football Club: A Trainee Sport Psychologist Finds Her Way Through
Black, Z., & McCarthy, P. J. (2022) · Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1123/cssep.2022-0007 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Psychotherapist's Guide to Socratic Dialogue
Montazeri, M. S. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-07972-6 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Research Recommendation
Montazeri, M. S. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-07972-6_11 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE LEADER DEVELOPERS: A CASE STUDY OF AIR OFFICERS COMMANDING
Larsen, H. J. (2019) · Digital Collections of Colorado (Colorado State University) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
'Client choice' : how some CBT therapists construct collaboration : implications for CBT and counselling psychology practice
Collins, R. (2016)
身体状態の「意味づけ」としての情動 ―相互作用認知サブシステムとマインドフルネス
牟田, 季., & 房子, 越. (2018) · 認知科学 · doi:10.11225/jcss.25.74
Advancing Behavioral Health Literacy
Scollione, J. (2021) · Journal of Social Behavioral and Health Sciences · doi:10.5590/jsbhs.2021.15.1.16
“…to understand the relationship between cognitive distortions, physical health, behavioral health, and overall quality of life; and to implement strategies to correct cognitive distortions (Clark & Egan, 2015; Dobson & Dobson, 2018; Freeman et al., 2005; Heffner, 2020; Winterowd et al., 2003).”
Background
Self-Knowledge as self-improvement in Plato’s dialogues and cognitive behavioural therapy
Bamboulis, C. (2023) · Theory & Psychology · doi:10.1177/09593543221136103
“This process resembles Socratic questioning in CBT, during which questions often lead one to doubt previous beliefs by realising that there is an inconsistency in them (J. S. Beck, 2020; Clark & Egan, 2015).”
Background
Dialogues for Discovery: What? Why? When?
Padesky, C. A., & Kennerley, H. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780199586981.003.0001
Identifying the Strategies That Promote an Immersive Online Learning Environment for Population Health Management Graduate Students
Collins, L., Uzoaru, F., & Ross, L. (2024) · International Journal of Higher Education Pedagogies · doi:10.33422/ijhep.v5i1.597
“According to Clark & Egan, the Socratic questioning method encourages critical reflection and is a technique that produces insightful perspectives and helps identify positive actions (Clark & Egan, 2015).”
Method
Il ruolo della psicoterapia cognitiva nel processo riabilitativo
Pepe, R., Longhitano, R., & Auricchio, A. (2024) · PSICOBIETTIVO · doi:10.3280/psob2024-001013
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
Thase, M. E., Khazanov, G. K., & Wright, J. H. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51366-5_35
Perspective and Curiosity for Peace
Monzani, L., Bruschetto, S., & Escartín, J. (2024) · Peace psychology book series · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-66928-6_9
A Self-Decision and Socratic Questioning-Based Digital CBT-I Chatbot for Insomnia: Usability and Initial User Evaluation (Preprint)Preprint
Roh, Y., Yoon, A. S., & Oh, H. (2025) · doi:10.2196/preprints.79242
Decision Making in Major Depressive Disorder
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“Furthermore, training programmes should highlight that CBT can provide benefits like increased flexibility in thinking even when basic techniques are used in isolation (Clark and Egan, 2015).”
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“In CBT, Socratic dialogue helps individuals examine evidence, identify assumptions, estimate probabilities, and generate alternative interpretations (Clark and Egan, 2015).”

Evaluating the role and proposed benefits of the Socratic Method in CBT
Clark, G. I., Egan, S. J., Baker, C., & Harrison, L. (2015) · EPubDev Repository
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Perceptions of Socratic and non-Socratic presentation of information in cognitive behaviour therapy
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Self-citation
SCHEMA QUESTIONNAIRES: PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH SYMPTOMS IN A PSYCHOTIC POPULATION RECEIVING CBT
Maples, N. J., Medellin, E. M., Li, X., & Velligan, D. I. (2010) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.715

Authors: Clark, G. I., & Egan, S. J.
Affiliations: University of New England (US)
Curtin University (AU)
Corresponding author: Clark, Gavin I.
ORCID: Clark, Gavin I.
Egan, Sarah J.
Venue: Cognitive Therapy and Research
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2015-07-25
Volume: 39
Issue: 6
Pages: 863-879
ISSN: 0147-5916 (ISSN-L)
1573-2819
DOI: 10.1007/s10608-015-9707-3
OpenAlex: W1117870474
Semantic Scholar: 4cc9510242ff14d1d564db342424fd702514f627
Cited by: 87
References: 107
Citations by year: 2026: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3
FWCI: 0.63
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
doi.org
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Cognitive Therapy and Research (publishedVersion)
EPubDev Repository (submittedVersion)
eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
RUNE (Research UNE) (submittedVersion)
Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords: Socratic method, cognitive behavioral therapy, therapeutic dialogue, psychotherapy efficacy, cognitive restructuring

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