ABSTRACT
Chapter 7 in this client workbook corresponds to Session 5 of Emotion Regulation Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders. Social pressure from friends or others can make it difficult for people with alcohol problems to stick to their goals. In the first part of this chapter, the client and therapist discuss two types of social pressure situations that can increase a person’s risk for drinking—direct and indirect. Social pressure situations that present the greatest risk for drinking are identified and strategies for managing these situations are discussed. In the second part of this chapter, the therapist introduces a method for managing emotions that involves changing behavior. One way to manage emotions that are related to alcohol use is to take a different action or to substitute an adaptive behavior for an unhealthy behavior. A common strategy involves choosing an alternative action or “acting the opposite” to what the emotion is “urging” or motivating the person to do. At the end of the session, between-session skill practice is assigned.
