How to configure custom rules

The CauceOS rules engine lets you define exactly when you want to receive an alert during a session. You can use the default rules included with each vertical, modify them, or create your own from scratch.

Table of contents

• Where to configure rules
• Available trigger types
• How to create a custom rule
• Examples by modality
• Managing active rules
• Common questions

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Where to configure rules

Go to Settings → Rules & copilot in your panel. You will see two sections:

1. Default rules — included automatically based on your vertical and modality. You can turn them on, turn them off, or adjust their thresholds.
2. My rules — rules you have created. You can create, edit, and delete freely.

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Available trigger types

Each rule has a trigger — the condition that must be met for the alert to fire. The available types are:

By speaking time

Measures how long a participant has been speaking continuously without a pause.

• Example: "Alert me if the client has been speaking for more than 90 seconds without a pause."
• Typical use: Coaching sessions where you want to ensure the client is not dominating the session.

By extended silence

Measures periods of silence in the conversation.

• Example: "Alert me if there is more than 45 seconds of silence."
• Typical use: Recognizing moments of deep reflection or discomfort in therapy.

By keywords or phrases

Detects when someone in the conversation says a specific word or phrase.

• Example: "Alert me if I hear 'I can't go on' or 'there's no point'."
• Typical use: Detecting crisis indicators, risk words in clinical sessions.

By question frequency

Counts how many open questions you have asked in a given time period.

• Example: "Alert me if I haven't asked an open question in the last 10 minutes."
• Typical use: Maintaining the rhythm of a STAR interview or structured Gottman session.

By interaction patterns

Measures the proportion of speaking time between participants.

• Example: "Alert me if the professional has been speaking for more than 60% of the total session time."
• Typical use: Ensuring the client has enough space to express themselves.

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How to create a custom rule

From Settings → Rules & copilot → My rules, click "New rule".

Step 1: Name the rule Give it a descriptive name that reminds you what it does. Example: "Client speaks more than 2 minutes".

Step 2: Choose the trigger type Select one of the trigger types from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Configure the parameters Each trigger type has specific parameters. For example:

• For speaking time: choose "Client" or "Professional" and define the threshold in seconds.
• For keywords: enter the words or phrases, one per line.

Step 4: Set the severity

• Info — for observations that do not require immediate action.
• Warning — for patterns worth addressing soon.
• Crisis — for urgent signals. Crisis alerts include emergency resources.

Step 5: Write the alert message This is the text you will see in your panel when the rule triggers. Be specific and useful to yourself. Example: "The client has been speaking for more than 90 seconds without pause. Consider an intervention."

Step 6: Save and activate Click "Save". The rule appears in your "My rules" list and is active by default.

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Examples by modality

Psychology / Individual therapy (CBT, IFS, psychodynamic)

Rule	Trigger	Severity
Extended silence	Silence > 60 seconds	Info
Client speaks without pause	Client > 120 seconds speaking	Warning
Risk words	"I don't want to live", "there's no point", "everything is hopeless"	Crisis
No open question	0 open questions in 12 minutes	Warning

Couples therapy (Gottman, EFT)

Rule	Trigger	Severity
Four Horsemen indicators	"always", "never", "you always…"	Warning
Speaking imbalance	One partner > 70% of total speaking time	Info
Emotional escalation	"you don't understand me", "there's no point"	Warning

HR — Interviews (STAR)

Rule	Trigger	Severity
No follow-up question	0 follow-up questions in 5 minutes	Warning
Candidate speaks too little	Candidate < 30 seconds in response	Info
Candidate speaks too long	Candidate > 3 minutes in response	Info

Coaching (GROW, CLEAR, OSKAR)

Rule	Trigger	Severity
Professional monopolizing	Professional > 55% of speaking time	Warning
No client reflection	No client reformulation in 8 minutes	Info

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Managing active rules

You can see all your active rules in real time during a session by clicking the settings icon in the top bar of your panel.

Temporarily enable or disable: The toggle next to each rule turns it on or off for the current session without removing it from your configuration.

Adjust a threshold: Click the pencil icon next to the rule. Changes apply to future sessions (not the session currently in progress).

Delete a rule: From Settings → Rules & copilot, click the three dots next to the rule and select "Delete". This action cannot be undone.

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Common questions

How many rules can I create? On the Pro plan you can have up to 20 active custom rules. On Business there is no limit.

Do rules apply to all my sessions, or can I activate them per session? Rules that are active in your configuration apply to all your sessions. You can temporarily deactivate specific rules from the panel during an active session.

Are keywords case-sensitive? No. Detection is case-insensitive and also resilient to accent variations. "can't go on" and "Can't Go On" are detected the same way.

Can I share my rules with my team? On Business plans, rules can be marked as "shared with team". Other members can adopt them as a base and personalize them.

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Related articles

• How therapeutic modalities work
• Your first session step by step

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Still have questions? Write to us at support@cauceos.com.