Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Practice Exam 2025/2026 | Complete
Study Guide with Verified Questions and Answers
What best describes a Peer Support Specialist? - correct answerA 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
answerBeing unaware of your power
A benefit of sharing your recovery story is to: - correct answerSupport 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 answerAssist 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
answerParticipate in the activity as requested by the consumer, if it is part of Peer's job.
In optimal recovery planning... - correct answerPeople 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 answerRefer 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 answerAsk the family who they talk to
when they need help
What is a strategy for validating the experiences of parents? - correct answerActively
listen as the parents share their experience
How should the Family Peer Support Specialist connect parents to other parents with
similar concerns? - correct answerInvite the parent to an educational event or support
group so they can meet other parents
,An example of a recovery-oriented approach is... - correct answerFocusing on wellness,
ability and choice
What are the basic five stages in the recovery process? - correct answerPre-
contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance
What is helpful at the Pre-contemplation stage? - correct answerExpress caring,
concern and desire for the person to have their best life
What is helpful at the Action stage? - correct answerHelp 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 answerA 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
answerHealth, home, purpose, and community
What are some guiding principles of recovery as defined by SAMHSA? - correct
answerRecovery 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
answerDisorder-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 answerEncourage 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 answerModel an effective
action by sharing a time when the Peer Support Specialist assertively communicated
their own needs and desires.
A Peer Support Specialist is meeting with a consumer's care team to discuss the
consumer's failure to follow-through on their treatment goals. What action would the
Peer Support Specialist take to support the consumer? - correct answerProvide the care
team with an update on what steps the consumer has taken since the last team
meeting.
, A consumer expressed feeling overwhelmed with the requirements of their probation
officer and service providers. How can a Peer Support Specialist assist the consumer
with navigating the expectations? - correct answerHelp the consumer arrange a meeting
with both parties to discuss their viewpoint.
A consumer wants to use their experience with managing their mental illness to help
others. How can the Peer Support Specialist help the consumer to accomplish this
goal? - correct answerAssist the consumer by providing encouragement, direction, and
support of their advocacy desires.
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? - correct answerA civil rights law prohibiting
discrimination against people with disabilities.
The Olmstead decision stated that people with disabilities... - correct answerHave a
right to receive state-funded supports in the community, rather than in facilities.
Aimed at safeguarding the civil rights of one of society's most vulnerable populations,
the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) provided...
a. - correct answeran end to the inappropriate and often indefinite institutionalization of
people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities
Many peer interventions, such as the 12-step group Alcoholics Anonymous... - correct
answerWere founded in a time of intense stigma towards people with mental health
and/or alcohol issues
A person receiving support tells a Peer Support Specialist they are feeling discouraged
due to a recent relapse. The Peer Support Specialist can inspire hope by... - correct
answerDisclosing their own experience with setbacks in their recovery
A community member came by the drop-in center several times a week, seeming
closed off and reluctant to interact with others. What should the Peer Support Specialist
do? - correct answerGreet her by name, slowly get to know her, thank her for coming in
A person receiving support tells a Peer Support Specialist they just attended their first
support group for sobriety. The Peer Support Specialist can respond by... - correct
answerAcknowledging that they know what it is like to find a group of people who
understand
A person receiving support does not like the religious content in 12-step groups, they
tell the Peer Support Specialist. The Peer Support Specialist should... - correct
answerOffer at least three non-12-step self-help support groups without
religious/spiritual content
A person receiving support feels isolated and without purpose, they tell the Peer
Support Specialist. The Peer Support Specialist should... - correct answerGet the
person involved in personally meaningful activities where they really feel like they matter
Study Guide with Verified Questions and Answers
What best describes a Peer Support Specialist? - correct answerA 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
answerBeing unaware of your power
A benefit of sharing your recovery story is to: - correct answerSupport 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 answerAssist 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
answerParticipate in the activity as requested by the consumer, if it is part of Peer's job.
In optimal recovery planning... - correct answerPeople 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 answerRefer 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 answerAsk the family who they talk to
when they need help
What is a strategy for validating the experiences of parents? - correct answerActively
listen as the parents share their experience
How should the Family Peer Support Specialist connect parents to other parents with
similar concerns? - correct answerInvite the parent to an educational event or support
group so they can meet other parents
,An example of a recovery-oriented approach is... - correct answerFocusing on wellness,
ability and choice
What are the basic five stages in the recovery process? - correct answerPre-
contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance
What is helpful at the Pre-contemplation stage? - correct answerExpress caring,
concern and desire for the person to have their best life
What is helpful at the Action stage? - correct answerHelp 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 answerA 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
answerHealth, home, purpose, and community
What are some guiding principles of recovery as defined by SAMHSA? - correct
answerRecovery 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
answerDisorder-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 answerEncourage 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 answerModel an effective
action by sharing a time when the Peer Support Specialist assertively communicated
their own needs and desires.
A Peer Support Specialist is meeting with a consumer's care team to discuss the
consumer's failure to follow-through on their treatment goals. What action would the
Peer Support Specialist take to support the consumer? - correct answerProvide the care
team with an update on what steps the consumer has taken since the last team
meeting.
, A consumer expressed feeling overwhelmed with the requirements of their probation
officer and service providers. How can a Peer Support Specialist assist the consumer
with navigating the expectations? - correct answerHelp the consumer arrange a meeting
with both parties to discuss their viewpoint.
A consumer wants to use their experience with managing their mental illness to help
others. How can the Peer Support Specialist help the consumer to accomplish this
goal? - correct answerAssist the consumer by providing encouragement, direction, and
support of their advocacy desires.
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? - correct answerA civil rights law prohibiting
discrimination against people with disabilities.
The Olmstead decision stated that people with disabilities... - correct answerHave a
right to receive state-funded supports in the community, rather than in facilities.
Aimed at safeguarding the civil rights of one of society's most vulnerable populations,
the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) provided...
a. - correct answeran end to the inappropriate and often indefinite institutionalization of
people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities
Many peer interventions, such as the 12-step group Alcoholics Anonymous... - correct
answerWere founded in a time of intense stigma towards people with mental health
and/or alcohol issues
A person receiving support tells a Peer Support Specialist they are feeling discouraged
due to a recent relapse. The Peer Support Specialist can inspire hope by... - correct
answerDisclosing their own experience with setbacks in their recovery
A community member came by the drop-in center several times a week, seeming
closed off and reluctant to interact with others. What should the Peer Support Specialist
do? - correct answerGreet her by name, slowly get to know her, thank her for coming in
A person receiving support tells a Peer Support Specialist they just attended their first
support group for sobriety. The Peer Support Specialist can respond by... - correct
answerAcknowledging that they know what it is like to find a group of people who
understand
A person receiving support does not like the religious content in 12-step groups, they
tell the Peer Support Specialist. The Peer Support Specialist should... - correct
answerOffer at least three non-12-step self-help support groups without
religious/spiritual content
A person receiving support feels isolated and without purpose, they tell the Peer
Support Specialist. The Peer Support Specialist should... - correct answerGet the
person involved in personally meaningful activities where they really feel like they matter
