TCI TRAINING CORNELL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS || 100% GUARANTEED
PASS <RECENT VERSION>
TCI Training Cornell Exam Study Guide 2026: 100 Q&A
1. What is the primary goal of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)?
A) To restrain youth as quickly as possible
B) To punish youth for negative behavior
C) To maximize the use of consequences and punishments
D) To help youth learn constructive ways to manage crisis
Detailed Answer: The core purpose of TCI is therapeutic. It aims to use crisis
moments as learning opportunities for the youth, teaching them self-regulation
and coping skills rather than simply controlling behavior.
2. During a crisis, what is the main objective of the TCI staff?
A) To win the power struggle with the youth
B) To provide a therapeutic hold
C) To manage the environment and themselves to help the youth manage
themselves
D) To provide immediate therapy
Detailed Answer: The staff's primary role is to provide external support and control
(of the environment and their own emotions) to help the youth, who is in a state of
internal dysregulation, regain control.
3. The Behavior Support Techniques are used:
A) Only during a physical crisis
B) Only after a restraint has been used
C) As proactive strategies to prevent a crisis from escalating
D) As a form of punishment
Detailed Answer: These techniques (like redirecting, proximity, etc.) are early
,intervention tools designed to de-escalate a situation long before it reaches a
physical crisis point.
4. Which of the following is a non-verbal supportive stance?
A) Standing directly in front of the youth with your arms crossed
B) Pointing a finger at the youth to emphasize a point
C) Standing at an angle to the youth with open palms and a calm demeanor
D) Standing over the youth to show authority
Detailed Answer: A non-threatening, open posture at an angle communicates
respect and safety, reducing the youth's perception of a threat.
5. Active listening involves:
A) Telling the youth what they should be feeling
B) Planning your response while the youth is talking
C) Paraphrasing and reflecting the youth's feelings and content
D) Asking a lot of "why" questions
Detailed Answer: Active listening demonstrates understanding and validation.
Paraphrasing content and reflecting feelings shows the youth they are being
heard.
6. A "Setting Condition" is defined as:
A) The consequence for a behavior
B) Anything that makes challenging behavior more or less likely to occur
C) The specific trigger for a crisis
D) The same as a precipitating event
Detailed Answer: Setting conditions are broad environmental or personal factors
(e.g., lack of sleep, staff change, history of trauma) that create a context where a
crisis is more probable, distinct from the immediate trigger.
7. The four stages of the Stress Model of Crisis are:
A) Trigger, Escalation, Outburst, Recovery
B) Triggering Event, Escalation Phase, Outburst/Crisis, Recovery
C) Anxiety, Defensive, Acting Out Person, Tension Reduction
D) Pre-crisis, Crisis, Post-crisis, Reflection
, Detailed Answer: This is the standard TCI model describing the progression of a
crisis, culminating in the Recovery Phase, which is a key window for learning.
8. The Recovery Phase is crucial because:
A) It's when you should administer a consequence for the behavior
B) The youth is tired and easier to manage
C) It is a teachable moment to process the event and develop insight
D) The staff can finally relax
Detailed Answer: The emotional state following a crisis (Tension Reduction) makes
a youth more receptive to learning. This is the time to help them understand what
happened and create a plan for the future.
9. Which is an example of a directive approach statement?
A) "You seem really angry right now."
B) "Would you like to go for a walk to cool down?"
C) "I need you to take a deep breath with me."
D) "Why did you punch the wall?"
Detailed Answer: A directive is a clear, calm, and direct instruction. It tells the
youth what they need to do, as opposed to asking or suggesting.
10. The goal of emotional first aid is to:
A) Solve all of the youth's problems
B) Provide immediate, supportive help to reduce emotional intensity
C) Analyze the root cause of the youth's trauma
D) Get the youth to stop crying
Detailed Answer: Emotional first aid (Drain Off, Timeline, etc.) is about "co-
regulating" with the youth in the moment, not about deep therapeutic work.
11. "Drain Off" in emotional first aid involves:
A) Ignoring the youth until they calm down
B) Using non-judgmental words to help the youth release agitated feelings
C) Forcing the youth to do deep breathing
D) Punishing the youth for showing emotion
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS || 100% GUARANTEED
PASS <RECENT VERSION>
TCI Training Cornell Exam Study Guide 2026: 100 Q&A
1. What is the primary goal of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)?
A) To restrain youth as quickly as possible
B) To punish youth for negative behavior
C) To maximize the use of consequences and punishments
D) To help youth learn constructive ways to manage crisis
Detailed Answer: The core purpose of TCI is therapeutic. It aims to use crisis
moments as learning opportunities for the youth, teaching them self-regulation
and coping skills rather than simply controlling behavior.
2. During a crisis, what is the main objective of the TCI staff?
A) To win the power struggle with the youth
B) To provide a therapeutic hold
C) To manage the environment and themselves to help the youth manage
themselves
D) To provide immediate therapy
Detailed Answer: The staff's primary role is to provide external support and control
(of the environment and their own emotions) to help the youth, who is in a state of
internal dysregulation, regain control.
3. The Behavior Support Techniques are used:
A) Only during a physical crisis
B) Only after a restraint has been used
C) As proactive strategies to prevent a crisis from escalating
D) As a form of punishment
Detailed Answer: These techniques (like redirecting, proximity, etc.) are early
,intervention tools designed to de-escalate a situation long before it reaches a
physical crisis point.
4. Which of the following is a non-verbal supportive stance?
A) Standing directly in front of the youth with your arms crossed
B) Pointing a finger at the youth to emphasize a point
C) Standing at an angle to the youth with open palms and a calm demeanor
D) Standing over the youth to show authority
Detailed Answer: A non-threatening, open posture at an angle communicates
respect and safety, reducing the youth's perception of a threat.
5. Active listening involves:
A) Telling the youth what they should be feeling
B) Planning your response while the youth is talking
C) Paraphrasing and reflecting the youth's feelings and content
D) Asking a lot of "why" questions
Detailed Answer: Active listening demonstrates understanding and validation.
Paraphrasing content and reflecting feelings shows the youth they are being
heard.
6. A "Setting Condition" is defined as:
A) The consequence for a behavior
B) Anything that makes challenging behavior more or less likely to occur
C) The specific trigger for a crisis
D) The same as a precipitating event
Detailed Answer: Setting conditions are broad environmental or personal factors
(e.g., lack of sleep, staff change, history of trauma) that create a context where a
crisis is more probable, distinct from the immediate trigger.
7. The four stages of the Stress Model of Crisis are:
A) Trigger, Escalation, Outburst, Recovery
B) Triggering Event, Escalation Phase, Outburst/Crisis, Recovery
C) Anxiety, Defensive, Acting Out Person, Tension Reduction
D) Pre-crisis, Crisis, Post-crisis, Reflection
, Detailed Answer: This is the standard TCI model describing the progression of a
crisis, culminating in the Recovery Phase, which is a key window for learning.
8. The Recovery Phase is crucial because:
A) It's when you should administer a consequence for the behavior
B) The youth is tired and easier to manage
C) It is a teachable moment to process the event and develop insight
D) The staff can finally relax
Detailed Answer: The emotional state following a crisis (Tension Reduction) makes
a youth more receptive to learning. This is the time to help them understand what
happened and create a plan for the future.
9. Which is an example of a directive approach statement?
A) "You seem really angry right now."
B) "Would you like to go for a walk to cool down?"
C) "I need you to take a deep breath with me."
D) "Why did you punch the wall?"
Detailed Answer: A directive is a clear, calm, and direct instruction. It tells the
youth what they need to do, as opposed to asking or suggesting.
10. The goal of emotional first aid is to:
A) Solve all of the youth's problems
B) Provide immediate, supportive help to reduce emotional intensity
C) Analyze the root cause of the youth's trauma
D) Get the youth to stop crying
Detailed Answer: Emotional first aid (Drain Off, Timeline, etc.) is about "co-
regulating" with the youth in the moment, not about deep therapeutic work.
11. "Drain Off" in emotional first aid involves:
A) Ignoring the youth until they calm down
B) Using non-judgmental words to help the youth release agitated feelings
C) Forcing the youth to do deep breathing
D) Punishing the youth for showing emotion
