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Panel exam — Graham — A 'misunderstanding' at the top, and a collapse underneath

47-year-old executive referred after a public demotion; alternately grandiose and, when probed, flooded with shame and rage.

  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 Graham — A 'misunderstanding' at the top, and a collapse underneath. 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

✓ Graham

📋 Candidate brief

You are about to see Graham Whitfield, a 47-year-old senior executive referred after being demoted following a complaint of bullying. He attends reluctantly, framing the referral as beneath him and the complaint as the work of "lesser people who couldn't keep up." You have time for a focused assessment. You should aim to: - Attune empathically to the vulnerable self while not colluding with grandiosity - Anticipate and contain narcissistic injury and rage in the room - Establish the pervasive pattern: grandiosity, entitlement, lack of empathy - Screen for the depression/emptiness beneath the façade and assess risk

⏱ 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.