diff --git a/src/deriver/deriver.py b/src/deriver/deriver.py
index 8b7ad502..fc9a1f76 100644
--- a/src/deriver/deriver.py
+++ b/src/deriver/deriver.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import datetime
+import json
 import logging
 import time
 from typing import Any
@@ -43,6 +44,52 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 logging.getLogger("sqlalchemy.engine.Engine").disabled = True
 
 
+def repair_json(json_str):
+    """Attempt to repair incomplete JSON by adding missing closing braces/brackets"""
+    json_str = json_str.strip()
+
+    # Count opening vs closing braces and brackets
+    open_braces = json_str.count("{")
+    close_braces = json_str.count("}")
+    open_brackets = json_str.count("[")
+    close_brackets = json_str.count("]")
+
+    # Add missing closing characters
+    missing_brackets = open_brackets - close_brackets
+    missing_braces = open_braces - close_braces
+
+    repaired = json_str
+    repaired += "]" * missing_brackets
+    repaired += "}" * missing_braces
+
+    return repaired
+
+
+def validate_and_repair_json(json_str):
+    """Validate JSON and attempt repairs if needed"""
+    json_str = json_str.strip()
+
+    try:
+        # Try parsing as-is first
+        json.loads(json_str)
+        return json_str
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+        print(f"JSON error: {e}")
+        print(f"Error at position: {e.pos}")
+        print(f"Context: ...{json_str[max(0, e.pos - 50) : e.pos + 50]}...")
+
+        # Attempt repair
+        repaired = repair_json(json_str)
+
+        try:
+            json.loads(repaired)
+            return repaired
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Could not repair JSON. Original length: {len(json_str)}, Repaired length: {len(repaired)}"
+            )
+
+
 @honcho_llm_call(
     provider=settings.DERIVER.PROVIDER,
     model=settings.DERIVER.MODEL,
@@ -55,6 +102,15 @@ logging.getLogger("sqlalchemy.engine.Engine").disabled = True
     else None,
     enable_retry=True,
     retry_attempts=3,
+    response_format={
+        "type": "json_schema",
+        "json_schema": {
+            "name": ReasoningResponse.__name__,
+            "schema": ReasoningResponse.model_json_schema(),
+        },
+    },
+    # if settings.DERIVER.PROVIDER == "custom"
+    # else None,  # Only for vllm/custom provider
 )
 async def critical_analysis_call(
     peer_name: str,
@@ -364,8 +420,16 @@ class CertaintyReasoner:
             formatted_new_turn,
         )
 
-        # Call the standalone LLM function (now with Tenacity retries)
-        response_obj = await critical_analysis_call(
+        # Raw Debugging logic
+
+        import openai
+
+        client = openai.OpenAI(
+            base_url=settings.LLM.OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_BASE_URL,
+            api_key=settings.LLM.OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_KEY,
+        )
+
+        prompt = critical_analysis_prompt(
             peer_name=speaker,
             message_created_at=message_created_at,
             context=formatted_context,
@@ -373,6 +437,54 @@ class CertaintyReasoner:
             new_turn=formatted_new_turn,
         )
 
+        logger.debug("CRITICAL ANALYSIS: Start")
+
+        response = client.chat.completions.create(
+            model=settings.DERIVER.MODEL,
+            messages=prompt,
+            stop=["   \n", "\n\n\n\n"],
+            max_tokens=settings.DERIVER.MAX_OUTPUT_TOKENS,
+            response_format={
+                "type": "json_schema",
+                "json_schema": {
+                    "name": ReasoningResponse.__name__,
+                    "schema": ReasoningResponse.model_json_schema(),
+                },
+            },
+        )
+
+        print("============================= test_rep ===============================")
+
+        test_rep = response.choices[0].message.content
+        print(test_rep)
+
+        logger.debug("CRITICAL ANALYSIS: Finished")
+        print(
+            "============================= test_rep finished ==============================="
+        )
+
+        final = validate_and_repair_json(test_rep)
+
+        response_obj = ReasoningResponse.model_validate_json(final)
+
+        # Call the standalone LLM function (now with Tenacity retries)
+        # response_obj = await critical_analysis_call(
+        #     peer_name=speaker,
+        #     message_created_at=message_created_at,
+        #     context=formatted_context,
+        #     history=history,
+        #     new_turn=formatted_new_turn,
+        # )
+
+        # print("================= Response Object =================")
+        # print(type(response_obj))
+        # print(response_obj.__dict__)
+        # print(list(response_obj.model_fields.keys()))
+        # print(response_obj.response.content)
+        # print(response_obj.content)
+        # ['metadata', 'response', 'tool_types', 'prompt_template', 'fn_args', 'dynamic_config', 'messages', 'call_params', 'call_kwargs', 'user_message_param', 'start_time', 'end_time']
+        # print("================= Response Object End =================")
+
         # Handle different response types
         if isinstance(response_obj, str):
             # If response is a string, try to parse as JSON
diff --git a/src/utils/clients.py b/src/utils/clients.py
index 7d0ea357..5e60b0fb 100644
--- a/src/utils/clients.py
+++ b/src/utils/clients.py
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ def honcho_llm_call(
     retry_attempts: int = 3,
     stream: bool = False,
     return_call_response: bool = False,  # pyright: ignore
+    response_format: dict[str, Any] | None = None,  # Add response_format parameter
     **extra_call_params: Any,
 ) -> Any:
     """
@@ -322,6 +323,7 @@ def honcho_llm_call(
             # https://mirascope.com/docs/mirascope/learn/provider-specific/openai#response-models
             if resolved_provider == "openai":
                 response_model.model_config = ResponseModelConfigDict(strict=True)
+
             llm_kwargs["response_model"] = response_model
         if json_mode:
             llm_kwargs["json_mode"] = json_mode