CalMHSA Peer Support Certification 2025/2026 |
Comprehensive Study Guide for Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialists
What are the stages of recovery? - correct answerPrecontemplation, contemplation,
preparation, action, maintenance, termination.
What does the proverb 'You Can Lead a Horse to Water, But You Can't Make It Drink'
mean? - correct answerYou can provide an opportunity, but cannot force someone to
take it.
What is the role of a PSS? - correct answerSupport, resource, strength, empathy, and
compassion.
What is the Trans-theoretical Model of Behavior Change? - correct answerChange is a
process, interventions tailored to current stage are most effective.
What is MI? - correct answerMotivational Interviewing.
What is precontemplation? - correct answerNot yet thinking about changing.
What is contemplation? - correct answerRecognizes potential for change but is
conflicted and hesitant.
What is preparation/determination? - correct answerDevoted to transformation but
debating what to do.
What is action? - correct answerMaking changes but has not reached stability.
What is maintenance? - correct answerHas accomplished goals and is making effort to
keep change.
What is relapse/recurrence? - correct answerA repetition of the issues will occur.
What is MI? - correct answerMotivational Interviewing, a client-centered approach to
behavior change.
What is the role of the PSS in MI? - correct answerTo enable verbal exchange and help
the client discover how to make a change.
Why is it important to ask clients why they want to make a change? - correct answerIt's
preferable to have the client advocate for a change in behavior.
,What is the importance of listening in MI? - correct answerListening well is at least as
important as speaking.
What is the norm when it comes to behavior change? - correct answerRecurrence or
relapse.
What is the perception of mental and behavioral health in the community? - correct
answerThere is an inherent stigma.
How can the transtheoretical model help improve your life? - correct answerIt can help
you make a positive change.
What is the pre-contemplation stage of the transtheoretical model? - correct
answerWhen people may want to change but haven't made a plan yet.
What is the contemplation stage of the transtheoretical model? - correct answerWhen
people begin to consider the pros and cons of making a change.
What is the preparation or determination stage of the transtheoretical model? - correct
answerWhen people mentally and emotionally prepare themselves to change.
What is the action stage of the transtheoretical model? - correct answerWhen people
take concrete steps towards changing their behavior.
What is the role of the client in behavior change? - correct answerTo supply the ideas
and internal resources to change.
What is the frequency of behavioral problems? - correct answerFrequent.
What is the rate of change in behavior? - correct answerSlow and varying.
Is knowledge sufficient to spur change? - correct answerNo.
What is the tendency when it comes to holding others to unrealistic standards? - correct
answerIt can leave patients and caregivers feeling frustrated and worn out.
What is the importance of being patient in MI? - correct answerIt acknowledges the
anxiety that comes with having limited time with clients.
What is the role of the client in advocating for a change in behavior? - correct
answerThey should do so.
What is the role of behavioral science in making a behavior change? - correct
answerHelps in succeeding and improving life.
What is the behavioral change process? - correct answerA process to change behavior.
, Who is Isabella in the behavioral change process? - correct answerA beginner who
started walking.
What did Isabella's group leader do to help her? - correct answerProvided motivational
material.
What stage of behavioral change did Isabella enter after becoming consistent? - correct
answerMaintenance stage.
What is the importance of internal attitude changes in behavioral change? - correct
answerLeads to external behavioral changes.
What is the role of a certified peer expert? - correct answerTo be there for individuals in
crisis.
Why is it crucial to have a supportive working connection with a peer? - correct
answerOffers a special advantage in trying circumstances.
What is the significance of peer relationships? - correct answerSpecial and crucial.
What can applying behavioral science lead to? - correct answerSuccessful behavior
change.
What are the challenges in each stage of the behavioral change process? - correct
answerNew challenges.
What does a supportive network help in behavioral change? - correct answerBuilding
consistency.
What are Peer Delivered Services? - correct answerAssistance from people with similar
experiences/illnesses.
Who can serve as peer providers? - correct answerFormer or present mental health
care consumers.
What is the role of a PSS? - correct answerTo intervene in a crisis and provide safety
and support.
What are some interventions for peer-led self-help? - correct answerTalking about
personal experiences, giving advice, creating a recovery plan.
What is a 'warm' line? - correct answerMobile or telehealth support.
What are some services provided by peer providers within the mental health system? -
correct answerCase management and other conventional mental health services.
Comprehensive Study Guide for Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialists
What are the stages of recovery? - correct answerPrecontemplation, contemplation,
preparation, action, maintenance, termination.
What does the proverb 'You Can Lead a Horse to Water, But You Can't Make It Drink'
mean? - correct answerYou can provide an opportunity, but cannot force someone to
take it.
What is the role of a PSS? - correct answerSupport, resource, strength, empathy, and
compassion.
What is the Trans-theoretical Model of Behavior Change? - correct answerChange is a
process, interventions tailored to current stage are most effective.
What is MI? - correct answerMotivational Interviewing.
What is precontemplation? - correct answerNot yet thinking about changing.
What is contemplation? - correct answerRecognizes potential for change but is
conflicted and hesitant.
What is preparation/determination? - correct answerDevoted to transformation but
debating what to do.
What is action? - correct answerMaking changes but has not reached stability.
What is maintenance? - correct answerHas accomplished goals and is making effort to
keep change.
What is relapse/recurrence? - correct answerA repetition of the issues will occur.
What is MI? - correct answerMotivational Interviewing, a client-centered approach to
behavior change.
What is the role of the PSS in MI? - correct answerTo enable verbal exchange and help
the client discover how to make a change.
Why is it important to ask clients why they want to make a change? - correct answerIt's
preferable to have the client advocate for a change in behavior.
,What is the importance of listening in MI? - correct answerListening well is at least as
important as speaking.
What is the norm when it comes to behavior change? - correct answerRecurrence or
relapse.
What is the perception of mental and behavioral health in the community? - correct
answerThere is an inherent stigma.
How can the transtheoretical model help improve your life? - correct answerIt can help
you make a positive change.
What is the pre-contemplation stage of the transtheoretical model? - correct
answerWhen people may want to change but haven't made a plan yet.
What is the contemplation stage of the transtheoretical model? - correct answerWhen
people begin to consider the pros and cons of making a change.
What is the preparation or determination stage of the transtheoretical model? - correct
answerWhen people mentally and emotionally prepare themselves to change.
What is the action stage of the transtheoretical model? - correct answerWhen people
take concrete steps towards changing their behavior.
What is the role of the client in behavior change? - correct answerTo supply the ideas
and internal resources to change.
What is the frequency of behavioral problems? - correct answerFrequent.
What is the rate of change in behavior? - correct answerSlow and varying.
Is knowledge sufficient to spur change? - correct answerNo.
What is the tendency when it comes to holding others to unrealistic standards? - correct
answerIt can leave patients and caregivers feeling frustrated and worn out.
What is the importance of being patient in MI? - correct answerIt acknowledges the
anxiety that comes with having limited time with clients.
What is the role of the client in advocating for a change in behavior? - correct
answerThey should do so.
What is the role of behavioral science in making a behavior change? - correct
answerHelps in succeeding and improving life.
What is the behavioral change process? - correct answerA process to change behavior.
, Who is Isabella in the behavioral change process? - correct answerA beginner who
started walking.
What did Isabella's group leader do to help her? - correct answerProvided motivational
material.
What stage of behavioral change did Isabella enter after becoming consistent? - correct
answerMaintenance stage.
What is the importance of internal attitude changes in behavioral change? - correct
answerLeads to external behavioral changes.
What is the role of a certified peer expert? - correct answerTo be there for individuals in
crisis.
Why is it crucial to have a supportive working connection with a peer? - correct
answerOffers a special advantage in trying circumstances.
What is the significance of peer relationships? - correct answerSpecial and crucial.
What can applying behavioral science lead to? - correct answerSuccessful behavior
change.
What are the challenges in each stage of the behavioral change process? - correct
answerNew challenges.
What does a supportive network help in behavioral change? - correct answerBuilding
consistency.
What are Peer Delivered Services? - correct answerAssistance from people with similar
experiences/illnesses.
Who can serve as peer providers? - correct answerFormer or present mental health
care consumers.
What is the role of a PSS? - correct answerTo intervene in a crisis and provide safety
and support.
What are some interventions for peer-led self-help? - correct answerTalking about
personal experiences, giving advice, creating a recovery plan.
What is a 'warm' line? - correct answerMobile or telehealth support.
What are some services provided by peer providers within the mental health system? -
correct answerCase management and other conventional mental health services.
