CRC Assessment & Goal Setting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When using motivational interviewing during an initial assessment, which technique best helps a client explore ambivalence about recovery?
- Confronting denial directly
- Reflective listening and open-ended questions (Correct answer)
- Providing a detailed recovery plan immediately
- Listing consequences of continued substance use
Correct answer: Reflective listening and open-ended questions
Reflective listening and open-ended questions help clients explore their own ambivalence without feeling judged or pressured.
Question 2: A client in early recovery states their goal is to 'be healthier.' How should the coach respond?
- Accept the goal as stated and move on
- Help the client break it into specific, measurable sub-goals (Correct answer)
- Tell the client the goal is too vague to work with
- Suggest a different goal that is more recovery-focused
Correct answer: Help the client break it into specific, measurable sub-goals
Coaches help clients transform broad aspirations into specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
Question 3: Which assessment tool is commonly used to evaluate the severity of alcohol use disorder?
- AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) (Correct answer)
- PHQ-9
- GAD-7
- PCL-5
Correct answer: AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)
The AUDIT is a validated 10-item screening tool developed by the WHO specifically to assess alcohol use disorder severity.
Question 4: During goal setting, a client expresses fear of failure. The most appropriate coaching response is to:
- Reassure the client that failure won't happen
- Explore the client's past successes and strengths (Correct answer)
- Lower the goals to reduce risk of failure
- Refer the client to therapy before setting goals
Correct answer: Explore the client's past successes and strengths
Exploring past successes and strengths builds self-efficacy and helps the client see they have the capacity to achieve goals.
Question 5: The primary purpose of a strengths-based assessment in recovery coaching is to:
- Identify the root causes of addiction
- Document problems for a treatment record
- Identify internal and external resources the client can leverage (Correct answer)
- Determine insurance eligibility for services
Correct answer: Identify internal and external resources the client can leverage
Strengths-based assessments focus on identifying assets, abilities, and supports that can be mobilized to support recovery.
Question 6: A client sets a goal to attend 90 AA meetings in 90 days. After two weeks they have missed several. The coach should first:
- Remind the client of their commitment
- Explore what barriers are preventing attendance (Correct answer)
- Reduce the goal to 60 meetings in 90 days
- Contact the client's sponsor about the missed meetings
Correct answer: Explore what barriers are preventing attendance
Exploring barriers helps the coach and client understand what is interfering with goal achievement and problem-solve together.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the role of self-determination in recovery goal setting?
- The coach determines which goals are most clinically appropriate
- Goals are set collaboratively with input from family members
- The client chooses their own goals based on personal values and priorities (Correct answer)
- Goals are assigned based on the stage of recovery model
Correct answer: The client chooses their own goals based on personal values and priorities
Self-determination is foundational to recovery coaching — clients are the experts on their own lives and direct their own recovery goals.
CRC Assessment & Goal Setting 2
When using motivational interviewing during an initial assessment, which technique best helps a client explore ambivalence about recovery?