I PASSED on the first try!!! I can hardly believe it and am still shaking and in disbelief!!! But I slayed the beast! Thank you to Amanda and Asya for helping me through this process!!! I submitted my hours in the beginning of December, decided to enjoy the Christmas season and began studying the first week in January 2019. I plotted out my study schedule using the recommendations. and initially planned to go through everything twice and follow the 12-week plan. I ended up doing a modified version of that, only going back and listening to lectures on my weak areas. I took my test on April 23, 2019. (I planned on taking it a little sooner, but postponed due to illness). I took copious notes on each of the lectures, made flash cards for each of the theories and also for some of the areas for which I felt weak. I did good on the first 3 mock exams, but began freaking out after taking the first Final Mock Exam (for which I did HORRIBLE). However, after reading Facebook posts from other sojourners, I felt encouraged to reach out to a coach. So, I sent an email and found it incredibly helpful! Asya sent me a very detailed email and encouraged me review the test to look for my pattern on incorrect answers. She was very thorough in response, therefore I didn't feel I needed a coaching session, but would have used it if I felt that it was necessary. I wish I had exercised more often, and followed Amanda's advice of following a regular routine, however, I did in the last week and it helped ease my anxiety. I got up early on the morning of my exam, ate a sensible meal, packed my snack and ate a piece of fruit along with juice right before the test. And to pump myself up, I listed to Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us” on repeat while driving to the test sight! (I remembered that I had done this in grad school when I took my comp exams and it made me feel really good!!!) I highly suggest listening to some sort of “pump you up” song before the test! It’s a real confidence booster. I wrote down several positive affirmations on my scratch paper as well as the timeline that TDC suggests to keep your pace with the questions/timing. Lastly, I took a 5 minute break around question 93, at 121 minutes. I got down to 1 minute with my last question and didn’t have any time to review my marked answers so I just said a prayer, used positive self-talk, and clicked to submit! I HIGHLY recommended TDC to anyone studying for this exam (and the L&E as well)! I appreciate how it's all laid out with a suggested study schedule. What I appreciate most about these materials is the way that Amanda teachers you HOW to think about the test. It's mostly a reasoning test, and I greatly valued the skills that Amanda imparts in regard to narrowing down the answers on the exam. It's a BEAST! But, with her help, you can do it! Ya’ll, YOU GOT THIS!!! You can SLAY the beast!
MFT