Methodology
How the quiz works
This quiz is an educational tool, not a diagnostic instrument. Here is what it does, how it reasons, and where it falls short.
The clinical reasoning
The quiz was built by an art therapist with training in trauma, somatic approaches, and evidence-based modalities. The goal was not to replicate a clinical intake — it was to surface the right starting questions and give people enough information to make a better first call to a therapist.
In practice, modality matching rests on a few key dimensions: how someone responds to stress in their body and mind, what has helped (even a little), their preference for structure versus exploration, and whether there are clinical signals that point toward specialized approaches (OCD, trauma, high emotional intensity, etc.). The quiz asks about these dimensions in accessible, non-clinical language.
How scoring works
Weighted option scoring
Each answer option carries clinical weights for specific modalities. Selecting 'panic or strong body anxiety' scores higher for somatic and CBT than for psychodynamic, for example.
Normalization for multi-select questions
When you select multiple options in a single question, scores are divided by the number of selections so that choosing many items does not overpower more specific signals.
Baseline calibration
We subtract a modality baseline for each answered question, preventing broad-appeal modalities (like CBT) from dominating just because they score on almost everything.
Clinical gates
Patterns like dissociation, shutdown, flooded responses, or high overwhelm activate clinical gates that boost stabilization-first modalities (DBT, somatic) and surface a note about pacing.
Safety pre-screen
Before the quiz questions, we ask about current safety, functional impairment, and prior treatment history. This helps route people toward higher levels of care when indicated.
Evidence levels we use
Strong
Gold-standard mappings: ERP for OCD, EMDR and TF-CBT/CPT for PTSD, DBT for high emotional intensity. These are backed by multiple RCTs and major clinical guidelines.
Moderate
Solid but more context-dependent evidence, such as ACT for psychological flexibility, psychodynamic for relational patterns, group CBT for specific presentations.
Emerging or preference-based
Approaches with promising evidence or strong clinical rationale but more variable research. Presented as options to explore, not default recommendations.
Key clinical sources
- NICE PTSD guideline (NG116) -- trauma-focused CBT and EMDR
- NICE OCD guideline (CG31) -- CBT with ERP
- VA/DoD PTSD CPG (2023) -- trauma-focused psychotherapy and medication
- CBT meta-analysis (2025)
- DBT RCT review (2024)
- Arts therapies review, JAMA Network Open (2024) -- neurological and clinical evidence
Honest limits of this quiz
- A strong quiz score does not guarantee personal fit. Therapeutic alliance -- the relationship between you and your therapist -- is one of the most consistent predictors of outcomes across all modalities.
- The quiz cannot assess severity, diagnose conditions, or replace a clinical evaluation.
- Access, cost, insurance coverage, and provider availability are real constraints that the quiz cannot factor in.
- Cultural background, identity, and lived experience shape what feels safe and helpful in ways a short quiz cannot capture.
- Use these results as a starting point for conversations with a provider, not as a final decision.