Relapse prevention is a cognitive-behavioral approach designed to help individuals anticipate and cope with setbacks during the behavior change process. The broad aim of RP, to reduce the incidence and severity of relapse, subsumes two basic goals: to minimize the impact of high-risk situations by increasing awareness and building coping skills, and to limit relapse proneness by promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Over the past decade RP principles have been incorporated across an increasing array of behavior domains, with addictive behaviors continuing to represent the primary application.
