COCAS case studies

COCAS · Put your knowledge to work in context.

The COCAS credential is intended for clinicians who assess and treat cognitive and behavioral health concerns and who want a formal, exam-based demonstration of that competency. It suits counselors, psychologists, and allied mental health professionals whose work centers on clinical assessment, cognitive-behavioral intervention, and coordinated care. Because no authoritative source material was supplied for this profile, treat the domain list and weightings as a study-planning draft and confirm the real blueprint with the certifying organization before you build a schedule. The exam is multiple choice and organized around eight domains: clinical assessment and diagnosis; cognitive-behavioral theory and intervention; psychopharmacology and medical collaboration; ethics, legal, and professional standards; research methods and evidence-based practice; cultural diversity and social justice; supervision, consultation, and training; and practice management and administration. The COCAS case studies are 5 cases and about 3,378 words.

The Sleepy Pilot and the Duty to Warn

You are a licensed clinical psychologist in solo private practice. R, is a 41-year-old commercial airline captain referred by his primary care physician for insomnia and 'stress.' Over four sessions you diagnose adjustment disorder with anxiety.

769 words, about 4 min 2

The Waitlist Squeeze and the Evidence Base

You direct a small community mental health clinic with four licensed clinicians and two interns. The county has cut funding, and your waitlist has grown to 90 people with an average wait of 11 weeks.

691 words, about 3 min 3

The Gift, the Boundary, and the Intern

You supervise a second-year practicum intern, Ms. L, at a university counseling center.

688 words, about 3 min 4

The Off-Label Request and the Prescriber

You are a psychologist in an integrated primary care clinic. A 58-year-old client, Ms.

566 words, about 3 min 5

The Grant, the Fidelity, and the Funder

You are the clinical lead on a state-funded grant to implement a manualized trauma-focused intervention for adolescents in a rural school district. The funder requires 'fidelity to the model,' and your contract specifies that clinicians must complete all 12 modules in sequence.

664 words, about 3 min