Socratic questioning is a core technique that

• A. A form of direct instruction.
• B. A guided discovery method using open-ended questions to examine and reframe thoughts.
• C. A mood induction procedure.
• D. A technique to alter behavior through rewards.

Answer: (B)

In CBT, Socratic questioning is a guided discovery approach that uses open-ended questions to examine and reframe thoughts. The therapist leads the client through a careful dialogue, prompting them to scrutinize the evidence for and against their beliefs, consider alternative interpretations, and explore the implications of holding a particular thought. This collaborative questioning helps clients develop awareness of cognitive distortions, test the accuracy of automatic thoughts, and generate more balanced, flexible ways of thinking. Rather than telling someone what to think (as with direct instruction), or trying to induce a mood (mood induction) or alter behavior through rewards, Socratic questioning invites the client to arrive at insight through their own reasoning. For example, questions might explore: What evidence supports this thought? What evidence contradicts it? Are there alternative explanations? What’s a more balanced view you could adopt? Through this process, thinking becomes more adaptive and self-directed.