---
name: cbt-scenario-design
description: >-
  Designs, calibrates, and validates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) roleplay scenarios,
  difficulty ladders, character psychological profiles, and internal CBT logic rules.
---

# CBT Scenario Design & Calibration Skill

Use this skill when creating new simulation scenarios, tuning AI character difficulty levels, adding cognitive distortion targets, or modifying the scenario catalog.

---

## 1. Clinical Scenario Architecture

Every scenario in Cognitive Clarity conforms to the following schema:

```typescript
export interface Scenario {
  id: string;                                                // Unique kebab-case slug (e.g. 'workplace-critical-review')
  title: string;                                             // Human-readable evocative title
  description: string;                                       // Context setting the premise for the user
  category: 'Social Anxiety' | 'Workplace' | 'Relationships' | 'Self-Talk';
  difficulty: 'Beginner' | 'Intermediate' | 'Advanced';
  characterName: string;                                     // Name or archetype of the AI partner
  initialMessage: string;                                    // The opening dialogue from the AI character
  cbtFocus: string[];                                        // Target distortions and techniques
  systemInstruction: string;                                 // Comprehensive prompt with character persona & logic
}
```

---

## 2. Difficulty Calibration Rubric

| Difficulty | Character Resistance | Cognitive Distortion Salience | User Task | Recommended Category |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Beginner** | Highly receptive to assertive communication; explicitly hints at expectations. | Overt, obvious distortions (e.g., explicit All-or-Nothing statements). | Identify and dispute basic cognitive distortions; maintain calm presence. | `Social Anxiety`, `Self-Talk` |
| **Intermediate** | Ambiguous motivations; subtle passive-aggression; holds reasonable opposing perspective. | Subtle, nuanced distortions (e.g., Mind Reading, Fortune Telling, Maladaptive Guilt). | Set boundaries, de-escalate without defensiveness, practice Cognitive Reframing. | `Workplace`, `Relationships` |
| **Advanced** | Strong emotional activation; high clinical resistance; persistent invalidation or defensiveness. | Layered cognitive distortions combined with emotional triggers. | Apply Radical Acceptance, Gray Rock Method, multi-turn emotional regulation under stress. | `Relationships`, `Self-Talk` |

---

## 3. System Instruction Design Blueprint

When writing `systemInstruction` for a scenario, always follow this four-part structure:

```markdown
1. CHARACTER IDENTITY & CONTEXT:
   - Name, relationship to user, current emotional state, and immediate goal.
   - Tone markers (e.g., "curt, hurried, stressed" or "skeptical, passive-aggressive").

2. INTERNAL CBT LOGIC:
   - IF the user becomes defensive or aggressive -> Escalate emotional distance or defensiveness.
   - IF the user validates emotions while establishing clear boundaries -> De-escalate and show grudging respect.
   - IF the user asks clarifying questions without mind reading -> Clarify directly and remove ambiguity.

3. VOCAL & DIALOGUE STYLE:
   - Sentence length: Short and conversational (1-3 sentences per turn).
   - Natural conversational elements: Hesitations, pauses, tone inflections.

4. ANTI-META GUARDRAILS:
   - NEVER break character.
   - NEVER provide feedback, scores, advice, or therapy tips.
   - NEVER say "Good job" or "That was a great reframing".
```

---

## 4. Scenario Validation Checklist

- [ ] `id` is unique and formatted as lowercase kebab-case.
- [ ] `category` is one of the four clinical categories.
- [ ] `difficulty` is properly calibrated (`Beginner`, `Intermediate`, `Advanced`).
- [ ] `cbtFocus` lists at least 2 valid entries from `CBT_GLOSSARY`.
- [ ] `initialMessage` immediately immerses the user without preamble.
- [ ] `systemInstruction` contains explicit `INTERNAL CBT LOGIC` rules.
- [ ] Zero clinical meta-feedback or congratulatory phrases in persona instructions.