Socratic questioning is best described as

• A. A guided discovery method using open-ended questions to help clients examine, challenge, and reframe irrational, negative, or distorted thoughts.
• B. A form of direct instruction to replace beliefs.
• C. A psychodynamic free association technique.
• D. A type of exposure therapy.

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested here is the collaborative, inquiry-based approach used to examine and modify thoughts. Socratic questioning in cognitive therapy is a guided discovery method where the therapist asks open-ended questions to help clients surface their beliefs, examine the evidence for and against them, consider alternative explanations, and reframe distorted thoughts into more balanced ones. This process promotes cognitive restructuring by letting clients arrive at clearer, more adaptive interpretations through thoughtful self-inquiry rather than being told what to think.

This isn’t about direct instruction to replace beliefs, which would push a change rather than guide discovery. It also isn’t a psychoanalytic technique like free association, nor a behavioral procedure like exposure therapy. By encouraging critical examination of thoughts through questions such as “What evidence supports this belief?” or “What’s another way to view the situation?” the method helps clients develop more accurate and helpful thinking patterns.