SELF-DEBATING AND SELF-STEPPING TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASING SELF-AWARENESS IN INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Augusto da Costa, Mastinho Costa, Angelmo Araujo, Agostinho Gonçalves, Sebastião Pereira, Simão Lopes Cardoso

Abstract


Self-awareness represents a cornerstone of effective counseling practice and client development. This literature review examines contemporary approaches to enhancing selfawareness through self-debating and self-stepping techniques in individual counseling contexts. Drawing on recent scholarly work (2019-2025), this review synthesizes research on Socratic dialogue, metacognitive reflection, internal dialogue processes, and experiential chairwork methods. The analysis reveals that structured internal dialogue techniques, including Socratic questioning, metacognitive self-reflection, and chair-based interventions, demonstrate significant potential to foster deeper self-understanding, emotional regulation, and therapeutic transformation. These methods facilitate clients' ability to examine multiple perspectives within themselves, challenge cognitive distortions, and develop more adaptive self-narratives. The review identifies key theoretical frameworks, practical applications, evidencebased outcomes, and recommendations for integrating these techniques into contemporary counselling practice. Findings suggest that self-debating and self-stepping approaches offer accessible, non-pathologizing pathways to enhance selfawareness that honor client autonomy and promote lasting psychological growth.


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