Cited by 14Psychological Treatments and AssessmentsPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Socratic questions with children: Recommendations and cautionary tales.

McLachlan, Niel Hugo, Eastwood, Lynne, Friedberg, Robert D.·2016·Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy

Abstract

This clinically focused article offers cognitive behavior therapists recommendations and cautionary tales for using the Socratic method when working with children. The importance of the therapeutic relationship in combination with developmental considerations is discussed. The use of Socratic method in various cognitive behavioral modules is illustrated by means of case examples. Dialogues provide examples of how the cognitive specificity hypothesis and downward arrow technique can be used to support young clients in eliciting negative automatic thoughts. The importance of pacing, the mixing of closed and open-ended questions, and behavioral experiments to aid cognitive restructuring are also highlighted through extracts from clinical conversations. Finally, the article emphasizes that the purpose of the Socratic method is to broaden thinking and to access new knowledge rather than just giving young clients new thoughts and problem solving strategies.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1891/0889-8391.30.2.105

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35 of 35 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • One key aspect of delivering CBTs to young clients is maintaining a developmentally appropriate manner to delivery to enhance motivation and engagement in therapy.

    “One key aspect of delivering CBTs to young clients is maintaining a developmentally appropriate manner to delivery to enhance motivation and engagement in therapy (see McLachlan et al., 2016).”
  • Socratic questioning is best described as systematic questioning and inductive reasoning that attenuates cognitive misinterpretations and other inductive or deductive errors.

    “Socratic questioning – best described as systematic questioning and inductive reasoning that attenuates cognitive misinterpretations and other inductive or deductive errors (McLachlan et al., 2016)”

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Authors
McLachlan, N. H., Eastwood, L., & Friedberg, R. D.
Affiliations
  • Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • West London Mental Health NHS Trust (GB)
  • Palo Alto University (US)
Venue
Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy
Published
2016
Volume
30
Issue
2
Pages
105-119
ISSN
  • 0889-8391 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-887X
OpenAlex
W2481793385
Cited by
14
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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, children, cognitive behavioral therapy, therapeutic relationship, negative automatic thoughts, pacing, open-ended questions, behavioral experiments, cognitive restructuring, developmental considerations

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