I turned to TDC in quiet desperation after using a different set of study materials for about one month. I was daunted by the amount of material they sent me. I figured out a study habit and began regularly taking their practice tests. This seemed to make things worse! Some of the questions seemed so capricious and indeed, the "correct" answers that I'd get back (with very thinly explained rationales) were making me angry - they were often wrong! I wrote to the developer of the other guides and got little support except he did admit to making up the questions I was most confused by. This helped assuage my rising hopelessness, but I went back to the internet to see if other systems existed. How I missed The Therapist Development Center when I was initially looking, I do not know. But investing in their program - I am convinced - saved my sanity!
The test is tough because it is so heavily dependent upon reasoning skills. I found myself almost "fighting" with every test question! Possibly these sorts of tests are harder for the deeply humanistic and experiential therapists (my training and background), so I needed help to relax and see things from the examiner's point of view. Rather than staying stuck in a place of indignation (along the lines of "How dare these folks think there is one right way to do anything!" - not wise of me I know, and I'm not proud of this, but I was getting quite wound up about the scenarios in the question stems) I was able to email Asya. I also invested in one extra hour of exam preparation / coaching which was super helpful. So, in brief, if you find yourself struggling like me with any of these
issues:
* over thinking each question stem;
* arguing in your head with the folks who came up with each question;
* furious that there's the possibility of "one right answer" when you are
given so little information and can imagine complexity;
* genuinely opposed to using the DSM - I do not bill insurance & do not
assign diagnoses);
Then I highly recommend turning to the TDC.