The Socratic Method of Psychotherapy

As core strategic interventions in cognitive behavioral therapy, Socratic methods of dialogue and questioning are often neglected or poorly understood philosophically and historically. Overholser beautifully and clearly describes how valuable the Socratic method is for enhancing the therapeutic relationship. This is a must read volume for any mental health professional. -- Aaron T. Beck, University of Pennsylvania

I have long followed James Overholser's work on the use of the Socratic method in psychotherapy. I have always wondered why he had not written a book on the subject. Now he has and it is well worth the wait. It should be read, digested, and acted upon by all therapists. -- Windy Dryden, Goldsmiths University of London

Overholser provides foundational conceptual knowledge of Socratic methods, which is often missing in purely technical descriptions of the procedure. He artfully combines this theoretical material with very practical clinical guidelines for scaffolding Socratic dialogues. This is a complex, intricate subject presented in an extraordinarily accessible manner. -- Robert Friedberg, Palo Alto University

This is a stimulating, creative statement and guide for all manner of psychotherapists: psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and students . . . A must-read for clinicians at any stage in their training or career., Choice

James Overholser is professor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University. He is the coauthor of Evaluating and Treating Adolescent Suicide Attempters: From Research to Practice (2002) and Elder Suicide: Research, Theory, and Treatment (1994).