Emotion Regulation Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders
Helping Clients Manage Negative Thoughts and Feelings

Emotion Regulation Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders provides step-by-step, detailed procedures for assessing and treating emotion regulation difficulties in individuals diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). The Emotion Regulation Treatment (ERT) program, consisting of 12 weekly sessions, combines an empirically supported cognitive-behavioral treatment with emotion regulation strategies to help clients manage negative emotions and cravings for alcohol. This therapist guide contains all the materials needed for the clinician to implement the program, including session outlines, detailed session content with suggestions for therapist dialogue, and client assignment for between-session skill practice. It is also designed to be used with the accompanying client workbook Managing Negative Emotions Without Drinking, which includes educational materials, handouts, worksheets, and between-session skill practice.

Acknowledgements About the Authors 1. Introduction and Information for Therapists 2. Basic Principles Underlying Emotion Regulation Treatment 3. Overview of General Treatment Format and Procedures 4. Session 1: Introduction to Emotion Regulation Treatment 5. Session 2: Enhancing Motivation and Mindfulness 6. Session 3: High Risk Situations and Mindful Coping 7. Session 4: Drinking-Related Thoughts, Coping with Urges and Cravings, and Cognitive Reappraisal 8. Session 5: Drink Refusal Skills and Managing Emotions with Actions 9. Session 6: Skill and Treatment Progress Review and Preparing for Direct Experiencing of Emotion 10. Session 7: Coping with a Lapse or Relapse and Direct Experiencing of Emotion 11. Session 8: Enhancing Social Support Networks and Direct Experiencing of Emotion 12. Session 9: Seemingly Irrelevant Decisions and Direct Experiencing of Emotion 13. Session 10: Progress Review, Stimulus Control Strategies, and Direct Experiencing of Emotion 14. Session 11: Relapse Prevention and Lifestyle Balance 15. Session 12: Accomplishments and Future Directions Appendix A. Common Barriers to Mindfulness Practice Appendix B. Scene Development Worksheet Appendix C. Individual Distress Scale Appendix D. Direct Experiencing of Emotion Recording Form Appendix E. Relapse Prevention Plan References

Paul R. Stasiewicz, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist as well as senior research scientist and director of the Addiction Treatment Services outpatient clinic at the State University of New York at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions. His NIH-funded research focuses on the development of novel behavioral therapies for alcohol use disorders.

Clara M. Bradizza, PhD, is a senior research scientist at the Research Institute on Addictions and a research scientist in the Department of Family Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research, funded by NIH, includes the development of innovative affect-based interventions for both alcohol and smoking. Dr. Bradizza is a member of the UB Institutional Review Board and is a grant reviewer at the National Institutes of Health.

Kim S. Slosman, MS, LMHC, is a clinical research project director at the Research Institute on Addictions at the State University of New York at Buffalo with more than 20 years of clinical practice and supervision experience in mental health and addiction. She also has experience delivering manualized treatments and served as a therapist on four previous clinical trials involving emotion regulation training for substance abusing clients.