About You
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You
Conditions
Body
Nervous
History
Daily
Environment
Spirit
Capacity
Intentions
Section 1 of 10
Section 1 of 20

About You

The ground we stand on — life circumstances that shape capacity for change

Operator Briefing

Welcome to the Terraforms Clinical Intake. This structured assessment gathers comprehensive nervous system and life history data across 20 domains. Gold-bordered sections throughout contain practitioner guidance — expand them to reveal interview prompts, clinical observations, modality-specific notes, and red flags.

Your role is to facilitate disclosure, not to interpret or treat. Create safety through presence. The client's nervous system will reveal what it's ready to share when it trusts the container you provide.

Pacing Match their rhythm. Let silence land. Dysregulated systems need space, not speed.
Presence Regulate yourself first. Your nervous system is the instrument. Check in before beginning.
Precision Details reveal patterns. Note exact words, hesitations, contradictions. The how matters as much as the what.
Protection Assess, don't treat. This is information gathering, not intervention. Hold boundaries firmly.

Interview Approach

Opening: "I'm going to ask you about many aspects of your life and history. Some questions may feel unexpected. There are no right answers — just honest ones. We can pause at any time."
Transitions: Announce section changes. "We're now moving into questions about your body and physical experience." This primes the nervous system for what's coming.
Difficult moments: If they freeze, slow down. "Take your time." If they flood, ground them. "Let's pause here. Feel your feet on the floor."
Closing: Don't end abruptly. "We've covered a lot of ground today. How are you feeling right now? Is there anything you want to add before we finish?"

Modality Notes

Face-to-Face: Position yourself at 45° angle, not directly across. Keep your own posture open but grounded. Watch for micro-expressions, body shifts, breathing changes. Note what topics cause postural armoring.
Phone/Video: Vocal tone carries everything. Listen for pace changes, voice thinning, long pauses. Verbally acknowledge what you hear: "It sounds like that's difficult to talk about." Ask them to describe their physical state periodically.

Safety Protocol

Section 2 contains ASQ-adapted suicide screening. Section 4 contains DES-B adapted dissociation screening. If either reveals acute risk, pause the intake and follow your organization's crisis protocol. This assessment is not a substitute for emergency intervention.

Let us know who you are and where you find yourself in life right now.

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Practitioner Context

Life Architecture & Support Structure

This section maps the client's external circumstances — the container in which their healing will occur. Age indicates developmental stage and potential generational trauma patterns. Living situation reveals support availability and privacy for practice. Work status shows stress load and schedule flexibility.

Probing Questions
  • "Who knows you're doing this work?" — reveals support network and secrecy patterns
  • "What would need to change for you to have more time for yourself?" — reveals constraints vs. choices
  • "How would the people you live with respond to you doing daily practices?" — reveals environmental safety
Red Flags

Isolation + high stress work. Institutional settings limiting autonomy. No one aware they're seeking help. Caregiving role with no reciprocal support. Living with active abuser or in unsafe housing.

This section reveals:
Support availability Practice feasibility Stress load Isolation risk Schedule flexibility

Cross-reference: Section 7 (Environment) for physical space constraints, Section 14 (Relationships) for support quality.

Opening the Interview

Tell me a little about your life right now — just the shape of a typical day.— opens without pressure

What brought you here today, in your own words?— reveals self-narrative

Is there anyone in your life who knows you're doing this?— maps support network

What to Notice
Pace: Rushed? Hesitant? Flat?
Eye contact: Avoidant? Searching? Steady?
Posture: Collapsed? Rigid? Guarded?
Voice: Volume, tremor, breath
Affect: Match between words and expression
Self-reference: "I" vs "you" vs "we"
Face-to-Face

Note arrival: early/on-time/late. Observe how they enter the space — hesitant, scanning, relaxed. Watch for fidgeting, self-soothing gestures. Notice if they orient toward exits.

Phone / Video

Note background sounds — are they alone? Private space? Listen for breathing patterns, long pauses, sounds of movement. On video: lighting, camera angle, visible environment.

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Section 2 of 20

What Brings You Here

The symptoms and diagnoses that brought them to seek help

You may have a diagnosis. You may simply know that something is wrong. You may have been told nothing is wrong when everything feels wrong. All of these are valid. Name what you carry.

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Practitioner Context

Symptom Constellation & Diagnostic History

This reveals the client's presenting concerns and their relationship with the medical system. Multiple overlapping conditions (CPTSD + ME/CFS + anxiety) often indicate deep nervous system dysregulation. The duration question reveals chronicity — years of suffering suggest entrenched patterns but also resilience. The "losses" question is critical: it shows what the condition has cost them and what they're fighting to reclaim. Key pattern: Clients who've lost "sense of who I am" need identity work alongside somatic practice.

This section reveals:
Chronicity level System complexity Medical relationship Stakes & losses What they're fighting for
Deepening Prompts

When did you first know something was wrong — not when you got diagnosed, but when you knew?— separates lived experience from labels

What has this cost you? What have you had to let go of?— reveals grief and stakes

If everything changed tomorrow, what would you do first?— reveals core desires beneath symptoms

Has anyone believed you? Has anyone not believed you?— reveals medical trauma and validation history

What to Notice
Affect shift: When naming conditions — shame? Relief? Defiance?
Language: Clinical vs personal? "My anxiety" vs "the anxiety"
Identification: Over-identified with diagnosis? Rejecting labels entirely?
Energy: Does recounting drain them or activate them?
Face-to-Face

Watch for body-based symptoms appearing as they describe (rubbing temples, hand to chest, shifting). Note if they bring medical records or documentation — suggests need for external validation.

Phone / Video

Listen for rehearsed quality — have they told this story many times? Note pauses before clinical terms. Watch for screen-reading if on video (may have notes or be checking accuracy).

The thing that colours everything else
The losses may be hard to name. Name them anyway.
This helps us understand how to support you safely. There are no wrong answers.

In the past two weeks, have you had thoughts of hurting yourself or that you'd be better off dead?

Have you ever made a suicide attempt?

Do you currently have access to means of self-harm (weapons, stockpiled medications, etc.)?

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Safety Assessment Protocol

Immediate Risk Evaluation

This is the ASQ (Ask Suicide-Screening Questions) adapted screening. Any positive response requires follow-up. "Frequent thoughts" or "plan" = do not proceed without safety planning conversation. Recent attempt + current means access = crisis intervention required before intake continues. Document your clinical reasoning explicitly in your notes.

Action Required If Positive

1. Do not leave client alone. 2. Ask directly: "Are you thinking of killing yourself?" 3. If yes + plan + means: Contact crisis services immediately. 4. If passing thoughts only: Create safety plan, identify reasons for living, establish check-in protocol. 5. Document everything including your clinical decision-making process.

Section 3 of 20

Your Body Now

Where sensation lives and what the body is trying to communicate

The body keeps the score. It carries what the mind cannot process, holds what was never safe to feel. These questions help us understand where your body has been waiting for you.

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Practitioner Context

Somatic Mapping & Body Relationship

Tension patterns reveal trauma storage locations and protective bracing. Jaw = unexpressed rage/grief. Gut = preverbal trauma. Pelvic floor = sexual trauma or boundary violation. Low energy + poor sleep = HPA axis dysregulation. The "body as enemy" response indicates severe dissociation — these clients need slower, gentler protocol entry. Watch for those who "can't feel" certain areas — this numbness is protective and shouldn't be pushed. Protocol implications: Floor work accessibility, need for cold/heat modifications, stillness tolerance.

This section reveals:
Trauma storage sites Embodiment level Energy baseline Rest capacity Dissociation markers
Somatic Inquiry Prompts

If you drop your attention into your body right now, what do you notice first?— reveals interoceptive access

Is there a part of your body you don't like to think about or feel into?— locates dissociation or trauma

When you're stressed, where does your body tell you first?— identifies signal sites

Has your body ever felt safe? When was that?— reveals baseline and possibility of safety

What to Notice
Breathing: Shallow? Breath-holding? Sighing? Chest vs belly?
Stillness: Can they be still? Constant movement = activation
Touching: Self-soothing? Rubbing arms, neck, chest?
Disconnect: Eyes glazing when asked about body?
Speed: Fast answering = avoiding felt sense
Pain response: Wincing, bracing, shifting position?
Face-to-Face

Observe overall posture, asymmetries, collapsed vs braced positions. Notice if they touch body parts as they mention them. Watch breathing pattern throughout — does it change with topics?

Phone / Video

Ask: "Take a moment to scan your body — what do you notice?" Give silence. On video, watch for dissociation cues: gaze drifting up-left, eyes unfocusing. Note audible sighs or breath changes.

1 = severely disrupted, 10 = deeply restorative
Severely disrupted Deeply restorative
1 = depleted, 10 = abundant
Depleted Abundant
When nothing is demanding your attention
Section 4 of 20

Your Nervous System

The polyvagal map — fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses

Your nervous system learned to protect you. It is still running programmes written for dangers that may no longer exist. These questions help us understand the shape of your survival.

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Practitioner Context

Autonomic Regulation Profile

This is the diagnostic core — it reveals the client's polyvagal state and survival pattern. Low regulation (1-3) + high vigilance + frequent freeze = dorsal vagal dominance requiring Phase 1 emphasis. "Never safe" indicates developmental trauma requiring longer trust-building. Boundary oscillation (both/neither) is classic CPTSD pattern. The "inner voice" question reveals internal attachment style — critical inner voice often mirrors childhood caregiver. Shame prevalence predicts resistance to self-compassion practices.

Probing Questions
  • "Can you describe a time when you felt truly safe?" — if difficult to answer, indicates narrow window of tolerance
  • "What does your body do when you feel threatened?" — maps autonomic response pattern
  • "How long does it take you to calm down after an upset?" — reveals recovery capacity
  • "Do you ever feel like you leave your body or watch yourself from outside?" — screens for dissociation
Red Flags

High dissociation + absent inner critic may indicate structural dissociation — proceed with care. "Never safe" + freeze dominant = complex trauma requiring specialist consultation. Regulation at 1-2 with current life stressors = stabilization before deeper work. Shame + isolation + perfectionism = suicide risk factor constellation.

This section reveals:
Polyvagal state Window of tolerance Safety accessibility Boundary patterns Internal attachment Shame load Dissociation indicators

Cross-reference: Section 5 (History) for trauma origins, Section 16 (Defense Patterns) for protective strategies, Section 13 (Emotional Landscape) for affect regulation capacity.

Nervous System Inquiry

When you feel threatened, what happens in your body before your mind catches up?— maps autonomic sequence

Do you tend to move toward people, against people, away from people, or shut down completely?— Hornevian style

What's the fastest way for you to feel unsafe? What triggers it reliably?— identifies activation triggers

When you're overwhelmed, do you speed up or shut down?— sympathetic vs dorsal

Real-Time Nervous System Reading
Ventral vagal: Eye contact, prosodic voice, facial expression, social engagement
Sympathetic: Restless, scanning, rapid speech, breath high in chest
Dorsal vagal: Flat affect, monotone, collapsed posture, "far away" eyes
Oscillation: Sudden shifts between states mid-sentence
Fawn: Overly agreeable, anticipating your needs, apologizing
Freeze: Stillness, breath-holding, deer-in-headlights quality
Face-to-Face

Your own nervous system is a diagnostic instrument. Notice if you feel activated, sleepy, or pulled to rescue. Track color changes in face/neck. Note pupil dilation shifts.

Phone / Video

Voice is your primary instrument. Listen for vocal fry (shutdown), pressed voice (activation), or sudden flatness. Long pauses may indicate freeze or dissociation — name it gently.

1 = overwhelmed frequently, 10 = stable and grounded
Overwhelmed frequently Stable and grounded
Feeling disconnected from yourself, your body, or reality
Shutting down, going blank, unable to move or act
The way you talk to yourself
These experiences are more common than you might think. How often do they happen to you?

Finding yourself somewhere with no memory of how you got there

Feeling like you are watching yourself from outside your body

Feeling like the world around you is unreal, like a dream or behind glass

Not recognizing yourself in the mirror

Hearing voices inside your head (distinct from your own thoughts)

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Dissociation Assessment Protocol

DES-B Adapted Screening Interpretation

These items are adapted from the Dissociative Experiences Scale Brief (DES-B). "Often" responses to multiple items = elevated dissociation requiring slower pacing and enhanced stabilization. "Often" on amnesia + voices = consider SCID-D referral for possible dissociative disorder. High dissociation contraindicates rapid trauma processing.

Clinical Guidance

DES score proxy: Never=0, Rarely=10, Sometimes=30, Often=60. Average across items. Score 30+ = clinically significant dissociation. Score 45+ = high likelihood of dissociative disorder. If elevated: Prioritize grounding skills, resource installation, and containment before any trauma work. Never use EMDR or exposure therapy without adequate stabilization and dissociation management skills in place.

Section 5 of 20

Your History

Developmental wounds and attachment patterns formed in early life

We do not need the details of what happened. The body already knows. We need only the shape of it — enough to understand what your nervous system learned about the world, and what it may need to unlearn.

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Practitioner Context

Developmental & Attachment Roots

This maps the origin of current patterns. Childhood environment + caregiver type = attachment style prediction. "Unpredictable" environments create hypervigilance; "emotionally absent" caregivers create anxious attachment seeking. Previous healing work shows what they've tried — failures here inform what NOT to repeat. Pay special attention to "what has hurt" — it reveals therapeutic ruptures and iatrogenic harm that must be avoided. Those who've done "lots of therapy" but remain stuck often need body-first approaches — the talking has been exhausted without somatic resolution.

Probing Questions
  • "What did you learn about emotions in your family?" — reveals emotional permission schema
  • "Who did you go to when you were upset as a child?" — maps attachment figure and strategy
  • "What happened when you made mistakes growing up?" — reveals shame/perfectionism origins
  • "Were there things you couldn't talk about in your family?" — identifies family secrets and taboos
  • "What made previous therapy helpful or unhelpful?" — prevents re-traumatization
Red Flags

ACE score 4+ indicates significantly elevated health and mental health risks. "Unsafe" childhood + critical/controlling caregiver = disorganized attachment requiring careful pacing. Multiple failed therapies may indicate complex trauma, personality factors, or therapist mismatch — explore thoroughly. "Can't remember" childhood before age 10-12 may indicate dissociative amnesia.

This section reveals:
Attachment origin Caregiver patterns Treatment history What's worked What's harmed ACE indicators

Cross-reference: Section 4 (Nervous System) for current regulation capacity, Section 14 (Relationships) for adult attachment patterns, Section 15 (Core Beliefs) for schema formed in childhood.

History-Taking Guidance

What's your earliest memory?— reveals age of accessible memory and tone

What would a typical dinnertime have been like in your home?— concrete scene reveals family dynamics

Who were you in your family? What was your role?— identifies parentification, scapegoat, golden child

Was there anyone outside your family who was important to you?— protective factors

What did you do with big feelings as a child?— early coping strategies

What to Notice
Age regression: Voice, posture, or language becoming younger
Minimization: "It wasn't that bad" with contradicting affect
Idealization: "Perfect childhood" with no nuance — may indicate denial
Gaps: Missing years, vague periods, "I don't remember"
Loyalty: Defending abusers, making excuses for caregivers
Flooding: Overwhelm when discussing past — may need grounding
Face-to-Face

Have grounding resources ready — feet on floor, object to hold. Watch for age regression in posture. If flooding occurs, offer orienting: "Can you feel your feet? Look around the room."

Phone / Video

Prepare client beforehand: "Have something comforting nearby." Use vocal grounding: "Take a breath with me." Watch for sudden silence — may need to check in: "Where did you go just now?"

Section 6 of 20

Your Daily Life

Circadian rhythms, sleep architecture, and lifestyle patterns

How you live shapes how you heal. These questions help us design practices that fit your actual life, not an imaginary one.

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Practitioner Context

Circadian & Lifestyle Patterns

This maps the raw material of daily life — where practices must be inserted. Sleep timing reveals circadian disruption (late sleep = cortisol dysregulation). Food relationship often mirrors emotional patterns: restriction = control seeking, comfort eating = emotional numbing. Substance use indicates current coping strategies that practices will need to replace. Screen time + low nature exposure = dopamine dysregulation. Protocol design: Match practice recommendations to actual wake/sleep times, not ideal ones. High screen + low nature = prioritize Sun teacher and outdoor grounding.

This section reveals:
Circadian state Food patterns Coping mechanisms Dopamine baseline Practice windows
Lifestyle Inquiry

Walk me through yesterday — from when you woke up to when you went to sleep.— reveals actual vs reported habits

What's your relationship with food like right now?— opens without judgment

What do you reach for when you need to feel better quickly?— reveals coping hierarchy

When was the last time you felt genuinely rested?— reveals sleep debt

What to Notice
Energy: Alert? Depleted? Caffeinated alertness vs genuine?
Shame: Apologizing for habits? Minimizing substance use?
Chaos markers: No consistent routine, reactive living
Rigidity markers: Over-controlled routines, fear of deviation
Face-to-Face

Observe signs of sleep deprivation (dark circles, yawning). Note caffeine consumption if visible. Watch for physical signs of nutrition: skin, hair, energy levels.

Phone / Video

Note time of session vs their rhythm. Evening session + exhausted voice = chronic depletion. On video, note environment: lights on during day? Clutter? Food/drink visible?

Section 7 of 20

Your Environment

Physical space, support systems, and practical constraints

Your environment shapes what is possible. Understanding your constraints helps us design a protocol that works in your actual space.

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Practitioner Context

Environmental Constraints & Support System

This determines practical protocol feasibility. Each constraint requires workarounds: no floor space → seated/standing variations; no cold water → other vagal interventions. Support system quality predicts dropout risk — isolated clients need more check-ins. "No one" in support or "others are the problem" indicates relational trauma that will emerge in therapeutic relationship. Multiple constraints + no support = high-risk client needing modified protocol. Practical: Use this to pre-plan which Teachers are accessible and which need adaptation.

This section reveals:
Practice limitations Teacher accessibility Support quality Dropout risk Adaptation needs
Environment Inquiry

Describe the space where you'd do your practices.— reality-tests assumptions

Who in your life would you call at 2am if you needed to?— reveals support depth

How would your living situation respond to you making changes?— identifies sabotage risk

What time of day could be just yours, uninterrupted?— finds practice windows

What to Notice
Resignation: "I can't because..." = learned helplessness
Blame: All constraints external = low agency
Isolation: Long pause before naming support
Enmeshment: "We" instead of "I" when describing space
Face-to-Face

If session is at their space, observe directly. Note cleanliness, organization, light, temperature. Is there a potential practice space visible?

Phone / Video

On video, ask: "Can you show me where you'd practice?" Observe: Is there space? Light? Privacy? On phone: ask for detailed description — vagueness may indicate avoidance.

Section 8 of 20

Your Spirit

Meaning-making frameworks, spiritual resonance, and religious history

Terra Form§ works with or without spiritual framing. These questions help us understand what resonates with you. There is no wrong answer.

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Practitioner Context

Spiritual Framework & Meaning-Making

This determines which language resonates. Religious upbringing + current practice mismatch often indicates spiritual wound or deconversion. "Mother" concept resistance usually signals maternal wound — approach feminine/receptive framing carefully. Religious trauma requires avoiding triggering language (sin, surrender, etc.). High openness to devotional elements = can use full mystical framing. Low openness = keep it secular/scientific. Key calibration: Match language to their framework. Same practices, different containers.

This section reveals:
Language preferences Spiritual wounds Meaning framework Mother wound markers Religious trauma
Spiritual Inquiry

What was your experience of religion growing up?— watch for affect charge

Is there anything you'd call sacred or meaningful beyond the everyday?— non-religious framing

How do you feel about the word 'mother' in a spiritual context?— screens for wound

Have you ever felt connected to something larger than yourself?— reveals capacity for numinous experience

What to Notice
Contempt: Eye roll, dismissiveness about spirituality = wound
Grief: Sadness about lost faith, "I used to believe"
Fear: Anxiety about "woo woo" or being judged
Longing: Hunger for meaning beneath skeptical surface
Face-to-Face

Note any religious jewelry, symbols, or objects. Watch body language when discussing childhood religion vs current beliefs. Posture shifts reveal where the wound is.

Phone / Video

Listen for tone shifts — intellectualization vs embodied speaking. On video, note any spiritual or religious items visible in background. Pause before pushing if resistance emerges.

1 = purely secular, 10 = fully devotional
Purely secular Fully devotional
Section 9 of 20

Your Capacity

Time, energy, and bandwidth available for practice

We design your protocol around what you can actually do, not what you wish you could. Be honest. Starting small is starting right.

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Practitioner Context

Resource Assessment & Dosage Calibration

This is the reality check — it reveals what the client can actually commit to versus what they aspire to. Over-prescription is the most common protocol failure. A client who cannot sustain the practices will abandon them and internalize failure. Match recommendations precisely to their available bandwidth, then gradually expand capacity.

This section reveals:
Time bandwidth Energy reserves Circadian rhythm Practice sustainability Dosage parameters
Capacity Assessment

On your worst days, what could you still do?— reveals floor capacity

What's happened with commitments you've made to yourself before?— predicts follow-through

What time of day do you feel most like yourself?— optimal practice window

What would make you abandon this work?— identifies dropout risks

What to Notice
Inflation: "I can do 2 hours daily" = likely unsustainable
Deflation: "I can barely manage 5 mins" = may be more capable
Perfectionism: All-or-nothing language about practice
Reality: Match their stated time against Section 1 life load
Face-to-Face

Notice energy levels during session — are they fading? This is diagnostic of their daily capacity. Observe if they're fidgeting (need movement) or stillness-seeking.

Phone / Video

Ask them to pull up their actual calendar and look at a typical week together. "Show me where you'd fit this" — reality testing in real-time.

Section 10 of 20

Your Intentions

Why they're here, what they're hoping for, and what they fear

The final questions. These matter most. Why are you here? What are you hoping for? What are you afraid might happen? Your honesty here shapes everything that follows.

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Practitioner Context

Motivation Mapping & Resistance Anticipation

This reveals the client's true motivation and hidden fears. Pay close attention to the "why now" — what brought them to this point matters more than abstract goals. Watch for the gap between stated intentions and underlying fears. Where they anticipate failure often indicates where the actual work lies. Clients who have "given up" often require slower, more resource-focused protocols before deeper work.

This section reveals:
Core motivation Hidden fears Timeline expectations Hopelessness index Willingness profile Resistance patterns
Motivation & Resistance Mapping

Why now? What happened that made you reach out today specifically?— reveals precipitating event

If you imagine yourself a year from now, having done this work — what's different?— future-self visioning

What part of you doesn't want to get better?— reveals secondary gain

What would you lose if you healed?— surfaces hidden resistance

What to Notice
Hope level: Genuine belief vs going through motions
External vs internal: "So I can work again" vs "So I can feel alive"
Specificity: Vague goals = vague commitment
Desperation: "Last resort" energy — high stakes but fragile
Face-to-Face

Watch for tears when discussing hope or future. Note body posture when imagining change — expansion or contraction? Eyes looking up (future-oriented) or down (stuck)?

Phone / Video

Listen for voice changes when discussing hope — does it lift or fall flat? On video, watch facial expression when imagining the future. Resignation is visible.

What brought you to this point. What made you fill out this form today.
Not perfection. Just better. What would that feel like in your body, your days, your life?
In this work. In your healing. Name the fear.
Healing asks something of you. What can you offer?
Anything at all. What have we not asked that matters?

Your responses are private and will only be used to create your personalised protocol. We do not share your data with third parties. This information stays between us.

Section 11 of 20

Communication & Expression

How they process, articulate, and share their inner world

How you communicate reveals how you process and share your inner world. Understanding your expression patterns helps us simulate how you might respond in various scenarios.

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Practitioner Context

Linguistic Fingerprint & Expression Style

This section captures the client's communication DNA — essential for digital twin fidelity. Watch for discrepancies between preferred and actual style, which often indicates self-perception gaps. The conflict resolution pattern is particularly diagnostic for attachment style and autonomic regulation.

This section reveals:
Communication mode Processing style Conflict patterns Expression blocks Linguistic patterns
Communication Patterns

When something is bothering you, how do people around you know?— reveals expression style

What happens when you try to ask for what you need?— identifies blocks

Whose voice do you hear when you criticize yourself?— reveals introjected critic

What do you wish you could say that you've never been able to?— locates unexpressed material

What to Notice
Verbal/nonverbal match: Words say "fine" but body says otherwise
Throat clearing: Often indicates swallowed words
Hedging: "Kind of," "sort of," "maybe" = permission issues
Your experience: Do you feel heard? Confused? Talked at?
Face-to-Face

Watch hand gestures — do they match words or contradict? Note if they cover mouth, touch throat. Observe volume regulation — too loud, too soft, monotone?

Phone / Video

Voice analysis is primary. Note: Speed (racing vs halting), pitch (high = anxiety), volume drops (shame moments), trailing off (incomplete thoughts).

E.g., "direct and analytical," "warm but guarded," "verbose when anxious"
Section 12 of 20

Decision-Making Patterns

How they weigh options, tolerate uncertainty, and commit to action

How you make decisions — from small daily choices to major life directions — reveals your core operating system. This helps us understand how you weigh options and act.

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Practitioner Context

Decision Architecture & Choice Patterns

Decision-making patterns are foundational for simulation accuracy. Watch for analysis paralysis combined with "gut feel" answers — this often indicates a split between intellectual and somatic knowing. Regret patterns reveal core values; what they regret not doing matters more than what they regret doing.

This section reveals:
Decision speed Risk tolerance Analysis patterns Regret profile Agency locus
Decision Inquiry

Tell me about a decision you're proud of. How did you make it?— reveals success pattern

When have you known something was right but couldn't act on it?— identifies knowing-acting gap

Who in your life do you trust to give you guidance?— maps trusted sources

What's a decision you're avoiding right now?— current stuck point

What to Notice
Decisiveness: Quick answers vs endless qualifications
Locus: Internal authority vs seeking permission
Body: Do they know decisions in their body or only head?
Regret flavor: Action regrets vs inaction regrets
Face-to-Face

Watch for body involvement when discussing decisions. Gut-deciders often touch abdomen. Over-analysts show tension in forehead/jaw. Note their decision-making IN the session.

Phone / Video

Notice response latency — instant answers vs long pauses. How do they handle your questions requiring choice? This IS data about their decision pattern.

Section 13 of 20

Emotional Landscape

Baseline affect, trigger patterns, and emotional recovery capacity

Your emotional patterns — what triggers you, how you recover, what you feel most often — are essential for understanding how you experience and move through the world.

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Practitioner Context

Affective Terrain & Emotional Processing

This maps the client's emotional topography — baseline state, reactivity, and recovery patterns. The gap between "default emotion" and desired state indicates the therapeutic direction. Trigger patterns reveal unmetabolized material; recovery speed indicates regulatory capacity. Difficulty naming emotions (alexithymia) indicates need for bottom-up somatic approaches before cognitive work.

Probing Questions
  • "Where do you feel that emotion in your body?" — assesses somatic-emotional connection
  • "What emotion was not allowed in your family growing up?" — reveals suppressed affect
  • "What helps you when you're emotionally overwhelmed?" — maps existing coping resources
  • "Is there an emotion you wish you could feel more/less of?" — reveals emotional goals
Red Flags

Default "flat/numb" + long recovery = chronic dissociation or depression requiring evaluation. Multiple triggers + minutes recovery = may overwhelm quickly in session — pace carefully. "Can't identify what I feel" = alexithymia requiring somatic focus before emotional processing. All triggers relate to one theme (rejection, control, etc.) = core wound to address.

This section reveals:
Baseline affect Trigger patterns Recovery capacity Emotional range Alexithymia indicators

Cross-reference: Section 4 (Nervous System) for regulation baseline, Section 16 (Defense Patterns) for emotional avoidance strategies, Section 17 (Cognitive Style) for how emotions are processed mentally.

Emotional Landscape Exploration

What emotion feels most dangerous to you?— reveals forbidden affect

If your sadness could speak, what would it say?— personifies for access

When was the last time you cried? What happened?— reveals release capacity

Is there an emotion you've never let anyone see?— hidden affect

What to Notice
Affect display: What emotions show on their face vs reported?
Congruence: Do words match expression? Incongruence = blocked access
Tears: Do they come easily? Are they fought?
Alexithymia: "I don't know" when asked what they feel
Face-to-Face

Watch microexpressions — brief flashes of emotion quickly suppressed. Note skin color changes (flushing = anger/shame, pallor = fear). Have tissues available but don't offer preemptively.

Phone / Video

Listen for voice cracks, swallowing, sniffing. "I'm fine" in a tight voice = not fine. On video, watch eyes (pooling tears, looking away to manage affect).

The feeling you return to when nothing specific is happening.
Section 14 of 20

Relationship Dynamics

Attachment style, trust patterns, and relational wounds

How you connect, what you need, where you struggle — your relational patterns shape every interaction. Understanding these helps us model your social responses.

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Practitioner Context

Attachment Dynamics & Relational Patterns

This section maps attachment style and interpersonal needs — critical for relationship simulation. Watch for the constellation: closeness comfort + trust difficulty + help-seeking = attachment profile. The recurring patterns question reveals core relational wounds that likely originated in developmental period.

This section reveals:
Attachment style Trust patterns Dependency comfort Relational wounds Social orientation
Attachment Exploration

What happens in your body when someone gets too close?— reveals intimacy response

Who has hurt you most? What happened?— identifies core wounds

What would a truly safe relationship look like?— reveals longing and belief

How do you know when someone cares about you?— love language/recognition

What to Notice
Rapport with you: How quickly do they warm up? Too fast? Too guarded?
Eye contact: Comfort with mutual gaze = attachment security indicator
Boundaries: Do they respect time/space or push past limits?
You as data: Your feelings toward them ARE diagnostic
Face-to-Face

Notice physical distance — do they lean in or away? What happens when you move closer? Attachment patterns will play out IN this relationship — observe the transference beginning.

Phone / Video

Note how they manage session endings — easily? With difficulty? Do they keep talking past time? On video, observe camera distance — how much of themselves do they show?

The same dynamics that appear with different people over time.
Section 15 of 20

Core Beliefs & Values

Deep schema about self, world, and others that drive behavior

What you believe about yourself, others, and the world shapes every perception and choice. These deep structures guide behavior even when you're not conscious of them.

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Practitioner Context

Core Schema & Value Architecture

Core beliefs are the deep algorithms that run beneath conscious awareness. The self-belief question reveals foundational schema — often formed early and resistant to change. World beliefs indicate whether the client's basic orientation is toward safety or threat. The values ranking is essential for accurate behavioral prediction in the digital twin. These beliefs predict how the client will interpret ambiguous situations and respond to challenges.

Probing Questions
  • "When did you first start believing that about yourself?" — traces schema origin
  • "What would have to happen for you to believe something different?" — tests flexibility
  • "Whose voice does that belief sound like?" — connects to attachment figures
  • "What evidence contradicts this belief that you dismiss?" — reveals confirmation bias patterns
  • "If you fully believed [opposite], how would your life be different?" — assesses functional impact
Red Flags

"Unlovable" + "burden" = core shame requiring careful approach; high suicide risk factor. "Dangerous world" + low trust = may project threat onto practitioner; build safety slowly. Unable to identify any positive self-beliefs = severe depression or trauma; assess for suicidality. Values misaligned with lived life = source of chronic distress and self-judgment.

This section reveals:
Self-schema World view Value hierarchy Meaning framework Core narratives Prediction targets

Cross-reference: Section 5 (History) for belief origins, Section 17 (Cognitive Style) for how beliefs maintain themselves, Section 19 (Identity) for relationship between beliefs and self-concept.

Core Belief Inquiry

What's the worst thing you believe about yourself?— reveals core negative schema

If that belief was a person, what would they look like?— externalizes for exploration

What do you know is true about yourself that you have trouble believing?— finds positive schema

What matters most to you? What could you not live without?— core values

What to Notice
Speed of response: Quick negative beliefs = highly accessible schema
Conviction: "I know it's irrational but..." = limited insight
Affect: Shame when stating beliefs vs matter-of-fact
Exceptions: Can they find counter-evidence or does belief feel absolute?
Face-to-Face

Watch for collapse when naming negative beliefs — physical deflation signals embodied schema. Note eye movement — looking down = shame, away = avoidance, at you = seeking validation.

Phone / Video

Listen for voice changes when stating core beliefs — dropping volume (shame), speeding up (wanting to move past). These beliefs are often hard to say aloud — give space and silence.

The voice that speaks when no one is watching. What does it say?
Section 16 of 20

Defense Patterns

Protective strategies and coping mechanisms developed for survival

We all have ways of protecting ourselves from pain. Understanding your protective strategies — without judgment — helps us work with them rather than against them.

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Practitioner Context

Defensive Architecture & Protective Strategies

Defenses are not pathology — they're adaptive responses to overwhelming experience. This section maps the client's protective system. The goal is not to eliminate defenses but to understand their function and help develop more flexible options. The primary defense often points to the original wound.

This section reveals:
Primary defenses Coping strategies Avoidance patterns Numbing behaviors Protective masks
Defense Exploration

What do you do when you don't want to feel something?— reveals avoidance strategy

What have your defenses protected you from?— honors their function

What's the cost of staying safe this way?— reveals price of protection

If you couldn't use [primary defense], what would happen?— reveals underlying fear

What to Notice
In-session defenses: Are they intellectualizing right now? Deflecting with humor?
Awareness: Do they know they're defending or is it ego-syntonic?
Flexibility: Can they name alternatives or is defense rigid?
Your response: Do you feel held at distance? Managed? Controlled?
Face-to-Face

Defenses are visible: crossed arms (protection), leaning back (distance), rapid talking (avoidance), going blank (dissociation). Note when defenses activate — these are diagnostic moments.

Phone / Video

Listen for: subject changes (deflection), "I don't know" (avoidance), over-explaining (intellectualization), getting vague (fog). Name it gently: "I notice we moved away from..."

The version of yourself you present that isn't fully authentic.
Section 17 of 20

Cognitive Style

Mental patterns, thinking biases, and information processing style

How you think — your mental patterns, biases, and processing preferences — shapes how you interpret reality. This helps us understand your inner mental landscape.

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Practitioner Context

Cognitive Architecture & Thinking Patterns

Cognitive style directly impacts how information is processed and conclusions are drawn. This is essential for digital twin accuracy — the same data will yield different outputs depending on cognitive architecture. Watch for cognitive distortion patterns (catastrophizing, black-and-white thinking) which indicate areas of rigidity.

This section reveals:
Thinking style Cognitive biases Inner dialogue tone Mental flexibility Problem orientation
Cognitive Pattern Inquiry

What does your inner voice sound like — kind, critical, both?— reveals self-talk tone

When something goes wrong, what's your first thought?— reveals attribution style

How do you know when you're overthinking?— tests metacognition

Can you hold two contradictory ideas at once?— cognitive flexibility

What to Notice
In-session cognition: Are distortions visible in how they're telling their story?
Absolutism: "Always," "never," "everyone," "no one" language
Self-observation: Can they reflect on their own thinking?
Nuance tolerance: Can they hold "both/and" or stuck in "either/or"?
Face-to-Face

Watch forehead tension (overthinking), head tilts (considering), eyes moving side to side (processing). People who live in their heads often have less body awareness — note the head/body disconnect.

Phone / Video

Listen for: "I think" vs "I feel" ratio, circular logic, getting lost in abstractions, difficulty arriving at a point. Ask: "What's the simplest way to say that?"

Section 18 of 20

Sensory Profile

Sensory thresholds, overwhelm triggers, and soothing modalities

How you experience the world through your senses — what overwhelms you, what soothes you, what you seek out — reveals deep patterns about your nervous system and preferences.

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Practitioner Context

Sensory Processing & Environmental Sensitivity

Sensory profile is often overlooked but critical for protocol design. Highly sensitive individuals need slower, gentler approaches. Sensory-seeking clients may need more intense practices. Environmental sensitivities indicate nervous system threshold — lower threshold = more easily overwhelmed. This maps directly to recommended practice intensity.

This section reveals:
Sensory threshold Overwhelm triggers Soothing modalities Environmental needs HSP indicators
Sensory Profile Inquiry

What does "too much" feel like for you? What happens?— reveals overwhelm signature

What physical sensations soothe you?— identifies resources

Are there textures, sounds, or lights you can't tolerate?— maps sensory triggers

What does your ideal physical environment feel like?— reveals need parameters

What to Notice
Session environment: Did they adjust chair, lighting, temperature?
Startle response: Do sudden sounds cause visible reaction?
Self-soothing: Rubbing hands, touching fabric, rocking?
Clothing: Soft fabrics, loose fit? Tags cut out?
Face-to-Face

Observe the session space — is the light okay? Temperature? Ask permission before turning on music or fans. HSP clients may be reading YOUR nervous system — regulate yourself.

Phone / Video

Ask about their environment: "Is this a good space for you right now?" Note audio sensitivity to your voice (do they ask you to speak softer?). On video, observe lighting choices.

Section 19 of 20

Identity & Self

Self-concept stability, role identification, and authentic self access

Who you believe you are, how stable that sense is, and what roles define you — this is the foundation of your psychological architecture.

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Practitioner Context

Self-Concept & Identity Architecture

Identity coherence is foundational for digital twin fidelity. Unstable identity often indicates developmental trauma or ongoing dissociation. The gap between "who I am" and "who I appear to be" reveals the work needed. Pay attention to which identities they claim versus which they struggle with — the difficult ones often hold the most therapeutic potential.

This section reveals:
Identity stability Role identification Authentic self access Self-perception gaps Integration level
Identity Exploration

Who are you when no one is watching?— reveals authentic self access

If you took off all your roles, what would be left?— tests for over-identification

Has your sense of who you are ever felt unstable or fragmented?— identity coherence

What parts of yourself do you hide from others?— shadow material

What to Notice
Consistency: Does their presentation match throughout or shift?
Role vs self: Do they describe themselves in terms of roles only?
Integration: Can they hold complexity about themselves?
Parts language: "Part of me..." = IFS-accessible, may indicate fragmentation
Face-to-Face

Watch for shifts in presentation — voice, posture, vocabulary. These may indicate parts or states. Note: Does the "presenting self" feel genuine or performed?

Phone / Video

Listen for voice changes that suggest different states or parts. "Who is here right now?" can be a useful check-in. On video, note if they seem "different" than earlier in session.

Section 20 of 20

Drive & Motivation

What activates them, what depletes them, and how they sustain action

What moves you forward? What stops you? Understanding your motivational architecture helps us predict how you'll engage with challenges and opportunities.

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Practitioner Context

Motivational Architecture & Drive Patterns

This final section captures what activates and deactivates the client. Toward vs. away motivation is crucial for protocol framing — some clients move toward goals, others flee from pain. The procrastination pattern reveals how they relate to their own impulses and structures. Energy source (internal vs. external) indicates sustainability of motivation.

This section reveals:
Motivation type Energy patterns Procrastination drivers Goal relationship Activation needs
Closing Inquiry

What lights you up? When do you feel most alive?— reveals intrinsic motivation

What's the difference between what you want to do and what you actually do?— maps intention-action gap

When you procrastinate, what are you really avoiding?— reveals underlying fear

What would you do if you weren't afraid?— unlocks blocked desire

Final Session Observations
Energy now: Have they gained or lost energy during this intake?
Engagement: Did they lean in over time or pull back?
Hope: What's their emotional tone as you close?
Your sense: What's your gut feeling about this person?
Face-to-Face

Notice how they prepare to leave — relief? Reluctance? Take a moment to resource them before they go into the world. Offer a transition: "What do you need before you leave?"

Phone / Video

Leave time for transition. Ask: "How are you feeling as we wrap up?" Ensure they're not immediately going into high-demand situations. Schedule next contact before ending.

You have completed the full intake. Your responses paint a comprehensive picture that will inform your personalized protocol and, if you choose, enable testing of ideas against your digital profile. This information remains private and secure.

Journey Begun

Thank you for your honesty. What you have shared here took courage. Many of these questions name what has gone unnamed for years.

You have taken the first step. Not the step of understanding — the step of being seen. The body does not need to be fixed. It needs to complete what got interrupted. The ground is ready. The Teachers are waiting. And they are patient.

Download your responses below. These form the foundation of your protocol.

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