PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST MAIN EXAMINATION
MANUAL 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
RATED A+
✔✔(Guiding Principles)
Community, systems, societal acceptance and appreciation for people affected by
mental
health and substance use disorders—including protecting their rights and eliminating
discrimination—are crucial in achieving recovery. - ✔✔Recovery is Based on Respect
✔✔(Guiding Principles)
Services and supports should be trauma-informed to foster safety (physical and
emotional)
and trust, as well as promote choice, empowerment, and collaboration. - ✔✔Recovery
is Supported by Addressing Trauma
✔✔(Guiding Principles)
Individuals, families, and communities have strengths and resources that serve as a
foundation for recovery. - ✔✔Recovery Involves Individual, Family, and Community
Strengths & Responsibilities
✔✔what is peer recovery support? - ✔✔People with mental and/or substance use
disorders have a unique capacity to help others
with similar disorders based on shared experience and a deep understanding of what
the
other person may be going through in recovery. Recovery support is the process of
giving
and receiving non-clinical assistance to help aid the process of recovery; peer recovery
support is provided by individuals with lived experience in recovery.
✔✔what is a peer recovery specialist? - ✔✔an individual or family member who has
lived experience with
mental illness and/or addiction to alcohol and other drugs, and has also completed
formal
training, who provides one-one strengths-based support to peers in recovery
✔✔Goals of Peers - ✔✔-Instill hope
-Promote positive self-identity (reduce stigma*)
-Be a role model of strength, survival and growth
-Decrease isolation and promote connection with others
-Support person-centered recovery
-Engage in mutual learning—the peer support relationship is a relationship of equals
, ✔✔what is stigma? - ✔✔a is the experience of being deeply discredited due to one's
perceived and undesired differentness. It is a cluster of negative attitudes or beliefs held
by the general public about
people with substance use disorders or mental illness.
✔✔4 Types of Support Offered by Peer Recovery Specialists - ✔✔1. Emotional
Support: Demonstrate empathy and caring, foster self-confidence
2. Informational Support: Provide health and wellness information as well as
information about community services and supports available
3. Instrumental Support (tangible support): Provide concrete assistance in
accomplishing tasks, such as help to obtain child care, employment or access to
community health and social services.
4. Affiliational Support (support in building relationships): Promote social connections
and engagement in community
✔✔Specific Roles of Peer Recovery Specialists - ✔✔An Ally and Confidant
A Motivator and Cheerleader
A Role Model and Mentor
A Truth Teller
A Problem Solver
A Resource Broker
An Advocate
✔✔A peer recovery specialist is NOT a: - ✔✔Therapist/Counselor
Case Manager
Nurse/Doctor
Sponsor
Clergy
✔✔Empathy means.... - ✔✔listening for feelings behinds a persons words, paying
attention and stepping into their shoes and validating their feelings.
✔✔Actions that a PRS needs to avoid in relationship building.. - ✔✔-Need to be liked
and helpful
-Need for status and prestige
-Need for control
-Perfectionism
-Need for social relationships
✔✔a specific approach to helping people living with mental
illness, addictions or other chronic conditions make positive behavior changes to
support
their overall health. To practice motivational interviewing techniques effectively it is
important to take a training course. - ✔✔Motivational Interviewing (MI)
MANUAL 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
RATED A+
✔✔(Guiding Principles)
Community, systems, societal acceptance and appreciation for people affected by
mental
health and substance use disorders—including protecting their rights and eliminating
discrimination—are crucial in achieving recovery. - ✔✔Recovery is Based on Respect
✔✔(Guiding Principles)
Services and supports should be trauma-informed to foster safety (physical and
emotional)
and trust, as well as promote choice, empowerment, and collaboration. - ✔✔Recovery
is Supported by Addressing Trauma
✔✔(Guiding Principles)
Individuals, families, and communities have strengths and resources that serve as a
foundation for recovery. - ✔✔Recovery Involves Individual, Family, and Community
Strengths & Responsibilities
✔✔what is peer recovery support? - ✔✔People with mental and/or substance use
disorders have a unique capacity to help others
with similar disorders based on shared experience and a deep understanding of what
the
other person may be going through in recovery. Recovery support is the process of
giving
and receiving non-clinical assistance to help aid the process of recovery; peer recovery
support is provided by individuals with lived experience in recovery.
✔✔what is a peer recovery specialist? - ✔✔an individual or family member who has
lived experience with
mental illness and/or addiction to alcohol and other drugs, and has also completed
formal
training, who provides one-one strengths-based support to peers in recovery
✔✔Goals of Peers - ✔✔-Instill hope
-Promote positive self-identity (reduce stigma*)
-Be a role model of strength, survival and growth
-Decrease isolation and promote connection with others
-Support person-centered recovery
-Engage in mutual learning—the peer support relationship is a relationship of equals
, ✔✔what is stigma? - ✔✔a is the experience of being deeply discredited due to one's
perceived and undesired differentness. It is a cluster of negative attitudes or beliefs held
by the general public about
people with substance use disorders or mental illness.
✔✔4 Types of Support Offered by Peer Recovery Specialists - ✔✔1. Emotional
Support: Demonstrate empathy and caring, foster self-confidence
2. Informational Support: Provide health and wellness information as well as
information about community services and supports available
3. Instrumental Support (tangible support): Provide concrete assistance in
accomplishing tasks, such as help to obtain child care, employment or access to
community health and social services.
4. Affiliational Support (support in building relationships): Promote social connections
and engagement in community
✔✔Specific Roles of Peer Recovery Specialists - ✔✔An Ally and Confidant
A Motivator and Cheerleader
A Role Model and Mentor
A Truth Teller
A Problem Solver
A Resource Broker
An Advocate
✔✔A peer recovery specialist is NOT a: - ✔✔Therapist/Counselor
Case Manager
Nurse/Doctor
Sponsor
Clergy
✔✔Empathy means.... - ✔✔listening for feelings behinds a persons words, paying
attention and stepping into their shoes and validating their feelings.
✔✔Actions that a PRS needs to avoid in relationship building.. - ✔✔-Need to be liked
and helpful
-Need for status and prestige
-Need for control
-Perfectionism
-Need for social relationships
✔✔a specific approach to helping people living with mental
illness, addictions or other chronic conditions make positive behavior changes to
support
their overall health. To practice motivational interviewing techniques effectively it is
important to take a training course. - ✔✔Motivational Interviewing (MI)
