Pilot Runbook — Emotional Line Suite

Status: Draft — awaiting facilitator assignment, clinical backup confirmation, and SME review before pilot launch.

Purpose: Validate the Emotional Line module suite (EI-01 through EI-07) before public release. This pilot tests whether the module sequence, practice safety, competency progression (L1→L2→L3 over 8 weeks), retrieval spacing, and competency map thresholds hold up with a diverse adult cohort.

Who this runbook is for: The pilot facilitator and program lead. It contains everything needed to recruit, screen, orient, and run the pilot — including consent language, data collection templates, safety protocols, and revision trigger criteria.

What this runbook does not cover: Post-pilot revision report compilation and backlog issue creation (separate task), platform infrastructure (hosting, scheduling tools, payment), or legal review of consent forms (required before launch).

1. Pilot Objectives

The pilot must answer five questions:

#	Objective	How validated
1	Module sequence validity: Does the 7-module sequence (Overview → Granularity → Regulation → Affect Labelling → Appraisal → Co-regulation → Integration) produce coherent developmental progression, or do participants report bottlenecks, gaps, or mis-ordered content?	Module completion rates, qualitative debrief (weeks 4 and 8), practice log patterns
2	L1→L2→L3 progression over 8 weeks: Do participants demonstrate measurable movement through the AQAL Competency Map's Emotional line L1-L3 thresholds (vocabulary breadth, regulation tool use, strategy adaptation) within the 8-week window?	Pre/post emotional vocabulary breadth assessment, weekly practice log, facilitator observation
3	Safety incidents and near-misses: Do any participants experience significant adverse responses (dissociation, trauma activation, attachment distress, emotional flooding that does not resolve with grounding)? Are the Tier 2 safety protocols adequate?	Safety incident log (maintained throughout), facilitator debrief notes
4	Competency map evidence threshold accuracy: Are the L1-L4 behavioural descriptors in the AQAL Competency Map accurate for the Emotional line? Do participants achieve the stated thresholds within the expected timeframe?	Pre/post assessment against competency map criteria, facilitator ratings
5	Practice engagement quality: What kinds of practices do participants complete, skip, modify, or struggle with? Which practices produce the strongest self-reported benefit? Which produce the most resistance or adverse response?	Weekly practice log, qualitative debrief (weeks 4 and 8), safety incident log

2. About the Emotional Line Suite

The Emotional Line suite consists of seven sequenced modules. Each module builds the capacity the next module requires.

Module	ID	Focus	Est. Time
EI-01: Emotional Line Overview & Orientation	`emotional-line-overview-orientation`	Conceptual foundation: Barrett's constructed emotion theory, RULER framework, the Emotional line in AQAL, psychograph asynchrony.	20 min
EI-02: Emotional Granularity	`emotional-granularity`	Precision: moving from broad categories (sad, glad, afraid, angry) to differentiated feeling states. Emotion wheel journalling.	22 min
EI-03: Emotion Regulation Foundations	`emotion-regulation-foundations`	Regulation architecture: Gross's process model, reappraisal vs. suppression, polyvagal theory, window of tolerance.	22 min
EI-04: Affect Labelling & Somatic Correlation	`affect-labelling-somatic-correlation`	Embodiment: linking emotions to somatic signatures, body scan for emotional data, conversational affect labelling. Tier 2 — somatic practice.	20 min
EI-05: Emotional Appraisal & Meaning-Making	`emotional-appraisal-meaning-making`	Depth: ABC model (Activating event → Belief → Consequence), decoding the appraisal structure beneath emotional responses, identifying core beliefs.	20 min
EI-06: Emotional Intelligence & Somatic Line	`emotional-intelligence-somatic-line`	Relational skill: co-regulation, tracking self and other's emotional state simultaneously, reading emotional signals without projecting. Tier 2 — co-regulation partner exercise.	25 min
EI-07: Emotional–Interpersonal Integration	`emotional-interpersonal-integration`	Capstone: 30-day integrated practice design, combining naming, regulation, somatic tracking, and relational engagement in a single session.	39 min

Cumulative estimated time: Approximately 2.75 hours of active module work per participant, spread over 8 weeks.

QuickStart companion: Participants may benefit from the Emotional Line Development QuickStart which provides navigational signposting and a self-assessment to identify starting module. The QuickStart is recommended for participant orientation but not required for pilot participation.

3. Participant Criteria

3.1 Inclusion Criteria

Adults 18 years or older
Able to read and write in English at the level required to complete module content and data collection instruments
Willing to commit to 2–3 hours per week of module work and practice for 8 consecutive weeks
Access to a private space for reflection, journalling, and solo practice
Internet access for module content and data collection submissions

3.2 Stage Diversity Targets

The Emotional Line suite is designed to serve learners across developmental stages. Pilot data will be most useful if the cohort represents the full intended audience. Target recruitment:

Stage band	Target proportion	Rationale
Amber/Orange (Conventional/Achievement)	30% (4–6 participants)	Tests whether Tier 1 content is accessible and Tier 2 practices are appropriately scaffolded for learners whose centre of gravity is at these altitudes.
Green (Pluralistic)	40% (6–8 participants)	Green-stage learners are the primary anticipated audience for Emotional line content; ensures the core user group is adequately sampled.
Teal/Integral	30% (4–6 participants)	Tests whether the content challenges advanced practitioners without being experienced as condescending or redundant.

Stage assessment: Use the Self Line Overview & Psychograph module's self-assessment prompts, or an equivalent stage-appropriate self-report instrument. Stage classification is for cohort composition tracking only — it is not shared with participants as a label and does not gate participation.

3.3 Clinical Screening Language

Important: The Emotional Line suite is educational, not therapeutic. It is designed for adults who are generally psychologically stable. This does not mean participants must be free of difficulty — emotional development work often surfaces material that is uncomfortable. It does mean participants should have the baseline stability to engage with that material without requiring clinical containment.

Screening orientation (not exclusion):

Participants currently in active clinical mental health treatment are not excluded but should discuss participation with their clinician and obtain a letter of support or clinical clearance before joining.
Participants with a history of trauma, dissociation, severe depression, or anxiety disorders are not excluded but should be aware that EI-04 and EI-06 involve somatic and relational practices that can activate body-held or attachment-related material.
Participants who have experienced a major loss, life disruption, or psychiatric hospitalisation within the last 6 months should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the facilitator and clinical backup.

3.4 Exclusion Criteria

Exclude a potential participant if:

They are currently experiencing active suicidal ideation, self-harm behaviour, or psychotic symptoms.
They are unable to provide informed consent (e.g., due to cognitive impairment, acute intoxication, or current crisis state).
They are currently in an unsafe living situation where emotional vulnerability during practice could increase risk (e.g., active intimate partner violence).
A clinician evaluating their readiness for an educational emotional development program recommends against participation.

3.5 Participant Range

Minimum: 15 participants (below this threshold, qualitative findings are viable but quantitative patterns are unreliable)
Maximum: 20 participants (above this threshold, a single facilitator cannot adequately support Tier 2 safety protocols)
Drop-off buffer: Recruit 20 to allow for up to 25% attrition while remaining above the 15-participant minimum

Before participation begins, every participant must receive, read, and sign a consent form covering:

Program description: 8-week educational Emotional Line development program. Seven modules with reflective and practice components. Not therapy.
Tier 2 risk disclosure: EI-04 (Affect Labelling & Somatic Correlation) and EI-06 (Emotional Intelligence & Somatic Line) include practices that can activate body-held emotional material, attachment-related patterns, or relational distress. See Section 7 (Safety Protocols) of this runbook.
Voluntary participation: Participants may withdraw at any time without penalty. They may opt out of specific practices (see §4.3) while continuing with module content.
Data collection: What data is collected, how it is stored, who has access, and how it will be used. Participants may participate in the pilot without contributing data to the research report (opt out of data collection while remaining in the program).
Confidentiality: Individual responses are confidential within the research team. Aggregated, de-identified findings will be included in the post-pilot revision report. Limits of confidentiality: the facilitator's duty to report if a participant discloses imminent risk of harm to self or others.
Facilitator and clinical backup roles: The facilitator is an educational guide, not a therapist. The clinical backup is available for consultation and referral but is not providing treatment to participants.
Contact information: How to reach the facilitator, clinical backup, and crisis resources.

⚠️ HUMAN-REQUIRED: The consent form must be reviewed by legal counsel and the clinical backup before use. The language above is a content guide, not a final legal instrument.

4.2 Screening Questions (from EI-20 Safety Addendum)

Before the pilot begins, each participant completes a brief screening conversation (15–20 minutes, by phone or video) with the facilitator. The conversation is not a clinical intake — it is an orientation and readiness check. The facilitator should use a conversational tone, not an interview format.

General readiness questions (all participants):

"What draws you to this program? What are you hoping to get from it?"
"Have you done emotional development work before — journalling, therapy, coaching, workshops, retreats? What was that like for you?"
"Is there anything going on in your life right now — a recent loss, a major transition, significant stress — that might make it hard to engage with emotional material over the next 8 weeks?"
"Do you have a support system — people you can talk to if something difficult comes up during the program?"

Before somatic body scan practices (EI-04):

"Have you ever had a physical response to body-focused attention that felt overwhelming or uncontrollable — like your body 'took over' and you could not stop it?"
"Are you currently working with a therapist or bodyworker on trauma-related material? If so, have you discussed whether somatic practices are appropriate for you right now?"
"Is there any part of your body that you feel unsafe or unwilling to direct attention toward?"

Before co-regulation partner exercise (EI-06):

"Have you had experiences in past relationships — romantic, family, or close friendship — where being emotionally close to someone felt threatening rather than safe?"
"Do you notice that you tend to either cling to people or push them away when things get emotionally intense?"
"Is there any reason working closely with another person on emotional material might feel unsafe for you right now?"

Responding to screening answers:

A "yes" to any question does not automatically exclude a participant.
It prompts a conversation about modifications: "Given that, what would make this feel safer or more manageable for you? Would you prefer to do that practice solo, with a trusted person you already know, or skip it and do a written reflection instead?"
If the facilitator is uncertain about readiness, consult the clinical backup before confirming participation.

4.3 Opt-Out Provisions

Participants may opt out of specific practices without withdrawing from the program:

If the participant…	Alternative
Declines the body scan practice in EI-04	Complete the cognitive and journalling components of the module; skip the somatic exercise.
Declines the co-regulation partner exercise in EI-06	Complete solo reflection on past relational experiences using the module's journalling prompts.
Declines any other practice	Facilitator provides a modified alternative (written reflection, shorter duration, different context).

Documentation: All opt-outs and modifications must be recorded in the safety incident log for post-pilot analysis. This includes: what was opted out, the stated reason (if shared), and the alternative provided.

5. Facilitation Requirements

5.1 Qualified Facilitator

The pilot requires at least one facilitator who meets these minimum qualifications:

Requirement	Standard
Facilitation experience	≥ 20 hours documented experience facilitating group reflective or developmental work with adults
Emotional line knowledge	Has completed the full 7-module Emotional Line suite or equivalent developmental education in emotional intelligence, regulation, and affective science frameworks
AQAL framework familiarity	Working knowledge of the AQAL model sufficient to answer participant questions about quadrants, lines, levels, states, and types
Tier 2 safety training	Completed the Facilitator Qualification Standard Tier 2 requirements: platform safety training (≥ 4 hours), shadow protocol training (≥ 8 hours), supervised facilitation (≥ 10 hours), incident response certification
Trauma-informed practice	Able to recognise common trauma responses (dissociation, hyperarousal, flashback) without interpreting them clinically; able to deliver the grounding protocol calmly and competently
Cultural competency	Demonstrated ability to hold space for participants across cultural, racial, gender, and socioeconomic differences without minimising harm claims or dismissing structural context

5.2 Licensed Clinical Backup

A licensed mental health clinician must be:

Identified by name before the pilot begins
Available for phone consultation within 24 hours of a facilitator request
Available for emergency consultation within 2 hours during scheduled practice sessions (weeks 3 and 5, when Tier 2 practices are active)
Informed of the pilot's content, Tier 2 trigger table, and the facilitator's scope of practice

The clinical backup is not providing treatment to participants. Their role is:

Consulting with the facilitator on readiness determinations
Advising on safety incident response
Providing referral guidance for participants who need clinical support
Reviewing the post-pilot safety incident log

5.3 Facilitator-to-Participant Ratio

Solo facilitation: Maximum 12 participants
With co-facilitator: Maximum 20 participants
For this pilot (15–20 participants): A co-facilitator is strongly recommended for weeks when Tier 2 practices (EI-04, EI-06) are active

6. Module Sequence & Timeline

6.1 8-Week Schedule

The pilot runs for 8 consecutive weeks. Each module is assigned to a specific week with structured touchpoints.

Week	Module	Focus	Facilitator Touchpoint	Time Commitment
1	EI-01: Emotional Line Overview & Orientation	Foundation: AQAL mapping, Barrett's constructed emotion theory, RULER framework	Kickoff session (60 min): Program orientation, consent confirmation, pre-assessment administration, module walkthrough	20 min module + 60 min kickoff
2	EI-02: Emotional Granularity	Precision: emotion wheel journalling, differentiated feeling vocabulary	Mid-week check-in (15 min, async or live): How is the journalling going? Any friction?	22 min module + ~30 min practice across the week
3	EI-03: Emotion Regulation Foundations	Regulation architecture: Gross's process model, reappraisal vs. suppression, polyvagal theory	Live practice session (45 min): Facilitated reappraisal exercise, group processing	22 min module + ~30 min practice across the week
4	EI-04: Affect Labelling & Somatic Correlation ⚠️ Tier 2	Embodiment: body scan, affect labelling in conversation	Live practice session (60 min): Facilitated body scan with grounding protocol review. Week 4 qualitative debrief (30 min group or 1:1).	20 min module + 60 min facilitated session + 30 min debrief
5	EI-05: Emotional Appraisal & Meaning-Making	Depth: ABC chains, core belief identification	Mid-week check-in (15 min): ABC chain troubleshooting. Encourage sharing one chain (voluntary).	20 min module + ~30 min practice across the week
6	EI-06: Emotional Intelligence & Somatic Line ⚠️ Tier 2	Relational skill: co-regulation, tracking self and other	Live practice session (60 min): Facilitated co-regulation exercise (or solo alternative, per screening). Pre-session: review Tier 2 screening with each participant.	25 min module + 60 min facilitated session
7	EI-07: Emotional–Interpersonal Integration	Capstone: 30-day integrated practice design	Mid-week check-in (15 min): Integration plan review. Encourage participants to design their 30-day plan.	39 min module + practice plan design time
8	Wrap-Up & Post-Assessment	Reflection, post-assessment, qualitative debrief	Closing session (90 min): Week 8 qualitative debrief (group), post-assessment administration, next steps, feedback collection.	90 min closing session

Total facilitator-led session time: Approximately 7.5 hours across 8 weeks (six live sessions of varying length, plus two async check-ins).

Total participant time commitment: Approximately 6–7 hours across 8 weeks (modules + practice + sessions). This is less than 1 hour per week on average, though some weeks (4, 6, 8) are heavier due to facilitated sessions.

6.2 Between-Week Practice Expectations

Participants are expected to:

Complete the module reading and core practice for each assigned week
Maintain a brief weekly practice log (see §8.3) — 5 minutes per entry
Attend scheduled facilitator touchpoints (live or async)

Participants are not expected to:

Complete all Anki card reviews (optional, encouraged but not tracked)
Complete all reflection prompts (optional)
Complete additional practices beyond the module's core exercise
Participate in social or community components beyond the structured sessions

7. Safety Protocols

7.1 General Safety Principles

All Emotional Line pilot sessions operate under these principles, drawn from the Emotional & Interpersonal Safety Addendum:

Stop means stop. Any participant can pause or withdraw from any practice at any time without explanation.
Grounding before processing. If a participant shows signs of significant emotional activation (tearfulness, agitation, withdrawal, dissociative gaze, rapid breathing), the facilitator stops the practice and guides grounding before any conversation about what happened.
Educational, not therapeutic. The facilitator does not interpret, diagnose, or treat. If material exceeds the educational scope, the facilitator refers to clinical backup.
No "push through" language. Never instruct a participant to override a body stop signal, "stay with it regardless," or "push past the resistance."
Document everything. All safety incidents, near-misses, opt-outs, and modifications are recorded in the safety incident log.

7.2 Tier 2 Protocol Activation — EI-04 (Affect Labelling & Somatic Correlation)

Why Tier 2: The body scan practice directs sustained attention to internal somatic experience, which can activate unprocessed physiological responses including body-held trauma.

Before the session:

Review each participant's EI-04 screening answers (see §4.2)
Confirm modifications or opt-outs for any participant who flagged concerns
Have the grounding protocol printed or displayed for quick reference
Confirm clinical backup availability during the live session window

During the session:

Begin with explicit consent language: "This practice involves directing attention to physical sensations in your body. For most people this is grounding; for some, it can bring up unexpected material. You are in complete control — you can open your eyes, stop, or shift to a different focus at any point."
Guide the body scan at a measured, unhurried pace with frequent check-ins: "Take your time. There is nowhere to be but here."
Watch for observable escalation signals: rapid breathing or breath-holding, muscle rigidity, dissociative gaze (staring through objects), sudden withdrawal from the exercise, reports of flashback or intrusive imagery.

If a participant activates:

Stop the exercise immediately. Do not try to "complete" the scan.
Guide grounding: Use the standardised 3-step grounding protocol (see §7.5).
Do not resume the body scan in the same session.
Offer alternatives: cognitive-only reflection, shorter grounding-only practice, or ending the session.
Document the incident in the safety incident log.
If grounding does not restore orientation within 10 minutes: contact the clinical backup for consultation.

7.3 Tier 2 Protocol Activation — EI-06 (Emotional Intelligence & Somatic Line)

Why Tier 2: The co-regulation partner exercise involves relational proximity and emotional attunement, which can activate insecure attachment patterns (anxious pursuit or avoidant withdrawal) and attachment-related distress.

Before the session:

Review each participant's EI-06 screening answers (see §4.2)
Confirm modifications or opt-outs for any participant who flagged concerns
If the co-regulation exercise will be done in pairs, consider pair composition: avoid pairing participants with known relational tension; offer solo alternative to any participant who prefers it
Confirm clinical backup availability during the live session window

During the session:

Begin with explicit framing: "This exercise involves attending to your own emotional and body state while also attending to another person. It is not about performing empathy correctly. It is about noticing what happens in the space between you. If at any point this feels overwhelming or unsafe, you can pause, shift to solo reflection, or step out."
Watch for: one partner becoming visibly distressed or shutting down; the other partner showing signs of guilt or over-responsibility; the exercise dynamic shifting from mutual to caregiver-patient; a partner reporting feeling "abandoned" or "smothered" by the exercise.

If a participant activates:

Pause the exercise.
Separate partners briefly if the dynamic is contributing to activation.
Each person uses grounding individually (see §7.5).
Check in with each person separately before deciding whether to resume, modify, or end the session.
If attachment-related distress persists after grounding: do not resume the exercise. If either partner reports the exercise re-activated a pattern from a past relationship involving harm, refer to individual therapy.
Document the incident in the safety incident log.

7.4 Near-Miss Reporting

A "near-miss" is any situation where:

A participant showed early signs of activation but self-regulated before facilitator intervention was needed
A participant reported feeling "on the edge" of overwhelm but was able to stay present
A practice was modified mid-session to avoid escalation
The facilitator noticed concerning signals that resolved without intervention

Near-misses are as important as incidents for post-pilot analysis. They indicate where the safety protocols are functioning preventively and where the content is approaching — but not crossing — a participant's capacity threshold.

Documentation: Record near-misses in the safety incident log with the same detail as incidents. Mark them clearly as "near-miss" for post-pilot analysis.

7.5 Standardised Grounding Protocol

For all Tier 2 activations, use this 3-step sequence. Model each step calmly and at a measured pace. The goal is re-orientation, not resolution.

Step 1 — Orienting

"Open your eyes if they are closed. Look around the room."
"Name five things you can see — out loud or silently."
Purpose: Re-establishes visual contact with the present environment, interrupting the immersive quality of activation.

Step 2 — Grounding

"Place both feet flat on the floor. Feel the surface under you."
"Take three slow breaths — in through your nose, out through your mouth, at whatever pace feels settling to you."
"Place one hand on your chest. Feel the contact."
Purpose: Re-establishes somatic awareness of the present body in the present space.

Step 3 — Containment

"The material that came up is real. You do not need to explain it or resolve it right now."
"You can put this material aside for now and return to it with appropriate support."
"Would you like to stop for today, or shift to a different exercise?"
Purpose: Acknowledges the activation without exploring it, giving the participant agency over what happens next.

7.6 Crisis Resources

Include these in every participant-facing communication during the pilot:

US: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 (also available via chat at 988lifeline.org)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
International: International Association for Suicide Prevention crisis centre directory

8. Data Collection

8.1 Data Collection Instruments (Overview)

Instrument	What it measures	Cadence	Administered by
Pre-assessment: Emotional Vocabulary Breadth	Number of distinct emotion terms the participant can generate and accurately use; baseline L1-L3 indicators per competency map	Pre-pilot (Week 1) and post-pilot (Week 8)	Facilitator
Weekly Practice Log	Practice type, duration, completion (full/partial/skipped), self-reported benefit rating (1–5), any adverse response or difficulty	Weekly, submitted by end of each week	Participant (self-report)
Module Completion & Drop-Off Tracker	Which modules each participant completed, partially completed, or skipped; session attendance; program withdrawal (if any, with stated reason if shared)	Ongoing, updated weekly	Facilitator
Safety Incident Log	Every incident, near-miss, opt-out, and modification: date, module, participant (de-identified ID), trigger type, observable signals, response, outcome, follow-up	Ongoing, updated within 24 hours of each event	Facilitator
Qualitative Debrief — Week 4	Mid-pilot experience: what's working, what's challenging, what's surprising, early patterns. Semi-structured interview or written questionnaire	Week 4	Facilitator
Qualitative Debrief — Week 8	Full pilot experience: module sequence coherence, practice engagement, developmental shifts noticed, recommendations for revision. Semi-structured interview or written questionnaire	Week 8	Facilitator

8.2 Pre/Post Emotional Vocabulary Breadth Assessment

Administration: Week 1 (pre) and Week 8 (post). 10 minutes. Self-administered on paper or digital form.

Instructions to participant:

"In the next 5 minutes, write down every emotion word you know — as many as you can. These can be single words (anxious, proud, resentful) or short phrases (on edge, at peace, fed up). Don't censor or judge what you write. Don't worry about spelling. Just generate as many as you can."

Scoring (facilitator):

Count total unique emotion terms generated (vocabulary breadth)
Classify each term by category: basic (≤ 6 common categories: happy, sad, angry, afraid, surprised, disgusted), intermediate (sub-categories: disappointed, frustrated, relieved, grateful), advanced (nuanced: resentful, awestruck, wistful, indignant)
Note any shifts in category distribution from pre to post

Competency map alignment:

L-level	Indicator	Assessed by
L1	Names present internal state using basic emotion vocabulary; ≥ 5 distinct emotion terms identified	Pre/post vocabulary count and category analysis
L2	Uses regulation tools in routine and moderately stressful contexts	Weekly practice log — regulation strategy selection and rationale
L3	Chooses state-shifting practice contextually; switches strategies when first approach fails	Weeks 5–7 practice logs; Week 8 debrief

8.3 Weekly Practice Log Template

Each participant completes a brief log entry each week (estimated 5 minutes):

Week: ___
Module completed this week (circle):  EI-01  EI-02  EI-03  EI-04  EI-05  EI-06  EI-07

1. Did you complete the module's core practice this week?
   [ ] Yes, fully   [ ] Yes, partially   [ ] No (reason: _______________)

2. If you practiced, how long did you spend on it?
   [ ] Less than 5 min   [ ] 5–15 min   [ ] 15–30 min   [ ] More than 30 min

3. How beneficial was this week's practice? (1 = not at all, 5 = very)
   1    2    3    4    5

4. Did you notice any difficult or unexpected emotional response during or after practice?
   [ ] No   [ ] Yes (briefly describe: _________________________________)

5. Any other reflections or feedback on this week's module or practice?
   _____________________________________________________________

8.4 Safety Incident Log Template

Facilitator completes within 24 hours of each event.

Incident ID: INC-___
Date: ___________
Module: ___________
Participant ID: P-___ (de-identified)
Type: [ ] Safety incident   [ ] Near-miss   [ ] Opt-out   [ ] Modification

Trigger / context (what was happening when the event occurred):
_____________________________________________________________

Observable signals (what did the facilitator see/hear):
_____________________________________________________________

Response (what action did the facilitator take):
_____________________________________________________________

Outcome (did the participant re-orient? how long did grounding take?):
_____________________________________________________________

Follow-up required: [ ] No   [ ] Yes (describe: ________________________)

Lesson for module revision:
_____________________________________________________________

8.5 Qualitative Debrief Question Bank

Week 4 Debrief (mid-pilot):

"How has your experience of the program been so far? What has been most valuable? Most challenging?"
"Which module has had the biggest impact on you so far? Why?"
"Have you noticed any changes in how you relate to your emotions in daily life?"
"Is there anything about the pace, sequence, or content that feels off — too fast, too slow, missing something, redundant?"
"Have any practices felt unsafe, overwhelming, or not right for you?"
"What do you need more of in the second half of the program? Less of?"

Week 8 Debrief (post-pilot):

"Looking back over the full 8 weeks, how would you describe your experience in a few sentences?"
"Did the module sequence make sense to you — did each module prepare you for the next? Were there any jumps that felt too large or modules that felt redundant?"
"Which practice had the strongest positive impact on you? Which was least useful or most difficult?"
"Have you noticed changes in your emotional vocabulary, regulation capacity, or relational emotional skill since the program began? Can you give a specific example?"
"If you could change one thing about the Emotional Line suite, what would it be?"
"Would you recommend this program to someone at a similar stage of development? Why or why not?"
"Is there anything you wanted from this program that you didn't get?"

9. Revision Triggers

9.1 Automatic Triggers

The following events trigger an immediate review by the facilitator and clinical backup. The pilot may continue during review unless a pause is indicated (see §9.2).

Trigger	Threshold	Action
Safety incident (Tier 2 activation)	Any activation that requires grounding protocol and does not fully resolve within 10 minutes	Review within 48 hours. Determine whether the practice, the screening, or the facilitation contributed. Implement corrective action before the next Tier 2 session.
Drop-off rate	>30% of enrolled participants withdraw before Week 8 (i.e., more than 6 out of 20)	Review within 1 week. Analyse withdrawal reasons. Determine whether the program structure, pace, content, or safety contributes to attrition.
Pattern of near-misses	≥ 3 near-misses in a single module week	Review within 48 hours. Determine whether the module's practice design needs modification before the public release.
Unanticipated adverse response	Any participant response not covered by the existing Tier 2 trigger table	Review within 24 hours. Consult clinical backup. Update the trigger table for future sessions.

9.2 Pilot Pause Criteria

The pilot must be paused (all sessions suspended pending resolution) if:

A safety incident involves a participant being unable to re-orient within 15 minutes of grounding, requiring clinical intervention
A participant discloses suicidal ideation, self-harm intent, or harm toward others
Two or more participants independently report that the same module or practice caused significant distress
The clinical backup recommends pausing based on incident patterns

Pause procedure:

Facilitator notifies all participants that sessions are paused (no detailed explanation required: "We are reviewing the program structure to ensure it is safe and appropriate for everyone.")
Facilitator and clinical backup conduct a joint review within 5 business days.
Clinical backup determines whether the pilot can resume, resume with modifications, or should be terminated.
If terminated, facilitator notifies participants and provides clinical referral resources.

9.3 Post-Pilot Decision Gates

After Week 8 data collection is complete:

Gate	Question	Evidence required
Module sequence validity	Does the sequence work, or does it need reordering?	Module completion rates, qualitative debrief data on sequence coherence, practice log patterns
Safety protocol adequacy	Are the Tier 2 protocols sufficient, or do they need revision?	Safety incident log (count, type, severity, resolution), near-miss log, opt-out patterns
Competency map accuracy	Do the L1-L3 behavioural descriptors match actual participant progression?	Pre/post vocabulary assessment, practice log regulation tool data, facilitator observations
Public release readiness	Is the Emotional Line suite ready for public release, or does it require revision?	Synthesis of all pilot data against the five objectives (§1)

10. Post-Pilot Report Outline

After the pilot concludes, the facilitator (or program lead) compiles a revision report using the following structure. The report becomes the source document for creating backlog issues for module revision.

Report Structure

Executive Summary (1 page)
- Pilot dates, participant count (enrolled, completed, withdrew), facilitator and clinical backup
- Brief answers to the five pilot objectives
- Recommendation: release as-is / release with minor revisions / major revision required / do not release without re-pilot
Participant Demographics
- Enrolled count, completion count, withdrawal count and reasons (if shared)
- Stage distribution (actual vs. target)
- Any demographic patterns in completion, engagement, or adverse response
Module Sequence Findings
- Completion rate per module
- Qualitative feedback on sequence coherence
- Recommendations for reordering, combining, or splitting modules
Competency Progression Findings
- Pre/post vocabulary assessment results (aggregate)
- Practice log analysis: regulation tool use, strategy adaptation
- Alignment with competency map L1-L3 thresholds
Safety Findings
- Total incidents, near-misses, opt-outs, modifications
- Analysis by module, practice type, participant stage
- Adequacy assessment of Tier 2 protocols
Practice Engagement Findings
- Most and least completed practices
- Highest and lowest benefit ratings
- Most common modifications and reasons
Recommendations
- For each module: keep as-is / minor revision / major revision / remove
- For safety protocols: keep as-is / revise specific triggers / add new triggers
- For screening: keep as-is / modify questions / add questions
- For facilitation: keep as-is / adjust requirements
Backlog Issues
- Each recommendation converted to a concrete GitHub issue with priority and effort labels

Appendix A: Pre-Pilot Checklist

Complete each item before Week 1:

Appendix B: Data Collection Templates

See sections 8.2 (Pre/Post Assessment), 8.3 (Weekly Practice Log), 8.4 (Safety Incident Log), and 8.5 (Qualitative Debrief Question Bank) for the full templates. These should be extracted into standalone documents (Google Forms, printed worksheets, or secure digital forms) before the pilot begins.

⚠️ HUMAN-REQUIRED: This pilot runbook is a Copilot-generated draft based on the EI-21 specification. Before pilot launch, a human must: (1) review and finalise the consent form with legal counsel, (2) confirm the facilitator and clinical backup, (3) adapt screening questions and data collection instruments for the specific cohort and context, (4) verify crisis resource information is current, and (5) obtain SME sign-off on the module sequence and Tier 2 safety protocols.