Table 1.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Alcohol Dependence (MBRP-A) Intervention: session summary.

Session	Content summary
Week 1  Automatic pilot and relapse	Introduction to mindfulness meditation and mindfulness-based relapse prevention; being “present” versus on “autopilot”; relapse and mindfulness  Practice: Raisin exercise; breath meditation; body scan
Week 2  Awareness of triggers and craving	Common challenges in meditation practice; awareness of reactions to triggers and the tendency to judge our experiences; mindful response to relapse triggers, cravings, and urges  Practice: Body scan; walking down the street exercise; urge surfing exercise; abbreviated mountain meditation
Week 3  Mindfulness in daily life	Use of brief mindfulness techniques in daily-life situations; awareness of feelings and sensations that can arise in body and mind, including those related to craving and urges  Practice: Mindful hearing (or “seeing”) exercise; sitting meditation (breath and body); mindful walking; SOBER minimeditation
Week 4  Staying present and aware (mindful) in high-risk situations	Awareness of individual high-risk situations and sensations, emotions, and thoughts; being “present” and mindful during uncomfortable sensations, emotions, and thoughts  Practice: Sitting meditation (breath, body, sounds, thoughts); SOBER minimeditation in a high-risk situation; mindful stretching
Week 5  Balancing acceptance and skillful, mindful action (change)	Acceptance of unpleasant states of mind and body; acceptance of self; coping with problematic interpersonal interactions  Practice: Sitting meditation with Rumi's poem; SOBER minimeditation exercise; mindful walking or mindful stretching
Week 6  Are thoughts facts?	The role of thoughts and their relationship to relapse; understanding that thoughts are only thoughts and may not reflect facts; the difference between lapse and relapse; individual unhealthy thought patterns that may lead to relapse  Practice: Sitting meditation (thoughts); mindful stretching
Week 7  Self-care and life balance	Person-specific, early warning signs of relapse; coping behaviors; relapse prevention action plan; the importance of self-care and life balance, forgiveness and compassion for health and relapse prevention  Practice: Lovingkindness meditation (or “Let go of struggle” meditation); mindful walking
Week 8  Balanced living: building support networks, continuing to live mindfully	Life balance and mindfulness meditation as a way to maintain life balance; importance and creation of support networks; barriers to reaching out for help; reflection on the received training and ways to sustain mindfulness meditation practice; looking forward  Practice: Body scan, concluding guided meditation

Adapted with permission from [6]; SOBER = stop, observe, breathe, expand, and respond.