ABSTRACT
This chapter corresponds to Session 4 of Emotion Regulation Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders. In this session the therapist reviews the role of thoughts in increasing risk for drinking. A list of seven widely recommended coping skills for managing drinking-related thoughts are then reviewed. Next, the client learns about Cognitive Reappraisal and the therapist demonstrates how reappraisal, or thinking differently about a situation, can impact the client’s emotions. Specifically, if thinking differently about a situation prevents or reduces an unpleasant emotion, then the risk for drinking also may be reduced. Several examples of Cognitive Reappraisal are reviewed followed by an in-session exercise in which the client applies Cognitive Reappraisal to a personally relevant negative affect drinking situation. At the end of the session, between-session skill practice is assigned.
