Dictionary of Psychotherapy
Socratic dialogue
Socratic dialogue is used as a Cognitive therapy technique.
In the philosophical setting this technique of guiding by questioning was introduced by Socrates, who characterized it as a sort of “spiritual midwifery”.
Socratic dialogue helps to challenge maladaptive beliefs and assumptions. Certain attitudes and expectations may be obstacles to meaning fulfilment. They can alienate a person from the meaning potentialities in his or her life, thus accentuating neurotic disorders, or even producing them via repeated maledictions and formation of behaviour patterns.
Socratic dialogue is a conversational method frequently used by logotherapists. It is a series of questions that help the client arrive at logical answers to and conclusions about a certain hypothesis. Socratic questioning is systematic, disciplined, and deep, and usually focuses on foundational concepts, principles, theories, issues, or problems and to follow out logical implications of thought. Specific questions are aimed to raise into consciousness the possibility to find, and the freedom to fulfil, meaning in clients’ life. The therapist guides the clients to perceive their unrealistic and counterproductive attitudes and to develop a new outlook that may be a better basis for a fulfilled life.
It is used in a wide range of psychological treatments, including Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. Counselling and Psychotherapy may be provided via Skype and FaceTime in the comfort of your home, office or any place of your choice.
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