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CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST TESTS
COMPILATION BUNDLE 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMPLETE
PRACTICE REVIEW GRADED A+
⩥ What are you getting out of staying in your comfort zone and giving up by not expanding it? Answer: getting safety and predictability - giving up growth and opportunity ⩥ Explain the relationship between fears and comfort zones. Answer: Comfort zones are spaces where fear or unpredictability is minimized due to familiarity ⩥ What big question was discussed as one of the most important that you can ask when using the "moving through fear" tool? Why is this so important? Answer: "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" This question is important as it presents the opportunity (and in some cases the permission) to explore what could be possible in the absence of
fear, as well as the opportunity to imagine that it is possible to overcome fear ⩥ How does the moving through fear tool relate to one or more of the 3 Core Competencies? Answer: peer support --> it assists in the facilitation of a non-coercive and supportive conversation. change agent --> provides the foundation to an opportunity to choose to create change ⩥ Why do CPSs share their recovery stories? Answer: to build connection to support someone to feel heard to inspire hope to share resources to advocate for change ⩥ What is the difference between a recovery story and a hopelessness story? Answer: A hopelessness story focuses on all that is wrong with no apparent purpose or movement forward. A recovery story speaks to challenges and struggles but also incorporates discussions about strengths and movement forward
Answer: Risk to others Audience Purpose Time Others Risk to self ⩥ Describe three differences between a hopelessness story and a recovery story Answer: 1. a recovery story has an emphasis on hope and moving forward while a hopelessness story does not
- a recovery story is intended for the benefit of others while a hopelessness story is not
- a recovery story may share graphic detail for the sake of emphasizing the bad while a recovery story looks to avoid sharing those details for the benefit of others ⩥ What are the six questions to ask yourself when preparing a recovery story? (RAPTOR) Answer: What is the risk to myself Who is my audience What is the purpose of my story How much time do I have How and I ensuring that this story is geared towards the benefit of others
What is the risk to others ⩥ How is the "fueling dissatisfaction tool" different from all other CPS tools? Answer: it is the only tool where the CPS is attempting to support a person by offering an opportunity to get in touch with their feelings of discomfort ⩥ Is the fueling dissatisfaction tool specifically for addressing a problem that is already there? Answer: No. Although the tool is called "fueling dissatisfaction" it is not specifically intended to address a dissatisfaction that is already there. Instead it is more about the absence of apparent dissatisfaction. It is about supporting someone to explore their life, and look for those little sparks of dissatisfaction that you might be able to help fan into flames that will energize a person to begin moving forward again ⩥ True for False: The Fueling dissatisfaction tool is used for problem solving or goal setting Answer: false ⩥ The _________ tool is used to address a specific problem that a person has. The ___________ too is used to explore a person's life and build energy when they have been stuck or numb
⩥ Using the PCI tool can help you as a CPS: Answer: - offer most effective peer support
- act as a change agent
- help you stay in but not of the system ⩥ In addition to PCI, name two additional communication skills that could support the communication process with someone of power Answer: - Trauma-informed language
- Using "I" statements
- listening ⩥ What are some examples of what may be found in a negative environment? Answer: - "staff only" restrooms or areas
- Signs with rules on them: "no lending cigarettes," "Clean up after yourself."
- No opportunity for input into decisions being made about you
- being referred to primarily as "clients" or by a diagnosis ⩥ What sorts of beliefs can negative environments re-enforce? Answer: - you're not capable of making decisions
- you have no control here
- you are dangerous
- the world is dangerous
- you're dirty ⩥ True or false: Repeated negative messages create beliefs which become our identity which we defend and find reasons to reinforce via confirmation bias Answer: true ⩥ The _______ of negative messages in program environments has a greater impact on recovery than just the ____________ of positive messages Answer: absence, presence ⩥ True or false: we generally only change or unlearn our beliefs when conflicting messages or evidence are so strong that they break through the filter Answer: true ⩥ Identify some components of positive program environments Answer: - invites program graduates and others in recovery to tell their stories
- focuses on strengths
- includes people in conversations about their support plans
- respect people's privacy (don't talk about them openly in front of others)
- invite graduates of the program to tell their recovery stories and inspire hope in others
- create an inviting atmosphere (no scratched up, thrown together furniture) ⩥ Name three topics a CPS may have difficulty discussing with someone they are supporting Answer: - Sex & sexuality
- Religion
- Suicide ⩥ Name three of the areas a CPS should keep in mind in regards to difficult conversations Answer: - Does your agency have a policy regarding what you must report?
- IS there a peer supervisor who can support you before or after the conversation?
- Can you be mutual in this conversation?
- Are you considering your own risk in this conversation? ⩥ Name two reasons why knowing the history of the peer movement is important
Answer: - Knowing that we are a part of something bigger and are playing a part within a powerful movement
- knowing where we came from and where the movement has succeeded, and informing us on where we need to go from here ⩥ Name two people who have been a part of this movement and identify two things about their work that has contributed to our work today as CPSs Answer: - Judi Chamberlain: trailblazer and foundational influence on the Mad Pride movement, author of "On Our Own" - a text about "patient-controlled" alternatives within the psychiatric system after her own horrific experience
- Mary Nettle: co-author of "This is Survivor Research" based on the lived experience of those within the mental health system, and authored/reviewed numerous scholarly papers regarding mental health, ensuring that the voice of lived experience had a place in academia ⩥ Name two successes that our movement has experienced. Include details of what those successes have meant for individuals with psychiatric diagnoses. Answer: 1.) The Rogers Decision of 1983 which gave people the right to refuse medication and treatment unless found incompetent to make the decision in a "Rogers Hearing." This success was significant for those with diagnoses as it granted the beginnings of autonomy within a system that long granted none.
⩥ What are the four tasks of Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Answer: - Connection
- Worldview
- Mutuality
- Moving towards something (rather than moving away from a problem) ⩥ True or false: Mutuality happens in moments. No every moment will be mutual, it goes in turns, like a see-saw Answer: true ⩥ How does validation ft in with a mutual relationship? Answer: validating someone is a way to avoid going straight into a problem-solving role ⩥ What are some reasons we take on the "fixer" role? Answer: - trying to feel better about selves
- avoiding own stuff
- feelings of superiority ⩥ What are three questions you can ask to support someone to clarify what they want to achieve? Answer: 1.) why do you want this change to happen? 2.) How would your life be different?
3.) what is the most positive outcome of doing this? ⩥ What are three questions one could ask to explore skills and supports? Answer: 1.) what skills and abilities work for you as you move toward accomplishing your dream or goal? 2.) what skills will enhance your success and satisfaction? 3.) what supports will enhance your success and satisfaction? ⩥ List the steps/questions of the "creating the life one wants tool" Answer: 1.) state clearly in positive terms what you want to create in your life 2.) What skills and abilities work for you as you move toward accomplishing that goal? 3.) what skills will enhance your success and satisfaction? 4.) what supports will enhance your success and satisfaction? ⩥ Name and describe each step in the PICBBA process Answer: Problem - what is the problem in clearly defined terms? Impact - how do I impact the problem and how does the problem impact me? Cost - what are the current and future costs of not solving this problem now? Benefit - what are the current and future benefits of solving this problem now?
⩥ What are some examples of support a CPS might offer when someone is feeling afraid? Answer: - what would you like for support
- share snippets of success stories
- support exposure to self-help tools
- share strategies on overcoming fear
- explore hopes and dreams ⩥ What are some examples of support a CPS might offer when someone is feeling angry? Answer: - what would you like for support
- validate
- share snippets
- ask questions
- explore positive ways to make use of anger energy ⩥
