CBHCM Trauma-Informed Care

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the core principle of trauma-informed care?

Accepted Answer

Recognizing the widespread impact of trauma and integrating this knowledge into all aspects of service delivery

Answer

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an organizational and practice approach that recognizes the prevalence and impact of trauma across populations and integrates that awareness into policies, procedures, and all interactions — without requiring trauma disclosure or limiting care to those with a PTSD diagnosis.

Question 2

SAMHSA's six key principles of trauma-informed care include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Mandatory trauma disclosure

Answer

SAMHSA's six principles are: Safety; Trustworthiness and Transparency; Peer Support; Collaboration and Mutuality; Empowerment, Voice, and Choice; and Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues. Mandatory trauma disclosure contradicts the foundational principle of client safety and choice.

Question 3

A client becomes visibly agitated when asked routine intake questions about family history. A trauma-informed response would be to:

Accepted Answer

Pause, acknowledge the client's reaction, and ask how to make the process more comfortable

Answer

A trauma-informed response prioritizes safety and trust. Pausing to acknowledge distress and inviting the client to guide the process honors the principle of empowerment and choice, helping re-establish a sense of control.

Question 4

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) in behavioral health case managers is BEST addressed by:

Accepted Answer

Organizational supports including regular supervision, peer consultation, and manageable caseloads

Answer

Secondary traumatic stress (also called compassion fatigue) is best mitigated at the organizational level through regular clinical supervision, peer support, manageable caseloads, and self-care policies — not by restricting case assignments or demanding emotional detachment.

Question 5

In a trauma-informed framework, the question 'What happened to you?' is preferred over 'What is wrong with you?' because it:

Accepted Answer

Reframes behavior as an understandable response to adversity rather than a character deficit

Answer

The shift from 'What is wrong with you?' to 'What happened to you?' is central to trauma-informed practice. It reframes problematic behaviors as understandable coping responses to adverse experiences, reducing stigma and building therapeutic alliance.

(CBHCM) Certified Behavioral Health Case Manager Practice Test

(CBHCM) Certified Behavioral Health Case Manager Practice Test

CBHCM Trauma-Informed Care