The overwhelming majority of people who experience problems with alcohol in the United States are not alcoholics, they are problematic drinkers. And they are more likely to raise their concerns about their relationship with alcohol in consultation with a counselor or psychotherapist than attend an AA meeting. Learn how to respond effectively to these concerns as a counselor or therapist. In this workshop, you discuss theoretical frameworks to better understand the phenomena of problematic drinking and explore basic tools for tailoring brief interventions to the needs of diverse client populations.