PSS Skills and Qualities 2

Question 1

A peer specialist notices a peer becoming increasingly agitated during a conversation. What is the BEST de-escalation skill to use first?

Accepted Answer

Lower your voice and slow your speech to model calmness

Answer

Lowering your voice and slowing speech models calm behavior and signals safety, which is a foundational de-escalation technique.

Question 2

Which quality BEST distinguishes peer support from traditional clinical mental health services?

Accepted Answer

Peers use their lived experience as a therapeutic tool

Answer

The defining quality of peer support is the intentional use of one's own lived experience with mental health or substance use challenges to build connection and hope.

Question 3

When practicing active listening, a peer specialist should PRIMARILY focus on:

Accepted Answer

Reflecting feelings and summarizing to show understanding

Answer

Active listening involves reflecting feelings and summarizing content to demonstrate genuine understanding rather than preparing a response.

Question 4

A peer specialist discloses their own recovery story. This practice is BEST described as:

Accepted Answer

Intentional self-disclosure used to build hope and connection

Answer

Intentional self-disclosure means thoughtfully sharing one's own experience in a way that serves the peer's recovery, not the specialist's personal needs.

Question 5

Which of the following BEST describes the skill of 'motivational interviewing' as used by peer specialists?

Accepted Answer

Evoking the peer's own motivation for change through collaborative conversation

Answer

Motivational interviewing draws out the peer's intrinsic motivation by exploring ambivalence and reinforcing their own reasons for change.

(PSS) Certified Peer Support Specialist Practice Test

(PSS) Certified Peer Support Specialist Practice Test

PSS Skills and Qualities 2