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Once you’ve logged in, it’s time to start your first conversation with an AI client.
Practicing here vs. doing an assignment: Starting a session from Simulations, Presenting Issues, or any other browse page (as described below) is unlimited sandbox practice. It is not graded and not visible to your instructor, even if you pick the exact same client as one of your assignments. If you want a session to count toward your coursework, start it from the assignment itself inside Courses instead. See My Learning for how to find and start your assigned work.
1

Browse the clients

Open Simulations to browse clients. Here you’ll see:
  • Full Session and Focused Scenarios tabs
  • Search by client name and Filters
  • Trending clients, Browse by presenting issue, and Weekly spotlights
  • Browse by Population, Course Catalog, and Group simulations
  • Create Custom Client if your account has builder access
Read the client descriptions and choose a case. To get a recommendation, click Match Me to a Client beside the search and filter controls, describe what you want to practice, and submit.
Hover to preview: Cards for cases with a moving avatar play a short animated preview when you hover over them, so you can get a feel for the client before you commit.
2

Click a case and customize

Click a client card to open Case customization. For a full practice session, stay on Full Session, choose the Session Type and Client Stance, then click Start Session. The popup also includes Focused Scenarios and History tabs.
3

Read the orientation card

Before the session begins, you’ll see a Simulation Overview with a short blurb about the client, their background, and any supporting documents you can preview or download.
4

Decide on video (optional)

You have full control over your camera settings:
  • By default, your camera is off.
  • If you want the client to see your face, you can turn your camera on.
  • This is optional — totally up to you.
When you are ready, click “Start Conversation”.
5

Pick an avatar mode (some cases)

If the case supports a moving avatar, you’ll see a Select Mode screen with two side-by-side previews:
  • Static Avatar — a still image of the client throughout the session
  • Moving Avatar — an AI-animated version of the client that lip-syncs and reacts as they speak
Cases that support this show a Moving Avatar chip on the case card in Simulations, so you know before you click in.Select the mode you want to use for this session. Your choice only applies to this run — you can pick again next time you start the case.
6

Watch the intro (some cases)

A small number of cases include a short orientation video. If yours does, it plays at the Video Audio Check step before you continue.
7

Set up your mic, camera, and speakers

On the Case Setup screen you can:
  • Select your microphone from the dropdown and watch the live audio level bar move as you speak
  • Select your camera (camera is off by default — turning it on lets the client “see” you)
  • Select your speaker and click the round purple button to play a sample sound
Find a quiet space where you can speak freely, as recommended on this screen.
Browser permissions: Voice input requires microphone access. Allow microphone access when prompted to use voice input; camera access is needed if you enable video. If you accidentally blocked it, the page shows a permission error with a Try Again button.
Browser permission prompt for microphone and cameraWhen everything looks right, click Proceed. (If your mic isn’t working the button reads Fix Microphone to Continue and is disabled; if your camera isn’t working it reads Proceed Without Camera.)To type instead of speaking, enable Text Input Mode in Account Settings → Accessibility before starting. On Text input setup, click Proceed with Text Input. Microphone access is not required in this mode.
8

Unmute to begin (voice input)

Important: The client can’t hear you until you unmute yourself. Your mic is also briefly locked while the avatar gives its opening line — once they finish, your mic unlocks automatically.
Unlike other tools, there is no “Submit” button.
  • SimCare automatically listens while you speak
  • The client responds naturally when you’re done speaking
  • You can also interrupt the client naturally, just like in a real session
Once you’ve unmuted, your session has officially started. Start talking — the client is ready to listen.

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Resuming a session

If you close the tab or refresh by accident, your session is preserved. Return to the same case from your dashboard and SimCare will pick up where you left off — no progress lost.

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Focused Scenarios

Use Focused Scenarios when you want to practice responding to a specific client moment rather than start a full session.

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Find a scenario

  1. Open Simulations → Focused Scenarios → Library.
  2. Use Search focused scenarios to search, or browse Practice microskills and Browse scenarios by skill area.
  3. Open Filters to narrow the list by Skill Area, Microskill, Difficulty, or Complexity.
Difficulty options include Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert. Complexity describes the situation: Foundational Practice, Everyday Client Moments, Difficult Client Moments, or High-Stakes Situations.
No matching scenarios? Clear your search and deselect filters, then try one skill at a time. An empty category does not necessarily mean the whole library is empty.

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Create a focused scenario

If your account shows Create Scenario, you can open the authoring workflow from Simulations → Focused Scenarios → Create Scenario. The Create Focused Scenario button is another entry point into this area.
1

Select client

Open Select a client, choose the client learners will interact with, then click Next.
2

Write the opening message

Enter the Client’s Opening Statement. This is the first thing the client will say—use it to introduce the disclosure, concern, or situation you want the learner to respond to. Click Next.
3

Add scenario details

Enter a Scenario Title and, optionally, a Scenario Description explaining the situation. Click Next.
4

Review

Check the selected client, title, and opening statement. Use Back to make changes. When ready, use Create Scenario to submit it, then check My Scenarios for the result.
Next is disabled. Make sure you selected a client, entered an opening statement, or supplied a title for the current step. The scenario description is optional. Where are my scenarios? Open Focused Scenarios → My Scenarios. If it says No scenarios yet, check that you are signed into the account you used and that you submitted the scenario—not just reached Review. If a submitted scenario still does not appear, contact hello@simcare.ai.
Opening the authoring screen does not mean a scenario has been created or shared. Follow any access or validation messages shown when you submit. Creating a scenario is also separate from assigning coursework; see Creating assignments.

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Supervisor avatars

Under Full Session → Browse by presenting issue, choose Supervisor Avatars to find supervision-related practice cases, such as receiving feedback or discussing documentation. Scroll the presenting-issue tabs if the category is not initially visible. These are AI practice characters, not access to a real supervisor’s account.

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Why some cases are locked

Some accounts show a Free to Try section and cases marked Upgrade. A locked case is not available through that account’s current access. Try an available case, or ask your program administrator or SimCare support to confirm your access before purchasing anything. If you sign in as a site supervisor and land in Field Experience, open Menu → Simulations to reach the practice library. Access to practice does not by itself grant instructor course-management permissions.