Configuration
How therapeutic and professional modalities work
What a modality is in CauceOS, how Gottman, EFT, CBT, IFS, MI, STAR, GROW, and OSKAR affect suggestions, alerts, and report templates, and how to change your session modality.
A modality is the framework or approach you use in your sessions. In CauceOS, the modality you choose is not just a label — it determines the suggestions you receive, the default rules that are active, and the post-session report template.
Table of contents
- What a modality is in CauceOS
- Available modalities
- How to choose your modality
- How to change the modality
- Common questions
What a modality is in CauceOS
When you choose a modality, the system loads three things specific to that modality:
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Default rules — alerts and patterns relevant to that framework. For example, Gottman includes detection of the Four Horsemen; STAR includes alerts for following up on components (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
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Suggestions bank — questions and reformulations aligned with the language and structure of the framework. A Gottman suggestion looks different from a MI suggestion.
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Report template — the structure of the post-session report. SOAP has Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan sections; STAR organizes by competency evaluated.
You can use the modality as a starting point and customize it with your own rules. Default rules can be individually deactivated.
Available modalities
Psychology and individual therapy
CBT — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Oriented toward identifying automatic thoughts, cognitive distortions, and problem behaviors. Co-pilot suggestions include Socratic questions and invitations to re-evaluate interpretations. The report follows SOAP or DAP structure.
IFS — Internal Family Systems Centered on identifying "parts" of the client's internal system. Suggestions include questions for exploring parts, exiles, and self-leadership. The report includes notes on parts identified during the session.
Psychoanalysis / Psychodynamic Framework oriented toward deep exploration, free association, and unconscious dynamics. Suggestions are minimal and interpretive. The report has a free-form clinical notes format with optional structured sections.
Couples therapy
Gottman Based on the research of John and Julie Gottman. Includes detection of the Four Horsemen (Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, Stonewalling), positive-to-negative ratio metrics, and speaking imbalance alerts between partners. The report includes an observations section per partner.
EFT — Emotionally Focused Therapy Oriented toward identifying and restructuring attachment patterns and negative cycles. Suggestions include emotional access questions and cycle reflection. The report is structured around the relational cycles observed.
IBCT — Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy Combines behavioral change with acceptance. Suggestions alternate between change and acceptance interventions based on the conversation pattern.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Designed for motivational interviews in clinical or coaching contexts. Emphasizes OARS (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries). Alerts monitor the ratio of client vs. professional speaking time and use of direct confrontation. The report includes MI style metrics and the motivational stage observed.
HR — Human Resources
STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) For competency-based selection interviews. The co-pilot alerts when a STAR response is incomplete (missing Action or Result). The report is a scorecard per competency evaluated.
Performance Review For performance evaluation conversations. Suggestions include recognition and development questions. The report follows a structure of goals met, development areas, and growth plan.
Managerial 1-on-1 For manager-employee check-in meetings. Includes alerts for unclosed action items and commitment tracking. The report is a structured meeting note with agreements.
Coaching
GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) The most widely used coaching model worldwide. Co-pilot suggestions help move between the four phases when the conversation stalls. The report documents each GROW component with literal quotes from the session.
CLEAR (Contract, Listen, Explore, Action, Review) Executive coaching with emphasis on explicit contracting and ongoing review. Alerts include a reminder to do a mid-session review.
OSKAR (Outcome, Scaling, Know-how, Affirm, Review) Solution-focused coaching. Suggestions include scaling questions (1-10) and exception questions. The report includes scaling scores before and after.
How to choose your modality
During initial onboarding, the system asks your vertical and then presents the available modalities for that vertical. You can choose more than one as "favorites" — the one that appears first as the default is what the system uses unless you indicate otherwise.
If you work with several modalities depending on the client or moment in therapy, you do not need to constantly change your configuration. You can choose the modality when creating each individual session.
How to change the modality
Permanent change (profile)
Go to Settings → Profile → Primary modality and select the one you prefer. This change affects all new sessions.
Per-session change
When creating a new session, the form has a "Modality" field. Select the one that applies to that specific session. It does not affect your global configuration.
Changing during a session
While not ideal, you can change the modality from the active session panel by clicking on the modality name in the top bar. This reloads the suggestions and default rules for the rest of the session.
Common questions
What if I work with a modality not on the list? You can choose the modality closest to your approach and then customize the rules and template. You can also write to us at support@cauceos.com — we add modalities regularly and requests are prioritized on our roadmap.
Can I mix two modalities in the same session? Yes, indirectly. You can choose a base modality and then manually add rules from another modality from your custom rules library.
Does the modality affect the language of suggestions? Suggestions are generated in the session's language (detected automatically), not in the modality's language. A Gottman framework with an English session produces English suggestions.
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Still have questions? Write to us at support@cauceos.com.
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Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at support@cauceos.com