CAADC – Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug
Counselor Certification Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
1. _________is the essential first step in determining the possible causes of
addiction for the person and the most appropriate treatment modality for his or
her needs.
a. Screening
b. Assessment
c. Intake
d. Orientation
* b. Assessment
2. A client tells a counselor that she is unhappy with the way her treatment is
progressing. The counselor should:
a. draw up a new contract with the client.
b. talk to the client about possible denial.
c. create new goals and objectives, and suggest alternate forms of therapy.
d. discuss these concerns with the client and make necessary changes in
treatment goals.
*d. discuss these concerns with the client and make necessary changes in
,treatment goals.
3. A common error that counselors make when conducting an assessment is:
a. asking too many questions.
b. moving too quickly from data collection to treatment planning.
c. focusing on strengths and weaknesses.
d. processing the data collected from the client.
b.moving too quickly from data collection to treatment planning
4. A female client reports that she has some concerns about the relationship
between her husband and her 14-year-old daughter from a previous
marriage. She reports that her husband and daughter frequently argue,
that her daughter refuses to take direction from her stepfather, mid that her
daughter regularly complains about her stepfather's "faults" and describes
how her biological father is better. The MOST relevant professional to
whom a referral should be made is a:
a. Social worker.
b. Clinical psychologist.
c. Licensed professional counselor.
d. Marriage and family therapist.
d. Marriage and family therapist
,5. A key factor for counselors to consider is that in a counseling relationship,
the counselor has differential power. One of the best safeguards is:
a. to be alert to and understand the power relationship.
b. to utilize the differential power to motivate the client.
c. to realize the importance of this power in client interventions.
d. to use differential power to get the client to try new behaviors.
a. to be alert to and understand the power relationship.
6. A pretreatment period is frequently the result of waiting lists or client
reluctance to become fully engaged in primary treatment. What might be a
danger of this pretreatment period?
a. The pretreatment period may be when clients lose interest in treatment.
b. A client may receive enough help so as not to need the services of the
program or agency.
c. Successful pretreatment may result in a client needing services that an
agency doesn't have, thus losing the potential admission.
d. There is really no danger with pretreatment - recovery will require much
more programming than pretreatment can offer.
a. The pretreatment period may be when clients lose interest in treatment.
, 7. According to Marlatt's model of the relapse process, which of the following
statements is NOT true?
a. Clients should be taught skills for anticipating, avoiding, and coping with
their personal high-risk situations.
b. Clients should be taught constructive responses to cope with lapses when
they do occur.
c. Clients should be helped to recognize that one or more temporary lapses
are likely to occur and are permitted.
d. Any positive expectations that clients have about drug use should be
countered with reminders about the lows that follow the highs and about
the long-term negative consequences of substance abuse.
c. Clients should be helped to recognize that one or more temporary lapses
are likely to occur and are permitted.
8. According to the DSM-IV-TR, all of the following are criteria for psychoactive
substance dependence EXCEPT:
a. substance often taken in larger amounts than the person intended.
b. marked lack of initiative, interest or energy.
c. frequent intoxication when expected to fulfill major role obligations.
d. one or more unsuccessful efforts to cut down substance use.
b. marked lack of initiative, interest or energy.
Counselor Certification Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
1. _________is the essential first step in determining the possible causes of
addiction for the person and the most appropriate treatment modality for his or
her needs.
a. Screening
b. Assessment
c. Intake
d. Orientation
* b. Assessment
2. A client tells a counselor that she is unhappy with the way her treatment is
progressing. The counselor should:
a. draw up a new contract with the client.
b. talk to the client about possible denial.
c. create new goals and objectives, and suggest alternate forms of therapy.
d. discuss these concerns with the client and make necessary changes in
treatment goals.
*d. discuss these concerns with the client and make necessary changes in
,treatment goals.
3. A common error that counselors make when conducting an assessment is:
a. asking too many questions.
b. moving too quickly from data collection to treatment planning.
c. focusing on strengths and weaknesses.
d. processing the data collected from the client.
b.moving too quickly from data collection to treatment planning
4. A female client reports that she has some concerns about the relationship
between her husband and her 14-year-old daughter from a previous
marriage. She reports that her husband and daughter frequently argue,
that her daughter refuses to take direction from her stepfather, mid that her
daughter regularly complains about her stepfather's "faults" and describes
how her biological father is better. The MOST relevant professional to
whom a referral should be made is a:
a. Social worker.
b. Clinical psychologist.
c. Licensed professional counselor.
d. Marriage and family therapist.
d. Marriage and family therapist
,5. A key factor for counselors to consider is that in a counseling relationship,
the counselor has differential power. One of the best safeguards is:
a. to be alert to and understand the power relationship.
b. to utilize the differential power to motivate the client.
c. to realize the importance of this power in client interventions.
d. to use differential power to get the client to try new behaviors.
a. to be alert to and understand the power relationship.
6. A pretreatment period is frequently the result of waiting lists or client
reluctance to become fully engaged in primary treatment. What might be a
danger of this pretreatment period?
a. The pretreatment period may be when clients lose interest in treatment.
b. A client may receive enough help so as not to need the services of the
program or agency.
c. Successful pretreatment may result in a client needing services that an
agency doesn't have, thus losing the potential admission.
d. There is really no danger with pretreatment - recovery will require much
more programming than pretreatment can offer.
a. The pretreatment period may be when clients lose interest in treatment.
, 7. According to Marlatt's model of the relapse process, which of the following
statements is NOT true?
a. Clients should be taught skills for anticipating, avoiding, and coping with
their personal high-risk situations.
b. Clients should be taught constructive responses to cope with lapses when
they do occur.
c. Clients should be helped to recognize that one or more temporary lapses
are likely to occur and are permitted.
d. Any positive expectations that clients have about drug use should be
countered with reminders about the lows that follow the highs and about
the long-term negative consequences of substance abuse.
c. Clients should be helped to recognize that one or more temporary lapses
are likely to occur and are permitted.
8. According to the DSM-IV-TR, all of the following are criteria for psychoactive
substance dependence EXCEPT:
a. substance often taken in larger amounts than the person intended.
b. marked lack of initiative, interest or energy.
c. frequent intoxication when expected to fulfill major role obligations.
d. one or more unsuccessful efforts to cut down substance use.
b. marked lack of initiative, interest or energy.
