CRC Foundations of Coaching Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the coaching stance known as 'beginner's mind'?
- Assuming the coach knows the best path forward for the client
- Approaching each client interaction with curiosity and without preconceived judgments (Correct answer)
- Reviewing foundational coaching texts before each session
- Asking the client to explain their background from scratch each time
Correct answer: Approaching each client interaction with curiosity and without preconceived judgments
Beginner's mind means the coach remains curious and open, setting aside assumptions so the client's unique experience can emerge.
Question 2: In recovery coaching, the concept of 'meeting clients where they are' primarily means:
- Physically visiting the client's location for sessions
- Accepting the client's current stage of readiness without pushing premature change (Correct answer)
- Agreeing with all of the client's choices regardless of consequences
- Scheduling sessions at the client's convenience only
Correct answer: Accepting the client's current stage of readiness without pushing premature change
Meeting clients where they are means honoring their current motivation level and readiness rather than imposing the coach's agenda.
Question 3: A recovery coach's primary accountability is to:
- The referral agency that sent the client
- The client's family members who are supporting recovery
- The client's self-determined recovery goals (Correct answer)
- The treatment facility overseeing the case
Correct answer: The client's self-determined recovery goals
Recovery coaches are fundamentally accountable to the client's own goals, honoring client autonomy above other stakeholders.
Question 4: Which principle distinguishes coaching from sponsorship in 12-step programs?
- Coaches share their own recovery story as the primary tool
- Coaches avoid any discussion of spirituality
- Coaches do not require clients to follow a specific recovery pathway (Correct answer)
- Coaches must have personal lived experience with addiction
Correct answer: Coaches do not require clients to follow a specific recovery pathway
Unlike sponsorship, recovery coaching is pathway-neutral and does not prescribe a specific program or model of recovery.
Question 5: When a client expresses ambivalence about changing a behavior, the most appropriate coaching response is to:
- Challenge the client to commit to change immediately
- Explore both sides of the ambivalence in a non-judgmental way (Correct answer)
- Refer the client to a therapist as ambivalence is a clinical issue
- Avoid the topic until the client raises it again
Correct answer: Explore both sides of the ambivalence in a non-judgmental way
Exploring ambivalence collaboratively helps the client articulate their own motivations without the coach imposing direction.
Question 6: The term 'recovery capital' refers to:
- Financial resources available to fund treatment programs
- The internal and external resources a person can draw on to initiate and sustain recovery (Correct answer)
- The number of days a person has been abstinent
- Government funding allocated for substance use services
Correct answer: The internal and external resources a person can draw on to initiate and sustain recovery
Recovery capital encompasses personal, social, and community assets that support an individual's recovery journey.
Question 7: A coach who consistently shares personal opinions about a client's recovery choices is most likely violating which coaching principle?
- Confidentiality
- Non-directiveness and client autonomy (Correct answer)
- Mandatory reporting requirements
- Scope of practice boundaries with referral partners
Correct answer: Non-directiveness and client autonomy
Offering unsolicited opinions undermines client autonomy, a foundational principle in recovery coaching.
CRC Foundations of Coaching Practice 2
Which of the following best describes the coaching stance known as 'beginner's mind'?