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Panel exam — Sophie — After a breakup, a crisis that swings within the hour

26-year-old presenting after self-harm following a breakup; idealises then devalues the assessor within a single session.

  1. 1
    Meet the panel
  2. 2
    Examination
  3. 3
    Deliberation
  4. 4
    Verdict
Dr. Compass
Dr. Compass
Exam proctor
Here to help you get oriented before the panel begins.
Welcome — this is your oral exam on Sophie — After a breakup, a crisis that swings within the hour. I'm Dr. Compass, your proctor. You'll present to Dr. McFreudian, Dr. Lynahana, and Dr. Ramezani. Take five to ten minutes with the candidate brief to prepare — there's a prep timer below if you'd like one. Choose your orientation and difficulty, then press Begin exam. Any questions for me first? Just speak — I'm listening.

Your case

Sophie

📋 Candidate brief

You are about to see Sophie Tremblay, a 26-year-old seen after presenting to A&E with superficial cuts to her forearm following the end of a three-week relationship. She has had several brief, intense relationships and multiple short-lived contacts with services. You have time for a focused assessment. You should aim to: - Build a validating yet boundaried alliance and manage idealisation/devaluation - Assess self-harm, suicidality and impulsivity, and establish the pattern - Distinguish reactive affective instability from bipolar disorder - Begin a collaborative safety plan and formulate in Sperry terms

⏱ Prep timerTake 5–10 minutes with the brief before you begin.

Exam settings

The panel will ask about your chosen theoretical orientation, your conceptualization, treatment plan, and the legal, ethical, and diversity considerations the case raises. Stay in your chosen orientation throughout.

A structured, time-limited psychotherapy grounded in the idea that psychological distress arises from maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, and learned behaviours rather than unconscious conflict. CBT targets the interconnection between cognition, emotion, and behaviour to achieve symptom reduction and durable change.

Balanced. Substantive but supportive. Good default.

Your examiners · tap one to read their background

When you're ready, the panel will welcome you and start asking questions.