LSP · Entry calibration for Extern, year 1

Entry calibration for the first-year Extern programme

This calibration is not an examination of professional qualification and does not confer the right to practise. Its purpose is to determine whether the Extern programme is right for you as a way to confirm and complete the LSP first-year competencies.

What the outcome can be

After the review LSP recommends one of four routes:

First-year Extern — the candidate has a confirmed base and practice that allow them to complete year one in the Extern format.
A calibration interview for direct entry to year 2 — the core competencies already match the level expected of year 1.
Year 1 — the gaps are fundamental, or there is not yet enough practical experience.
Pause / another route — there is a question of safety, ethics, accuracy of information or readiness for the format that must be resolved before study.

Admission to Extern does not guarantee subsequent entry to year 2: the decision is made after completing the programme and the final assessment of first-year competencies.

Format

Stage 1 A questionnaire and 40 situational questions — about 60–75 minutes.
Stage 2 One 15-minute simulated micro-session and 10 minutes of oral review.
In total About 90 minutes across two sittings.
Answer format One best next step out of four options.

We recommend completing the online part without notes, search engines or AI assistants. What matters to us is not a perfect answer but the way you currently make decisions. Mistakes in themselves do not close the path to Extern; misrepresenting your experience does.

Confidentiality

Do not give names, contacts, dates of birth or any other information that could identify a real client. In the practical stage you work with an actor or another candidate following a training scenario — not a real client.

Contact details

Before you start, please leave your contact details. We need them to arrange the second stage and to send you the result of the calibration.

→ How to reach you All three fields are required.

Full name

Phone Email

Your contact details are used only to organise the calibration: to arrange the second stage and pass on the result. In the questionnaire and the test that follow, do not give identifying information about clients.

Experience and background

Question 1 of 9

The Extern programme is intended for people who already have training or practice in counselling. These answers help us interpret your test result correctly. There are no right or wrong answers here.

1 Do you have training in psychology, counselling or psychotherapy? Choose one option.

No. I am studying now. I have taken individual courses. I hold a diploma or a completed programme. Other — please specify.

Name of the organisation, programme, dates of study and the document received

Experience and background

Question 2 of 9

2 Have you worked with clients as a counsellor, psychologist or psychotherapist? Choose one option.

No. Only within training practice. I practised before, I do not practise now. I practise now.

Experience and background

Question 3 of 9

3 Roughly how much client experience do you have?

No practical experience yet. Up to 20 sessions. 20–50 sessions. 50–200 sessions. More than 200 sessions. Hard to estimate.

Experience and background

Question 4 of 9

4 Which clients have you worked with? You can choose several options.

Adult individual clients. Couples. Families. Groups. Children and adolescents. Training or simulated clients only. No practical experience yet.

Main types of request Online or in person Countries where your clients live

Experience and background

Question 5 of 9

5 Do you receive supervision?

I have never had supervision. I have had it a few times. I have it from time to time. I have it regularly. I used to have it regularly.

Approximate number of supervision hours in the last 12 months — optional

Experience and background

Question 6 of 9

6 Have you had personal therapy as a client?

No. I have in the past. I am in therapy now. I prefer not to answer.

Experience and background

Question 7 of 9

7 Roughly how much personal therapy have you had? Optional question. You do not need to disclose the content of your personal therapy.

Up to 10 hours. 10–30 hours. 30–100 hours. More than 100 hours. I don't remember. I prefer not to answer.

Experience and background

Question 8 of 9

8 Which country do you live in, and where are your clients based?

Country of residence Time zone Countries where your clients live Professional insurance or association membership: which, and in which country?

Experience and background

Question 9 of 9

9 What do you want to get from the first-year Extern programme? Choose up to three options.

Organise the knowledge I already have. Improve my session skills. Learn to hold the frame and structure better. Get clear on ethics and confidentiality. Learn to assess risk and recognise red flags. Confirm the LSP first-year competencies. Prepare to enter LSP year 2. Receive supervision and feedback. Other — please specify.

Other — please specify — optional

Experience and background

Before you go to the test

✓ Please confirm Tick all three items.

I have given accurate information about my education and practice. I understand that answers about experience help to choose an educational route but do not in themselves confirm a professional qualification. I will not disclose identifying information about clients.

In questions 1–40 choose the one best next step. In real work the context may require additional actions; here we are assessing the initial decision. Questions are shown one at a time — you can always go back and change an answer.

Ethics, frame and confidentiality

1 In the first session a client asks: “Will everything I say stay between us under any circumstances?” Choose the one best next step.

AConfirm it: without absolute confidentiality there can be no trust. BExplain confidentiality in plain language, state its limits in advance and check that the client has understood them. CSay that this is a legal matter and not relevant to the session. DPromise confidentiality and explain the exceptions only if a risk arises.

Ethics, frame and confidentiality

2 A close colleague of one of your ongoing clients approaches you. The work seems possible, but the two are in close contact. Choose the one best next step.

AAccept immediately: the content of both pieces of work is confidential anyway. BAsk your ongoing client for permission to start working with the colleague. CAssess the role conflict and the risk to both pieces of work, discuss the case without identifiers in supervision, and offer a referral if the risk is significant. DTell the new client that you already work with their colleague and leave the decision to them.

Ethics, frame and confidentiality

3 You want to record a training session for review on the programme. Choose the one best next step.

AA general “data processing” clause in the contract is enough. BYou may record without warning if the face and voice are removed. CYou need separate informed consent, a defined lawful basis for processing, a clear purpose, a defined circle of access, a retention period, secure storage and a genuine option to refuse without receiving poorer help. DVerbal consent at the end of a session that has already been recorded is enough.

Contact and the working alliance

4 The client says: “Tell me honestly, should I leave my husband or not?” There are no signs of immediate danger in the account so far. Choose the one best next step.

AGive advice if your own experience is similar. BRefuse to discuss the relationship so as not to influence the decision. CClarify what lies behind the request and explore the circumstances, safety, values and consequences of the options, leaving the decision with the client. DSay that a good therapist never answers a client's questions.

Contact and the working alliance

5 After your question the client falls silent and cries. Choose the one best next step.

AAsk the next question quickly to reduce the awkwardness. BStay in contact, allow a pause, gently name what is happening and ask what would be helpful now. CExplain the psychological reason for the tears. DMove the conversation to a more positive topic.

Contact and the working alliance

6 The client says: “You've misunderstood me again. I'm starting to think these meetings are pointless.” Choose the one best next step.

AExplain that resistance is a normal part of therapy. BRemind them of your qualifications and ask them to trust the process. CAcknowledge the possible misstep, ask them to show you exactly where you lost them, and discuss together how to repair the work. DEnd the work, since the alliance is already broken.

Session structure and goal

7 The client states their request as: “I want to finally become a normal person.” Choose the one best next step.

AAccept the wording as the goal, because it belongs to the client. BOffer the standard goal of “raising self-esteem”. CExplore what “normal” means to the client, in which situations the problem shows itself, and by what signs they will know the work is helping. DLook straight away for a childhood cause of this belief.

Session structure and goal

8 Two minutes before the end of the session the client mentions for the first time an event that may involve a threat to their safety. Choose the one best next step.

AFinish strictly on time and return to the topic in a week. BExtend the session indefinitely and begin a full exploration of the history. CAcknowledge the importance of what was said, quickly clarify the immediate risk, act on protocol if needed, and if it is not urgent agree a safe next step. DWrite the client detailed advice after the session.

Risk and red flags

9 The client says: “Sometimes I just wish I wouldn't wake up.” The best first response: Choose the one best next step.

A“You're not going to do anything to yourself, are you?” B“Don't say that — you have so much to live for.” CCalmly and directly ask about thoughts of death and self-harm, intent, plan, access to means, timeframe, past attempts and protective factors. DCall the emergency services immediately without asking anything.

Risk and red flags

10 The client reports an intention to end their life today, names a specific method and has access to it. Choose the one best next step.

ATake a promise that they will do nothing before the next session. BKeep the usual session format: strong emotions alone do not mean action. CDo not leave the situation without active support: follow the local emergency protocol, involve the urgent help required and document the decisions. DAsk the client to message you tomorrow.

Risk and red flags

11 The client has barely slept for three nights, speaks unusually fast, feels “chosen for a great mission” and has spent all their savings on a new project. Choose the one best next step.

ASupport the surge of energy and set ambitious goals. BConsider a possible manic state, assess the immediate risk and arrange an urgent medical/psychiatric assessment within the local pathway. CRun a personality test and discuss the result next week. DInterpret the spending as a defence against anxiety.

Risk and red flags

12 The client reports a voice ordering them to harm themselves and fears they may comply. Choose the one best next step.

AExplore the symbolic meaning of the voice over several sessions. BOffer a breathing technique and end the meeting. CAssess the immediate danger and act on the urgent local pathway, rather than continuing ordinary therapeutic work as the only help. DConvince the client that the voice is not real.

Limits of competence and referral

13 The client asks you to begin processing severe trauma with a method you have not been trained in. Choose the one best next step.

ATry it: sincere empathy is enough for any method. BWatch a few videos and start at the next session. CName the limit of your competence honestly, assess current safety, seek supervision and agree a suitable referral or another safe form of support. DStop all contact immediately without explanation.

Limits of competence and referral

14 The client has moved to another country and wants to continue meeting online. Choose the one best next step.

AContinue unchanged: only the practitioner's country matters. BCheck whether the work is permitted, whether insurance covers it, the data rules and the emergency pathway where the client now is; until that is clear, do not promise to continue in the previous format. CAsk the client to sign a waiver of all claims. DUse a VPN so that no legal questions arise.

Limits of competence and referral

15 For several weeks the work has not moved, and you notice irritation and an urge to “make the client act”. Choose the one best next step.

ASet a tougher homework task. BHide the irritation and continue with the same plan. CNote your own reaction, review the goal and the alliance with the client, take the process to supervision and test alternative hypotheses. DTell the client that they are not motivated.

Limits of competence and referral

16 You realise that the request goes beyond your competence. How is it best to say so? Choose the one best next step.

A“Your case is too complex for me.” B“I can't help you, look for a specialist online.” CExplain the limit without shame or blame, give the reason to the extent needed, offer suitable options for help and agree a safe handover. DContinue working until the client leaves of their own accord.