CPS PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST
CERTIFICATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS STUDY
GUIDE
●● Name three goals of Peer Recovery Support
Answer: Instill hope
Promote positive self-identity (reduce stigma)
Be a role model of strength, survival, and growth
●● What is stigma in the context of recovery?
Answer: The experience of being deeply discredited due to perceived
and undesired differentness; often linked to substance use or mental
illness
●● What are the four main types of support offered by Peer Recovery
Specialists?
Answer: 1. Emotional Support
2. Informational Support
3. Instrumental Support (tangible support)
4. Affiliational Support (relationship-building)
,●● What is the role of an Ally and Confidant in peer recovery?
Answer: Cares deeply, actively listens, and is trustworthy, stable, and
consistent.
●● What does a Motivator and Cheerleader do?
Answer: Believes in the person's capacity for change, and celebrates
progress and efforts.
●● What does a Truth Teller do in a peer role?
Answer: Offers honest feedback, identifies patterns, and avoids sugar-
coating.
●● What is the difference between a Peer Support Specialist and a
clinician or sponsor?
Answer: Peer specialists are not therapists, case managers, doctors, or
sponsors; they do not give medical advice or religious direction.
●● What does "mutuality" mean in peer recovery relationships?
Answer: A relationship of equals where each party learns and grows
together in recovery.
●● What should be avoided when practicing empathy in peer support?
Answer: *Not responding
*Interrupting
,*Rushing your response
*Using clichés (e.g., "time heals all wounds")
*Faking understanding
*Forcing your own interpretation
●● What are some actions peer specialists should avoid to maintain a
relationship of equals?
Answer: *Need to be liked/helpful
*Need for status or prestige
*Need for control
*Perfectionism
*Need for social relationships (overinvolvement)
●● What is person-centered, non-judgmental, empowering language?
Answer: Language that avoids labeling people and focuses on strengths,
not deficits.
●● Give an example of negative vs. positive peer support language.
Answer: "My illness" → "My experiences"
"What's wrong with me?" → "What's happened to me?"
"I'm here to help you" → "I'm here to learn with you"
, ●● What are barriers to effective listening?
Answer: *Assuming you know what the person is thinking
*Jumping to conclusions
*Preparing your response too early
*Changing the subject
*Automatically agreeing without understanding
●● What are the key principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI)?
Answer: *Change is up to the person
*Express empathy and acceptance
*Avoid confrontation
*Help recognize discrepancies
* "Roll with resistance"
*Encourage self-efficacy
●● What is the difference between an illness story and a recovery story?
Answer: Illness story: Focus on limits, war stories, and sickness
Recovery story: Focus on strengths, hope, and transformation
●● How does culture influence recovery?
Answer: Different cultures have different beliefs about:
CERTIFICATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS STUDY
GUIDE
●● Name three goals of Peer Recovery Support
Answer: Instill hope
Promote positive self-identity (reduce stigma)
Be a role model of strength, survival, and growth
●● What is stigma in the context of recovery?
Answer: The experience of being deeply discredited due to perceived
and undesired differentness; often linked to substance use or mental
illness
●● What are the four main types of support offered by Peer Recovery
Specialists?
Answer: 1. Emotional Support
2. Informational Support
3. Instrumental Support (tangible support)
4. Affiliational Support (relationship-building)
,●● What is the role of an Ally and Confidant in peer recovery?
Answer: Cares deeply, actively listens, and is trustworthy, stable, and
consistent.
●● What does a Motivator and Cheerleader do?
Answer: Believes in the person's capacity for change, and celebrates
progress and efforts.
●● What does a Truth Teller do in a peer role?
Answer: Offers honest feedback, identifies patterns, and avoids sugar-
coating.
●● What is the difference between a Peer Support Specialist and a
clinician or sponsor?
Answer: Peer specialists are not therapists, case managers, doctors, or
sponsors; they do not give medical advice or religious direction.
●● What does "mutuality" mean in peer recovery relationships?
Answer: A relationship of equals where each party learns and grows
together in recovery.
●● What should be avoided when practicing empathy in peer support?
Answer: *Not responding
*Interrupting
,*Rushing your response
*Using clichés (e.g., "time heals all wounds")
*Faking understanding
*Forcing your own interpretation
●● What are some actions peer specialists should avoid to maintain a
relationship of equals?
Answer: *Need to be liked/helpful
*Need for status or prestige
*Need for control
*Perfectionism
*Need for social relationships (overinvolvement)
●● What is person-centered, non-judgmental, empowering language?
Answer: Language that avoids labeling people and focuses on strengths,
not deficits.
●● Give an example of negative vs. positive peer support language.
Answer: "My illness" → "My experiences"
"What's wrong with me?" → "What's happened to me?"
"I'm here to help you" → "I'm here to learn with you"
, ●● What are barriers to effective listening?
Answer: *Assuming you know what the person is thinking
*Jumping to conclusions
*Preparing your response too early
*Changing the subject
*Automatically agreeing without understanding
●● What are the key principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI)?
Answer: *Change is up to the person
*Express empathy and acceptance
*Avoid confrontation
*Help recognize discrepancies
* "Roll with resistance"
*Encourage self-efficacy
●● What is the difference between an illness story and a recovery story?
Answer: Illness story: Focus on limits, war stories, and sickness
Recovery story: Focus on strengths, hope, and transformation
●● How does culture influence recovery?
Answer: Different cultures have different beliefs about:
