CRC Recovery Capital & Strengths 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best illustrates the concept of 'recovery capital accrual' over time?
- A client completing a single detox episode
- A client progressively rebuilding relationships, employment, and housing as recovery lengthens (Correct answer)
- A client maintaining daily medication adherence
- A client attending 90 meetings in 90 days
Correct answer: A client progressively rebuilding relationships, employment, and housing as recovery lengthens
Recovery capital accrual refers to the gradual accumulation of resources across multiple life domains as the person sustains their recovery journey.
Question 2: A client describes their sobriety as feeling 'white-knuckle' with no joy or purpose. From a recovery capital perspective, what is most likely lacking?
- Physical capital — the client needs medical monitoring
- Spiritual or meaningful engagement capital that provides purpose and motivation (Correct answer)
- Occupational capital due to unemployment
- Social capital due to family conflict
Correct answer: Spiritual or meaningful engagement capital that provides purpose and motivation
A lack of meaning, purpose, or spiritual connection represents a deficit in the wellness and values dimension of recovery capital that sustains motivation beyond abstinence.
Question 3: According to William White's recovery capital framework, what distinguishes 'personal' from 'family/social' recovery capital?
- Personal capital is only financial; family capital is emotional
- Personal capital resides within the individual; family/social capital comes from relationships and social networks (Correct answer)
- Personal capital requires professional assessment; family capital is self-reported
- They are interchangeable terms in the literature
Correct answer: Personal capital resides within the individual; family/social capital comes from relationships and social networks
White's model distinguishes personal capital (internal assets like health, coping skills, values) from family/social capital (external support from relationships and networks).
Question 4: A client's employer offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that covers counseling sessions. In recovery capital terms, this is an example of:
- Human capital
- Community capital (Correct answer)
- Cultural capital
- Spiritual capital
Correct answer: Community capital
An EAP is an environmental resource provided by the community (workplace) that supports recovery, classifying it as community capital.
Question 5: During a strengths inventory, a client reluctantly mentions they kept a journal throughout active addiction. How should the recovery coach respond?
- Redirect to more concrete recovery skills
- Recognize journaling as a coping skill and existing asset that can be built upon in recovery (Correct answer)
- Suggest the client burn the journal to close that chapter
- Note it as evidence of the client's literacy only
Correct answer: Recognize journaling as a coping skill and existing asset that can be built upon in recovery
Journaling represents a self-regulation and reflective coping skill — an existing human capital strength the coach should affirm and expand.
Question 6: Which scenario best demonstrates 'negative recovery capital' or recovery capital depletion?
- A client joining a recovery home
- A client's friend group that normalizes relapse and discourages treatment (Correct answer)
- A client attending outpatient counseling twice weekly
- A client saving money for the first time
Correct answer: A client's friend group that normalizes relapse and discourages treatment
A social network that normalizes substance use or discourages recovery actively depletes social capital and can undermine recovery efforts.
Question 7: A coach uses a 'recovery wheel' tool with a client to visualize strengths across life domains. What is the primary purpose of this exercise?
- To diagnose co-occurring mental health conditions
- To provide a visual map of current recovery capital and identify areas for growth (Correct answer)
- To determine the client's insurance eligibility
- To compare the client's progress against population norms
Correct answer: To provide a visual map of current recovery capital and identify areas for growth
The recovery wheel externalizes the client's recovery capital across domains, making strengths visible and revealing gaps to target collaboratively.
CRC Recovery Capital & Strengths 3
Which of the following best illustrates the concept of 'recovery capital accrual' over time?