Peer Support Specialist Certification
Exam Study Questions and Answers
Person-Centered .- .(correct .answer) .-A .person-
centered .approach .is .where .the .person .is .placed .at .the .center .of .the .service .and .treated .as .a
person .first.
What .are .the .OARS .tools .in .Motivational .Interviewing? .- .(correct .answer) .-O .Open-
ended .questions .invite .others .to ."tell .their .story" .in .their .own .words .without
leading .them .in .a .specific .direction .(as .opposed .to .questions .that .can .be .answered .yes
or .no). .Be .cautious .about .asking .too .many .questions .as .it .can .damage .the .peer
relationship.
A .Affirmations .are .statements .and .gestures .that .recognize .a .person's .strengths .and
acknowledge .behaviors .that .lead .in .the .direction .of .positive .change, .no .matter .how
large .or .small.
R .Reflections/ .Reflective .listening .ensures .that .the .person's .words .are .interpreted
correctly .and .their .inner .wisdom .is .respected.
S .Summaries .are .a .type .of .reflective .listening .which .helps .to .ensure .that .there .is .clear
communication .between .the .speaker .and .listener. .Summaries .can .provide .a .stepping
stone .towards .change.
Reflections/
What .is .the .tool ."Elicit- .Provide-Elicit" .in .Motivational .Interviewing? .- .(correct .answer) .-Elicit—
Ask .permission .to .give .information .or .ask .which .information .the .person .is .asking .for.
● ."Would .it .be .all .right .if .I .tell .you .about .a .few .self-help .support .groups .that .have .worked
, for .other .people?'
● ."Would .you .like .to .know .about....?"
● ."What .would .you .like .to .know .about....?"
What .are .whole .health .goals? .- .(correct .answer) .-Whole .person .health .involves .looking .at .the .whole
.person .instead .of .looking .at .health .as .fragments .of
diseases, .symptoms .and .problems. .It .is .shifting .from .only .thinking .about .'What .is .the .matter .with .y
ou?'
to .thinking .about .what .matters .to .you.
What .are .the .basic .five .stages .in .the .recovery .process? .- .(correct .answer) .-Pre-
Contemplation .Not .ready
Contemplation .Getting .ready
Preparation .Ready
Action .Making .change
Maintenance .Keeping .up .change
What .is ."recovery" .according .to .the .Substance .Abuse .Mental .Health .Services .Administration
(SAMHSA)? .- .(correct .answer) .-
SAMHSA .definition: ."A .process .of .change .through .which .individuals .improve .their .health .and .wellne
ss,
live .a .self-
directed .life, .and .strive .to .reach .their .full .potential." .This .definition .does .not .describe .recovery .as .a
n .end .state, .but .rather .as .a .process. .Complete .symptom .remission .is .neither .a .prerequisite .of
recovery .nor .a .necessary .outcome .of .the .process. .Recovery .can .have .many .pathways .that .may .inclu
de
professional .clinical .treatment; .use .of .medications; .support .from .families .and .in .schools; .faith-based
approaches; .peer .support; .and .other .approaches.
What .are .the .four .dimensions .that .support .recovery, .according .to .SAMHSA? .- .(correct .answer) .-
Health, .home, .purpose, .and .community
What .are .the .guiding .principles .of .recovery .as .defined .by .SAMHSA? .- .(correct .answer) .-
Ten .guiding .principles .of .recovery .as .defined .by .the .federal .Substance .Abuse .and .Mental .Health .Ser
vices
Exam Study Questions and Answers
Person-Centered .- .(correct .answer) .-A .person-
centered .approach .is .where .the .person .is .placed .at .the .center .of .the .service .and .treated .as .a
person .first.
What .are .the .OARS .tools .in .Motivational .Interviewing? .- .(correct .answer) .-O .Open-
ended .questions .invite .others .to ."tell .their .story" .in .their .own .words .without
leading .them .in .a .specific .direction .(as .opposed .to .questions .that .can .be .answered .yes
or .no). .Be .cautious .about .asking .too .many .questions .as .it .can .damage .the .peer
relationship.
A .Affirmations .are .statements .and .gestures .that .recognize .a .person's .strengths .and
acknowledge .behaviors .that .lead .in .the .direction .of .positive .change, .no .matter .how
large .or .small.
R .Reflections/ .Reflective .listening .ensures .that .the .person's .words .are .interpreted
correctly .and .their .inner .wisdom .is .respected.
S .Summaries .are .a .type .of .reflective .listening .which .helps .to .ensure .that .there .is .clear
communication .between .the .speaker .and .listener. .Summaries .can .provide .a .stepping
stone .towards .change.
Reflections/
What .is .the .tool ."Elicit- .Provide-Elicit" .in .Motivational .Interviewing? .- .(correct .answer) .-Elicit—
Ask .permission .to .give .information .or .ask .which .information .the .person .is .asking .for.
● ."Would .it .be .all .right .if .I .tell .you .about .a .few .self-help .support .groups .that .have .worked
, for .other .people?'
● ."Would .you .like .to .know .about....?"
● ."What .would .you .like .to .know .about....?"
What .are .whole .health .goals? .- .(correct .answer) .-Whole .person .health .involves .looking .at .the .whole
.person .instead .of .looking .at .health .as .fragments .of
diseases, .symptoms .and .problems. .It .is .shifting .from .only .thinking .about .'What .is .the .matter .with .y
ou?'
to .thinking .about .what .matters .to .you.
What .are .the .basic .five .stages .in .the .recovery .process? .- .(correct .answer) .-Pre-
Contemplation .Not .ready
Contemplation .Getting .ready
Preparation .Ready
Action .Making .change
Maintenance .Keeping .up .change
What .is ."recovery" .according .to .the .Substance .Abuse .Mental .Health .Services .Administration
(SAMHSA)? .- .(correct .answer) .-
SAMHSA .definition: ."A .process .of .change .through .which .individuals .improve .their .health .and .wellne
ss,
live .a .self-
directed .life, .and .strive .to .reach .their .full .potential." .This .definition .does .not .describe .recovery .as .a
n .end .state, .but .rather .as .a .process. .Complete .symptom .remission .is .neither .a .prerequisite .of
recovery .nor .a .necessary .outcome .of .the .process. .Recovery .can .have .many .pathways .that .may .inclu
de
professional .clinical .treatment; .use .of .medications; .support .from .families .and .in .schools; .faith-based
approaches; .peer .support; .and .other .approaches.
What .are .the .four .dimensions .that .support .recovery, .according .to .SAMHSA? .- .(correct .answer) .-
Health, .home, .purpose, .and .community
What .are .the .guiding .principles .of .recovery .as .defined .by .SAMHSA? .- .(correct .answer) .-
Ten .guiding .principles .of .recovery .as .defined .by .the .federal .Substance .Abuse .and .Mental .Health .Ser
vices
