PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS

What best describes a Peer Support Specialist? correct answer: A person who has personally experienced and is in recovery from mental health or substance use issues, or who is the family member or parent of someone with mental health or substance use issues, and has formal training to support others in recovery. You REDUCE relationship rapport with someone you are supporting by: correct answer: Being unaware of your power A benefit of sharing your recovery story is to: correct answer: Support change, and show recovery is possible Someone tells a Peer Support Specialist that they have a lot of situational stress that is not a result of their diagnosis. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take in supporting the consumer? correct answer: Assist the consumer in developing a wellness plan to address their concerns. A consumer would like to support a neighborhood rally but has anxiety about attending. They believe their anxiety would not be an issue if they are accompanied by their Peer Support Specialist. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take? correct answer: Participate in the activity as requested by the consumer, if it is part of Peer's job. In optimal recovery planning... correct answer: People discover and write down their goals and dreams. A consumer tells a Peer Support Specialist they want to make friends but does not know how. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take to support the consumer? correct answer: Refer them to the self-help support groups which best fit their needs. How would a Family Peer Support Specialist begin to assist a family in identifying informal supports to plan for wellness? correct answer: Ask the family who they talk to when they need help What is a strategy for validating the experiences of parents? correct answer: Actively listen as the parents share their experience How should the Family Peer Support Specialist connect parents to other parents with similar concerns? correct answer: Invite the parent to an educational event or support group so they can meet other parents An example of a recovery-oriented approach is... correct answer: Focusing on wellness, ability and choice What are the basic five stages in the recovery process? correct answer: Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance What is helpful at the Pre-contemplation stage? correct answer: Express caring, concern and desire for the person to have their best life What is helpful at the Action stage? correct answer: Help them carry out their plan, provide praise and reinforcement, and continue to be a source of moral support. What is recovery, according to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)? 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. What are the four dimensions that support recovery, according to SAMHSA? correct answer: Health, home, purpose, and community What are some guiding principles of recovery as defined by SAMHSA? correct answer: Recovery emerges from hope, is person-driven, and occurs via many pathways Which of the following is NOT a core value of peer support services? correct answer: Disorder-focused A consumer is frustrated because several different service providers are not communicating well when it comes to their care. How can the Peer Support Specialist support this consumer? correct answer: Encourage the consumer to request a team meeting so all staff can connect. A Peer Support Specialist is working with a consumer with severe mental health issues who has been in inpatient treatment for several months. Prior to a treatment team meeting, the consumer says to the Peer Support Specialist, "I don't know why I'm even going. They are just going to keep me here anyway." Which action would the Peer Support Specialist take to encourage self-advocacy? correct answer: Model an effective action by sharing a time when the Peer Support Specialist