Chemical Dependency Counselor License Exam Relapse Prevention 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Marlatt and Gordon's Relapse Prevention model, what is the primary goal of relapse prevention therapy?
- To ensure complete abstinence through strict monitoring
- To help clients identify and manage high-risk situations (Correct answer)
- To replace substance use with prescription medications
- To eliminate all triggers from the client's environment
Correct answer: To help clients identify and manage high-risk situations
Marlatt and Gordon's model focuses on identifying high-risk situations and developing coping strategies to manage them rather than eliminating triggers entirely.
Question 2: What does the acronym HALT stand for in relapse prevention?
- Help, Accountability, Learning, Treatment
- Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired (Correct answer)
- Hazard, Avoidance, Lapse, Trigger
- Hope, Action, Limits, Tools
Correct answer: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired — four common internal states that increase vulnerability to relapse.
Question 3: In relapse prevention, what is the difference between a 'lapse' and a 'relapse'?
- A lapse involves illegal substances while a relapse involves alcohol
- A lapse is a single use episode while a relapse is a return to prior patterns of use (Correct answer)
- A lapse requires hospitalization while a relapse does not
- A lapse occurs in early recovery and a relapse occurs after one year of sobriety
Correct answer: A lapse is a single use episode while a relapse is a return to prior patterns of use
A lapse is a brief, isolated episode of substance use whereas a relapse represents a full return to previous problematic patterns of use.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes a 'high-risk situation' in the context of relapse prevention?
- Any situation involving contact with healthcare providers
- A situation where the client earns a high income
- Any circumstance that threatens coping ability and increases relapse risk (Correct answer)
- A situation requiring hospitalization or detox
Correct answer: Any circumstance that threatens coping ability and increases relapse risk
A high-risk situation is any circumstance — internal or external — that threatens the client's sense of control and increases the probability of relapse.
Question 5: What is the 'Abstinence Violation Effect' (AVE) in relapse prevention?
- The physiological withdrawal reaction after stopping substance use
- The legal consequences of violating a sobriety agreement
- Guilt and shame after a lapse that leads a person to continue using (Correct answer)
- The medical protocol for handling overdose situations
Correct answer: Guilt and shame after a lapse that leads a person to continue using
The AVE is the cognitive-emotional response (guilt, shame, self-blame) following a lapse that can cause a person to give up and continue using substances.
Question 6: Which cognitive distortion is MOST associated with increased relapse risk?
- Apparently irrelevant decisions that lead toward high-risk situations (Correct answer)
- Overgeneralization of positive treatment outcomes
- Minimization of substance use history
- Magnification of withdrawal symptoms
Correct answer: Apparently irrelevant decisions that lead toward high-risk situations
Apparently irrelevant decisions (AIDs) are subtle rationalizations that gradually move a client toward high-risk situations without recognizing the danger.
Question 7: Which of the following is considered an effective relapse prevention strategy?
- Avoiding all social situations indefinitely
- Developing a written relapse prevention plan with identified coping strategies (Correct answer)
- Discontinuing all counseling after six months of sobriety
- Relying exclusively on willpower to resist cravings
Correct answer: Developing a written relapse prevention plan with identified coping strategies
A written relapse prevention plan that includes identified triggers, warning signs, and specific coping strategies is a cornerstone of effective relapse prevention.
Chemical Dependency Counselor License Exam Relapse Prevention 1
According to Marlatt and Gordon's Relapse Prevention model, what is the primary goal of relapse prevention therapy?