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2025 MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST
(CPS) EXAM |ACTUAL 115 EXAM Qs&As|latest 2025
spring|BRAND NEW 2025/2026|GRADED A+
The Principle speaks to the value of "do no harm." While SOME people will not be harmed by using non-human experience language, others WILL be harmed; therefore, by using human experience language, it is unlikely that anyone will be harmed.
- ANSWER benevolence For each of the key elements of cross-cultural partnering, identify at least two questions you might ask yourself? - ANSWER Self: what biases do I have? What privileges do I benefit from? How have these biases and privileges affected me world-view? Culture: What discrimination have people of this culture commonly experienced? What language might exist? What am I doing to learn more about this culture? Individual: How does this person relate to their culture? How am I avoiding assumptions about what I think I know? What am I doing to learn about this person's beliefs?
Give at least 2 examples of the types of discrimination that people might have faced in the mental health system based on their race, sexual orientation, or gender identity - ANSWER - people of certain races may have been stereotyped by mental health professionals due to their own biases
- trans and non-binary folks could have been intentionally misgendered and belittled for their identities Provide three examples of the difference between a maintenance-based system & a recovery-oriented system - ANSWER 1.) maintenance-based system is focused on maintenance, recovery-oriented system is focused on recovery 2.) maintenance based system is illness based, recovery oriented system is recovery oriented 3.) maintenance based system is based on dependence, recovery oriented system is focused on interdependence What is the difference between asking "what happened to you?" and "what's wrong with you?" - ANSWER "what's wrong with you" implies that something is broken or wrong with the person, "what happened to you" shifts responsibility form the person to the environment and acknowledges behavior as an adaptation to environment
What does it mean to be in but not of the system? - ANSWER indicates that although a CPS is a part of the greater Mental Health system in some respects, we are not bound to the same disempowering actions or beliefs, such as being non- trauma informed What does mutuality mean? - ANSWER mutuality in peer support indicates that support is being both offered and gained by each member within the relationship, and that no one is the fixer or helper or the broken one What are the four tasks of IPS? - ANSWER Connection, worldview, mutuality, moving toward What are the four parts of Connection within IPS? - ANSWER Doing with Being with Sharing with Listening to People in recovery from substances may prefer to be referred to as as it legitimizes their use as something that requires treatment - ANSWER patient
What are the four points of SMART Recovery? - ANSWER 1. Building and maintaining motivation
2. coping with urges 3. managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors 4. living a balanced life DISMARM is a tool used in recovery - ANSWER SMART is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. - ANSWER harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of those who use drugs - ANSWER harm reduction Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of those who - ANSWER use substances When it comes to learning about someone's world-view, a CPS should learn about their
1.) define acceptable behaviors 2.) promote high standards of practice 3.) provide a benchmark for CPSs to use for self-evaluation 4.) establish a framework for professional behavior and responsibility 5.) To help build occupational identity - ANSWER CPS code of ethics We look to the CPS Code of Ethics to: 1.) define acceptable 2.) promote high standards of practice 3.) provide a benchmark for CPSs to use for - 4.) establish a framework for professional behavior and responsibility 5.) To help build occupational identity - ANSWER behaviors, self-evaluation How many ethics exists within the CPS Code of ethics? - ANSWER 14
Summarize the CPS code of ethics: 1.) Self- 2.) - conduct 3.) 4.) rights &
- stories 5.) never or harass 6.) no d 7.) with 8.) con 9.) least- 10.) no d relationships 11.) no s relationships 12.) keep current on 13.) no b
2.) to provide a benchmark to self- evaluation 3.) building occupational identity Why are CPSs required to sign the Code of Ethics? - ANSWER as a public declaration of our commitment to uphold these ethics during class and in our work going forward What sorts of questions can be brought up in the midst of change in a workplace? - ANSWER Will this make my job less important? Will my position be terminated as the result? Will this make my job harder? What does this change say about me and my work? Change may bring up some difficult emotions in people such as: - ANSWER sadness, loss, guilt, embarrassment, defensiveness, anger, anxiety, fear, resistance, defensiveness, etc The skills gained from what tool are good to implement in times when people experience reactions to proposed change? - ANSWER PCI
True or false: Being aware of, interested in, and compassionate toward people as they experience reactions to proposed change can be really important - ANSWER true How does change happen? 1.) by being in a position that gives you / 2.) By with people with power/abilities who can help make changes 3.) By using your to establish relationships that can help facilitate the changes that need to be made 4.) By emphasizing the of your - ANSWER power/abilities to make changes, allying, lived experience, worthiness, cause Identify the 5 part strategy of the Change Agent Tool: - ANSWER 1. Figure out who can make the change
2. identify the barriers and opportunities 3. identify strategies to bridge barriers and make use of opportunities
3.) identifying strategies to address barriers and make use of opportunities 4.) partnering with those who support the change and Getting to it 5.) Following up What are some of the "support principles that change agents should keep in mind? - ANSWER - People who disagree are not the enemy
- Pick your battles
- Be an example - seek out your own support What is the most valuable question we can ask somebody in terms of their fears? - ANSWER What would you do if you weren't afraid? What which can contribute to keeping us in our comfort zones and resulting in a spiraling effect? - ANSWER negative self-talk List the steps/questions of the "moving through fear" tool - ANSWER The"BIG" question: - What would you do if you weren't afraid? Comfort Zone: - What are you getting from staying in your comfort zone?
- What are you giving up by not expanding your comfort zone?
- If you were able to fear the fear and do it anyway, what would be the greatest benefits? Negative Self-Talk:
Name two things that are potentially good about staying in your comfort zone and two things that are potentially bad about staying in your comfort zone? - ANSWER good:
- comfort zones can be utilized for personal grounding and self-care - the familiarity of comfort zones allows for ease of connection and communication with those who support us bad: - when stuck in our comfort zones, we limit our ability to take risks and move forward as learners of life - comfort zones ensure a sense of safety and familiarity for self care, but limits our ability to develop resiliency and adaptability. Relying our comfort zones as the only place to practice self-care can be damaging if those zones ever become compromised 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
recovery speech is an extended talk about yourself that is typically planned out ahead and more encompassing than a snippet. A snippet is an anecdote that may be relevant to what is being discussed, intended to validate a person and or offer hope or resources What are the six questions one should ask themselves when preparing a recovery story?
- ANSWER 1. Who is my audience? 2.) What is my purpose? 3.) How much time do I have? 4.) What is the risk to myself? 5.) what is the risk to others? 6.) am I ensuring that I am telling this for the benefit of others? is the acronym for the six questions to ask when preparing a recovery story - ANSWER RAPTOR
RAPTOR is the acronym for the - ANSWER six questions to ask when preparing a recovery story RAPTOR stands for - 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 2. a recovery story is intended for the benefit of others while a hopelessness story is not 3. 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
