A predetermined goal is useful when there are time pressures but can leave the client feeling that the coach has their own agenda or nothing to learn from the discussion (Neenan, 2008). The Socratic method is used in coaching, with, or without, a clear goal in mind, to probe our deepest thoughts.
Rather than teaching in the conventional sense, there is no lesson plan and often no pre-defined goal the dialogue can take its path, remaining open ended between teacher and student. The student, rather than remaining passive, actively helps push the dialogue forward. In education, we can remove, albeit temporarily, the idea of the ‘sage on the stage.’ Instead, the teacher plays dumb, acting as though ignorant of the subject.
#Questioning life choices series#
It is widely used in teaching and counseling to expose and unravel deeply held values and beliefs that frame and support what we think and say.īy using a series of focused yet open questions, we can unpack our beliefs and those of others. Socratic questioning involves a disciplined and thoughtful dialogue between two or more people. “I know you won’t believe me, but the highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others.” By surfacing knowledge that was previously outside of our awareness, the technique produces insightful perspectives and helps identify positive actions. The Socratic method, often described as the cornerstone of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solves this inadequacy by asking a series of focused, open-ended questions that encourage reflection (Clark & Egan, 2015). And yet, whether in education or therapy, vague, purposeless questions have a rather aimless quality, wasting time and failing to elicit useful information (Neenan, 2008). Many of us fail to recognize questioning as a skill. These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.
#Questioning life choices download#
We then identify techniques, examples of good questions, and exercises that promote better, more productive dialogue.īefore you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free. In this article, we explore the definition of Socratic questioning and how we apply it in education, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and coaching. Rather than the teacher filling the mind of the student, both are responsible for pushing the dialogue forward and uncovering truths (Raphael & Monk, 2003).Īnd yet, what could a 2500-year old approach to inquiry add to the toolkit of the teacher, psychotherapist, and coach? Perhaps Socrates’ most significant legacy is his contribution to the art of conversation, known as Socratic questioning. The philosopher Socrates is something of an enigma.Ĭondemned to death in 399 BC and leaving no written works, we rely extensively on the writings of his pupil, philosophical heavyweight Plato (Honderich, 2005).
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