Socratic Questioning Workshop

Can be taken as an individual course or as a part of:

Approved by the British Psychological Society for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

2 days 9:30am – 4:30pm 14 CPD hours

Course Brief

Socratic Questioning is a psychotherapeutic key tool for both understanding a client’s perceptions and subsequently helping them to change them. It has been described by Padesky as “the cornerstone of cognitive therapy”, but can be used in other approaches as well as a useful communication tool.

This course is part of the training programme that enables you to complete the BPS Approved Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and other Certificates in CBT.

LIVE on Zoom – attendance required.
The course will be as a recording afterwards but ONLY to those who attended the course LIVE on Zoom.

Socratic Questioning is a psychotherapeutic key tool for both understanding a client’s perceptions and subsequently helping them to change them.

Described by Padesky as “the cornerstone of cognitive therapy” it was first given centre stage psychotherapeutically by Adler in the early 20th century, who in turn greatly influenced Carl Rogers. The technique has also been compared to the characteristics of Circular Questioning used in Family Therapy and has been utilised within the personal coaching field, so it can be used in various therapeutic approaches as a useful communication tool.

As a result, it is a key skill for all therapists (CBT and otherwise) to develop. It enables both therapist and client to engage in the process of “guided discovery” to make sense of the client’s internal and external world which they have the knowledge to answer. As a result the client initiates their own perceptual and cognitive changes.

The technique is especially useful in assessment and formulation, changing unhelpful cognitions, exploring new ways of thinking about things, problem solving and devising behavioural experiments. It also acts as a useful counter balance to any therapist tendencies towards “psycho-bulldozing” (Westbrook 2007). It helps develop therapist skill both in making no assumptions whatsoever about the client’s experience (until the client has told you) and fine-tuning the therapist’s curiosity about the client’s view of things.

This workshop provides both an outline of what Socratic Questioning is, along with a preliminary structure (CARPIS Questions) for using it. It will give delegates ample opportunity to observe it being used as well as practicing it themselves. Delegates will also receive gentle feedback on how to fine tune their skills further and develop their newly discovered expertise after the course.

This course is part of the training programme that enables you to complete the BPS Approved Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and other Certificates in CBT. You can build up gradually your CBT training portfolio by attending all the courses within the programme at the pace that suits you. All your training hours will be calculated, recorded in an individual validated log and accumulated towards your full Diploma or Certificate.

This highly experiential and practical course is delivered LIVE in the room or on Zoom over two consecutive days.

LIVE on Zoom – attendance required.
The course will be as a recording afterwards but ONLY to those who attended the course LIVE on Zoom.

Issues covered include:

  • What is Socratic Questioning and what can it offer to therapist and client
  • The use of CARPIS Questions
  • Using Socratic Questioning in problem formulation
  • Key “Dos” and “Don’ts” in Socratic Questioning
  • Socratic Questioning and challenging NATs
  • Using Socratic Questioning in Problem Solving and alternative Perspectives and Outcomes

Click here for the full SDS Accreditation terms for the BPS Approved Master Practitioner Diploma in CBT: https://skillsdevelopment.co.uk/certificates/cbt_diploma/

Course Tutor

Paul Grantham
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Founder and Director of SDS Seminars

Paul Grantham, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, a Senior Associate of The Royal Society of Medicine, Accredited CBT Therapist. He is the Founder and Director of SDS Ltd and one of the most popular and inspirational tutors in the field of psychological skills training.

Testimonials

Recommended Materials

Socratic Questioning (Essential CBT Skills Series) - 4 CPD Hours

DVD by Dr. Fiona C. Kennedy, Paul Grantham, Julia Budnik

Despite lots of references to SQ as a cornerstone of cognitive therapy (C.Padesky, 1993), there is very little, almost nothing, written about it and how to conduct it. This 4 hours online video course is an attempt to give practitioners clear explanation of SQ process, guidance about its use and practical examples/demonstrations.