CPI INSTRUCTOR 2026 EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Tone, Volume, Cadence - ✔✔Three key components of paraverbal communication
✔✔Inflection of voice - ✔✔Tone
✔✔How loud or soft we speak - ✔✔Volume
✔✔The rate or rhythm of speech - ✔✔Cadence
✔✔Intimidation, Tension Reduction, Release, Refusal, Questioning - ✔✔Verbal
Escalation Continuum
✔✔The individual is verbally and/or nonverbally threatening staff - ✔✔Intimidation
✔✔1. Take all threats seriously
2. Seek assistance
3. Try to avoid individual intervention - ✔✔Intimidation Interventions
✔✔Establish Therapeutic Rapport - ✔✔Tension Reduction Interventions
✔✔Verbal and emotional outburst - ✔✔Release
✔✔1. Allow venting (remove audience)
2. State directives that are nonthreatening
3. Use an understanding, reasonable approach
4. Be prepared to enforce any limits you set - ✔✔Release Interventions
✔✔Noncompliance - ✔✔Refusal
✔✔Set limits; redirect focus - ✔✔Refusal Interventions
✔✔1. Information-seeking: A rational question seeking a rational response (give a
rational response)
2. Challenging: Questioning authority; attempting to draw staff into a power struggle
(downplay the challenge. stick to the topic. set limits) - ✔✔Questioning Interventions
✔✔1. Simple/clear
2. Reasonable
3. Enforceable - ✔✔Keys to Limit Setting
✔✔1. Interrupt and redirect pattern
, 2. When and then pattern
3. If and Then Pattern - ✔✔Approaches for Limit Setting
✔✔An Active process to discern what a person is saying - ✔✔Empathic Listening
✔✔1. Nonjudgmental
2. Undivided attention
3. Listen carefully (focus on feelings and facts)
4. Allows silence for reflection
5. Restate and paraphrase - ✔✔Key elements to Empathic Listening
✔✔Factors that influence behavior - ✔✔Precipitating Factors
✔✔1. Depersonalize crisis situations by recognizing that we are seldom the sole cause
of the risk behavior.
2. Address factors that lead to crisis situations
3. Avoid becoming a precipitating factor ourselves - ✔✔Understanding precipitating
factors can help staff to:
✔✔The ability to manage your own behavior and attitude - ✔✔Rational Detachment
✔✔Behavior influences behavior - ✔✔Integrated Experience
✔✔1. Freeze
2. Overreact
3. Respond inappropriately - ✔✔Reactions to fear and anxiety include:
✔✔1. Increased speed and strength
2. Increased sensory acuity
3. Decreased reaction time - ✔✔Reactions to fear and anxiety as a result of stress
hormones prepare the body for action:
✔✔1. Learn to keep yourself safe
2. Learn how to keep the person in crisis safe.
3. Use a team approach
4. Understand what makes you afraid and drives your decisions - ✔✔How do you
Maximize Productive Responses
✔✔1. Duty of care
2. Best interests
3. Reasonable and proportionate
4. Last resort and least restrictive
5. The risk of doing something and the risk of doing nothing
6. Human rights - ✔✔Key themes related to decision making include:
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Tone, Volume, Cadence - ✔✔Three key components of paraverbal communication
✔✔Inflection of voice - ✔✔Tone
✔✔How loud or soft we speak - ✔✔Volume
✔✔The rate or rhythm of speech - ✔✔Cadence
✔✔Intimidation, Tension Reduction, Release, Refusal, Questioning - ✔✔Verbal
Escalation Continuum
✔✔The individual is verbally and/or nonverbally threatening staff - ✔✔Intimidation
✔✔1. Take all threats seriously
2. Seek assistance
3. Try to avoid individual intervention - ✔✔Intimidation Interventions
✔✔Establish Therapeutic Rapport - ✔✔Tension Reduction Interventions
✔✔Verbal and emotional outburst - ✔✔Release
✔✔1. Allow venting (remove audience)
2. State directives that are nonthreatening
3. Use an understanding, reasonable approach
4. Be prepared to enforce any limits you set - ✔✔Release Interventions
✔✔Noncompliance - ✔✔Refusal
✔✔Set limits; redirect focus - ✔✔Refusal Interventions
✔✔1. Information-seeking: A rational question seeking a rational response (give a
rational response)
2. Challenging: Questioning authority; attempting to draw staff into a power struggle
(downplay the challenge. stick to the topic. set limits) - ✔✔Questioning Interventions
✔✔1. Simple/clear
2. Reasonable
3. Enforceable - ✔✔Keys to Limit Setting
✔✔1. Interrupt and redirect pattern
, 2. When and then pattern
3. If and Then Pattern - ✔✔Approaches for Limit Setting
✔✔An Active process to discern what a person is saying - ✔✔Empathic Listening
✔✔1. Nonjudgmental
2. Undivided attention
3. Listen carefully (focus on feelings and facts)
4. Allows silence for reflection
5. Restate and paraphrase - ✔✔Key elements to Empathic Listening
✔✔Factors that influence behavior - ✔✔Precipitating Factors
✔✔1. Depersonalize crisis situations by recognizing that we are seldom the sole cause
of the risk behavior.
2. Address factors that lead to crisis situations
3. Avoid becoming a precipitating factor ourselves - ✔✔Understanding precipitating
factors can help staff to:
✔✔The ability to manage your own behavior and attitude - ✔✔Rational Detachment
✔✔Behavior influences behavior - ✔✔Integrated Experience
✔✔1. Freeze
2. Overreact
3. Respond inappropriately - ✔✔Reactions to fear and anxiety include:
✔✔1. Increased speed and strength
2. Increased sensory acuity
3. Decreased reaction time - ✔✔Reactions to fear and anxiety as a result of stress
hormones prepare the body for action:
✔✔1. Learn to keep yourself safe
2. Learn how to keep the person in crisis safe.
3. Use a team approach
4. Understand what makes you afraid and drives your decisions - ✔✔How do you
Maximize Productive Responses
✔✔1. Duty of care
2. Best interests
3. Reasonable and proportionate
4. Last resort and least restrictive
5. The risk of doing something and the risk of doing nothing
6. Human rights - ✔✔Key themes related to decision making include:
