MEDI-CALPEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST - PRACTICE
EXAM QUESTIONS
What best describes a Peer Support Specialist? - 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: - Answer -
Being unaware of your power
A benefit of sharing your recovery story is to: - 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? - 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? - Answer -
Participate in the activity as requested by the consumer, if it is part of Peer's job.
In optimal recovery planning... - 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? - 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? - Answer -Ask the family who they talk to when
they need help
What is a strategy for validating the experiences of parents? - Answer -Actively listen
as the parents share their experience
How should the Family Peer Support Specialist connect parents to other parents with
similar concerns? - 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... - Answer -Focusing on wellness,
ability and choice
What are the basic five stages in the recovery process? - Answer -Pre-contemplation,
Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance
What are some guiding principles of recovery as defined by SAMHSA? - 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? - 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? - 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? - Answer -Model 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? - Answer -Provide 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? - Answer -Help 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? - Answer -Assist the consumer by providing encouragement, direction, and
support of their advocacy desires.
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? - Answer -A civil rights law prohibiting
discrimination against people with disabilities.
EXAM QUESTIONS
What best describes a Peer Support Specialist? - 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: - Answer -
Being unaware of your power
A benefit of sharing your recovery story is to: - 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? - 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? - Answer -
Participate in the activity as requested by the consumer, if it is part of Peer's job.
In optimal recovery planning... - 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? - 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? - Answer -Ask the family who they talk to when
they need help
What is a strategy for validating the experiences of parents? - Answer -Actively listen
as the parents share their experience
How should the Family Peer Support Specialist connect parents to other parents with
similar concerns? - 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... - Answer -Focusing on wellness,
ability and choice
What are the basic five stages in the recovery process? - Answer -Pre-contemplation,
Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance
What are some guiding principles of recovery as defined by SAMHSA? - 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? - 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? - 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? - Answer -Model 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? - Answer -Provide 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? - Answer -Help 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? - Answer -Assist the consumer by providing encouragement, direction, and
support of their advocacy desires.
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? - Answer -A civil rights law prohibiting
discrimination against people with disabilities.
