Socratic questioning is a CBT technique for examining, challenging, and changing irrational thoughts. But this practice didn’t begin in the modern era. Thousands of years ago, the Greek philosopher Socrates became the technique’s namesake when he devised this form of questioning that helps spot and correct thinking errors.
Our Socratic Questioning worksheet guides clients toward more accurate and balanced thinking. After identifying a thought that’s negatively impacting them, clients answer a series of questions that help uncover important errors, blindsides, and omissions. Clients then revise their original thought to make it reflect what they’ve learned.
Use this cognitive restructuring exercise with clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem that’s driven by negative thinking. You may want to introduce clients to Socratic questions using one of their recurring negative thoughts. For the exercise to be effective, clients should elaborate on their responses, going beyond a simple “yes” or “no.” A few in-depth responses are more valuable than a lot of hasty one-word answers!
