Washington state Certified Peer Counselor Exam Study Guide
1. SAMHSA definition of recovery: ANSWER- A process of change through which
individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach
their full potential.
2. SAMHSA's elements of recovery: ANSWER- Hope, person-driven, many pathways,
holis- tic, peer support, relational, culture, addresses trauma, strengths/responsibility,
respect
3. Resiliency: ANSWER- the ability to adapt effectively and recover from
disappointment, difficulty, or crisis
4. Differing ideas about recovery in substance use disorders: ANSWER- abstinence
vs. harm reduction
5. How Families are integral to recovery for children: ANSWER- Just like a tree needs
a strong root system to grow, children need supportive families to thrive and recover
from challenges, with family members acting as advocates and creating a positive
environment for change.
6. medical model vs. recovery model of care: ANSWER- medical: ANSWER-
languages are overly clinical, disempowering, do not promote hope.
Recovery: ANSWER- language and practices that are person centered and promote hop
and other recovery concepts
7. Person First Language: ANSWER- Placing the individual ahead of the challenge.
Power with. Model this. Strengths based. No jargon.
8. Two ways peer supporters support recovery: ANSWER- Inspire hope and possibility.
Support peers to get in touch with their own inner wisdom. Working with, not giving to,
not doing for. Not sage on the stage but guide on the side. share your own story of hope
and overcoming challenges, support choice and empowerment, encourage opportunities
for additional support
9. Why is hope essential for recovery?: ANSWER- Hope is like a tiny spark in the dark,
showing us that things can get better. It's the first step towards believing in a brighter
future, which is crucial for recovery.
10. Peer partner skills: ANSWER- listen actively, support engagement, ask recovery
support- ed questions.
SOLER: ANSWER- seat towards peer, open posture, lean toward peer, eye contact, rela
11. Listen to meaning, feeling, values: ANSWER- quietly without judgement, lean in with
curiosity, check your bias and your story, pay attention to feeling and nonverbal cues
12. Demonstrating understanding: ANSWER- paraphrasing, reflecting feeling,
responding to meaning
13. Orienting: ANSWER- what's going to happen, why (what's in it for peer, why do it),
how the process happens
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, Washington state Certified Peer Counselor Exam Study Guide
14. types of questions: ANSWER- open ended, direct, clarifying
15. Recovery story: ANSWER- focus on hope, share only when relevant, ask permission,
just the salt and pepper
16. Supporting peers / trauma resiliency: ANSWER- safety,
trustworthiness/transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment
voice and choice, cultural historical and gender issues
17. short stories: ANSWER- share the message, not the mess
18. approaching conflict: ANSWER- acknowledge there is a problem, emphasize
ground rules, look for areas of agreement, affirm value of different opinions, listen to
everyone's point of view, define conflict early, create solutions, choose a solution
19. peer partnering: ANSWER- attending, listening, paraphrasing, validating, feeling
heard, present moment, empathy, open ended questions
20. support self advocacy: ANSWER- use our own recovery story, support self
advocacy, model community advocacy
21. self advocacy planning: ANSWER- start with strengths. Name the need, help do
research, identify gatekeeper, make a plan, role play, repeat, prepare for no
22. Ethics: ANSWER- equitable and fair, do no harm, respect and mutuality, when in
doubt ask your supervisor
23. DAP note: ANSWER- Data, Assessment, Plan
24. What is an Individualized Service Plan?: ANSWER- a personalized roadmap for
mental health or substance use treatment, created collaboratively to meet the unique
needs and preferences of the individual, similar to a customized fitness plan tailored to
your specific goals and abilities.
25. individualized service plan updated: ANSWER- every 6 months
26. SMART goals: ANSWER-
Specific Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Timely
27. behavioral health: ANSWER- a state of mental/emotional being and/or choices and
ac- tions that affect wellness. It includes problems include substance abuse or misuse,
alcohol and drug addiction, serious psychological distress, suicide, and mental and
substance use disorders
28. when is certification as a peer counselor required by the state of wa: ANSWER- to
be medicaid reimbursable
29. describe where peer supporters might work: ANSWER- outpatient, peer bridger,
hous- ing or employment, crisis, pact
30. WAC 182-538D-0200: ANSWER- defines peer counselors as a person who is
recognized by a medicaid agency as a person who self identifies as a consumer of
behavioral
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1. SAMHSA definition of recovery: ANSWER- A process of change through which
individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach
their full potential.
2. SAMHSA's elements of recovery: ANSWER- Hope, person-driven, many pathways,
holis- tic, peer support, relational, culture, addresses trauma, strengths/responsibility,
respect
3. Resiliency: ANSWER- the ability to adapt effectively and recover from
disappointment, difficulty, or crisis
4. Differing ideas about recovery in substance use disorders: ANSWER- abstinence
vs. harm reduction
5. How Families are integral to recovery for children: ANSWER- Just like a tree needs
a strong root system to grow, children need supportive families to thrive and recover
from challenges, with family members acting as advocates and creating a positive
environment for change.
6. medical model vs. recovery model of care: ANSWER- medical: ANSWER-
languages are overly clinical, disempowering, do not promote hope.
Recovery: ANSWER- language and practices that are person centered and promote hop
and other recovery concepts
7. Person First Language: ANSWER- Placing the individual ahead of the challenge.
Power with. Model this. Strengths based. No jargon.
8. Two ways peer supporters support recovery: ANSWER- Inspire hope and possibility.
Support peers to get in touch with their own inner wisdom. Working with, not giving to,
not doing for. Not sage on the stage but guide on the side. share your own story of hope
and overcoming challenges, support choice and empowerment, encourage opportunities
for additional support
9. Why is hope essential for recovery?: ANSWER- Hope is like a tiny spark in the dark,
showing us that things can get better. It's the first step towards believing in a brighter
future, which is crucial for recovery.
10. Peer partner skills: ANSWER- listen actively, support engagement, ask recovery
support- ed questions.
SOLER: ANSWER- seat towards peer, open posture, lean toward peer, eye contact, rela
11. Listen to meaning, feeling, values: ANSWER- quietly without judgement, lean in with
curiosity, check your bias and your story, pay attention to feeling and nonverbal cues
12. Demonstrating understanding: ANSWER- paraphrasing, reflecting feeling,
responding to meaning
13. Orienting: ANSWER- what's going to happen, why (what's in it for peer, why do it),
how the process happens
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, Washington state Certified Peer Counselor Exam Study Guide
14. types of questions: ANSWER- open ended, direct, clarifying
15. Recovery story: ANSWER- focus on hope, share only when relevant, ask permission,
just the salt and pepper
16. Supporting peers / trauma resiliency: ANSWER- safety,
trustworthiness/transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment
voice and choice, cultural historical and gender issues
17. short stories: ANSWER- share the message, not the mess
18. approaching conflict: ANSWER- acknowledge there is a problem, emphasize
ground rules, look for areas of agreement, affirm value of different opinions, listen to
everyone's point of view, define conflict early, create solutions, choose a solution
19. peer partnering: ANSWER- attending, listening, paraphrasing, validating, feeling
heard, present moment, empathy, open ended questions
20. support self advocacy: ANSWER- use our own recovery story, support self
advocacy, model community advocacy
21. self advocacy planning: ANSWER- start with strengths. Name the need, help do
research, identify gatekeeper, make a plan, role play, repeat, prepare for no
22. Ethics: ANSWER- equitable and fair, do no harm, respect and mutuality, when in
doubt ask your supervisor
23. DAP note: ANSWER- Data, Assessment, Plan
24. What is an Individualized Service Plan?: ANSWER- a personalized roadmap for
mental health or substance use treatment, created collaboratively to meet the unique
needs and preferences of the individual, similar to a customized fitness plan tailored to
your specific goals and abilities.
25. individualized service plan updated: ANSWER- every 6 months
26. SMART goals: ANSWER-
Specific Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Timely
27. behavioral health: ANSWER- a state of mental/emotional being and/or choices and
ac- tions that affect wellness. It includes problems include substance abuse or misuse,
alcohol and drug addiction, serious psychological distress, suicide, and mental and
substance use disorders
28. when is certification as a peer counselor required by the state of wa: ANSWER- to
be medicaid reimbursable
29. describe where peer supporters might work: ANSWER- outpatient, peer bridger,
hous- ing or employment, crisis, pact
30. WAC 182-538D-0200: ANSWER- defines peer counselors as a person who is
recognized by a medicaid agency as a person who self identifies as a consumer of
behavioral
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