The Socratic Method of Psychotherapy

by James C. Overholser

As the field of psychotherapy focuses more on treatment manuals and the regimented nature of clinical research, the practice risks losing the subtle nuances that guide the interactive fluidity of therapy sessions. Can clinicians combat this loss by incorporating ideals from ancient philosophy into contemporary psychotherapy? In The Socratic Method of Psychotherapy , James Overholser approaches cognitive therapy through the interactive dialogues of Socrates, aiming to reduce the gap between theory and practice. Clinicians and students will appreciate the flexibility and creativity that underlie effective psychotherapy sessions when guided by the Socratic method as an innovative approach to self-exploration.

Genres: Psychology

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2018

Reviews

[Luiz Fabricio Calland Cerqueira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose it brings some light to the nebulous Socratic Questioning and some insights about it. It relies strongly in inductive reasoning and systematic questioning.

As much as I like the realistic view of how therapy is really made and the constraints made by the insurance based model, it has some anti-scientific discourse that seemed so over the top the felt like some sort of resentment... don’t know. I’m not familiar with other works of the author.

Some of the book felt like proselytizing. I do understand the point of working with Values, but the Virtues’ chapters lacked substance. Maybe it was the line between Philosophy and Psychology that didn’t permeate well to me.

[Bia Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am excited to use skills and techniques from this book in my work. The book was a great explainer of how and why to use Socratic questioning effectively.

[Tom Pepper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many Cognitive Behavioral Therapists seem to be under the impression that they are using the Socratic Method in their therapy sessions. Overholser wants to reassure them that they are, that CBT is the same as the elenchus. Unfortunately, like most psychologists, he is completely wrong about what the Socratic method is. He does seem to get it right when he suggests one ought never ask leading question, that Socratic questioning begins from ignorance. However, when he gets to his clinical examples, all the questions are leading question. He has decided in advance that the patient’s beliefs are wrong and the goal is “reducing the clients’ faith in their beliefs”(97). He asks question like “What do you think—how much of your contentment comes from external activities like keeping busy, and how much of contentment comes from internal attitudes?” The client, of course, gives the expected answer: of course “attitudes are more important.” But are they? Generally, people are happiest when they are intensely involved in some activity, not sitting around adjusting their attitudes. Overholser is also fairly sure that “wisdom” is a “combination of logic and common sense”; of course, the whole goal of the Socratic method is exactly to interrogate and reject “common sense.” Ultimately, this book is just CBT s usual, trying to use sophistry to manipulate the client into sharing the therapists ideology. Disappointing, given the title!