Real Peer Support Specialist Exam
Questions
1. What is meant by the term peer support? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Emotional support that is provided
by a peer support specialist to others with
similar mental, substance use, or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in order to
achieve a desired social or personal change.
2.What is the SAMHSA Working Definition of Recovery? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔A process of change
through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach
their full potential.
3.What is the difference in a "Recovery Story" and an "illness story"? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔A recovery
story tells of success of walking in ones recovery.An illness story states that one is still in their illness
4.Why is telling a recovery story helpful to clients and staff? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔It helps clients
know that they are not alone in this journey that someone has been there too,it shows that treatment
works and recoveryy is possible.
5.Describe the 5 Stages of Recovery. Include the name of the stage; what is going on with the person;
the danger the person faces in each stage; and the role of the services for each of the stages? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔1.Impact of illness
Hopelessness,not knowing how to get help,feeling alone. Isolating,giving up,loneliness .......Give
hope ,encourage
2. Life is limited
Lack of hope,helplessness,self loathing Harm to self remaining silent........
, Help seek help,provide assistance
3. Change is possible
Hope ,desire to be out of pain Getting the wrong kind of help,not prepared for change .......Help prepare
for change ,brainstorm
4. Commitment to change Hope ,relief,setbacks ,desire to give up Letting a setback cayuse one to give
up,quitting ..........Lend help ,listen encourage. 5.Actions for change Some freedom ,some
fulfillment ,desire to move on Thinking they have recovered,Stopping to soon.......
Remind and encourage client to move forward,To keep going
6.What is meant by the statement - "The absence of negative messages is more important in the
creating a positive self-image than the presence of positive messages." - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Negative
thinking is more powerful than lots of positive thinking
7.What does the term "Behavioral Health" mean? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔It is the study of
emotions,behavior,and biology.Relating to a person's well being
8.What is one way to state the Ethic of Reciprocity? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔To treat people the way you
would want to be treated.
9.You can change behavior by changing beliefs. What are the two ways to change a person's beliefs? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1.Finding new experiences that changes one's perspective or mental filter.
2.Examining one's mental filter or lens and discover what information is being
dismissed, then measure it against the information that one is wanting to confirm.
10.What was the importance of Courtney Harding's longitudinal study of people who had been
deinstitutionalized in the 1960's? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔It was the first study that recovery was
possible in the mental health field .
Questions
1. What is meant by the term peer support? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Emotional support that is provided
by a peer support specialist to others with
similar mental, substance use, or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in order to
achieve a desired social or personal change.
2.What is the SAMHSA Working Definition of Recovery? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔A process of change
through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach
their full potential.
3.What is the difference in a "Recovery Story" and an "illness story"? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔A recovery
story tells of success of walking in ones recovery.An illness story states that one is still in their illness
4.Why is telling a recovery story helpful to clients and staff? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔It helps clients
know that they are not alone in this journey that someone has been there too,it shows that treatment
works and recoveryy is possible.
5.Describe the 5 Stages of Recovery. Include the name of the stage; what is going on with the person;
the danger the person faces in each stage; and the role of the services for each of the stages? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔1.Impact of illness
Hopelessness,not knowing how to get help,feeling alone. Isolating,giving up,loneliness .......Give
hope ,encourage
2. Life is limited
Lack of hope,helplessness,self loathing Harm to self remaining silent........
, Help seek help,provide assistance
3. Change is possible
Hope ,desire to be out of pain Getting the wrong kind of help,not prepared for change .......Help prepare
for change ,brainstorm
4. Commitment to change Hope ,relief,setbacks ,desire to give up Letting a setback cayuse one to give
up,quitting ..........Lend help ,listen encourage. 5.Actions for change Some freedom ,some
fulfillment ,desire to move on Thinking they have recovered,Stopping to soon.......
Remind and encourage client to move forward,To keep going
6.What is meant by the statement - "The absence of negative messages is more important in the
creating a positive self-image than the presence of positive messages." - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Negative
thinking is more powerful than lots of positive thinking
7.What does the term "Behavioral Health" mean? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔It is the study of
emotions,behavior,and biology.Relating to a person's well being
8.What is one way to state the Ethic of Reciprocity? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔To treat people the way you
would want to be treated.
9.You can change behavior by changing beliefs. What are the two ways to change a person's beliefs? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1.Finding new experiences that changes one's perspective or mental filter.
2.Examining one's mental filter or lens and discover what information is being
dismissed, then measure it against the information that one is wanting to confirm.
10.What was the importance of Courtney Harding's longitudinal study of people who had been
deinstitutionalized in the 1960's? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔It was the first study that recovery was
possible in the mental health field .
