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Cognitive reappraisal is an emotion regulation strategy with significant empirical support. However, it is also true that many people have difficultly using cognitive reappraisal-and any cognitive strategy that requires significant mental effort-while experiencing intense emotions.Per the tenants of emotion-regulation flexibility, we provide information on a therapeutic concept we call the "thinking threshold" which helps clients identify the level of emotional distress at which their thinking becomes impaired. When clients are above the "thinking threshold" they are guided to use behavioral and bodily-focused emotion regulation strategies, and to use cognitive reappraisal and problem solving when below the "thinking threshold." In this paper, we outline the rationale for considering emotion-regulation flexibility with clients, identify why level of emotional intensity is an important context to consider when helping clients identify effective emotion regulation strategies, and review research supporting the notion that effortful cognitive strategies are less effective at high levels of emotional distress. We also describe how we teach clients to use the "thinking threshold" concept and provide a brief case study demonstrating the utility of the concept with a client. Finally, we review ways in which the "thinking threshold" could be tailored and adapted alongside acceptance-based approaches, and we describe future directions for both empirical examination of the "thinking threshold" as well as expansion within clinical practice.

Cognitive reappraisal is an emotion regulation strategy with significant empirical support. However, it is also true that many people have difficultly using cognitive reappraisal—and any cognitive strategy that requires significant mental effort—while experiencing intense emotions. Per the tenants of emotion-regulation flexibility, we provide information on a therapeutic concept we call the “thinking threshold” which helps clients identify the level of emotional distress at which their thinking becomes impaired. When clients are above the “thinking threshold” they are guided to use behavioral and bodily-focused emotion regulation strategies, and to use cognitive reappraisal and problem solving when below the “thinking threshold.” In this paper, we outline the rationale for considering emotion-regulation flexibility with clients, identify why level of emotional intensity is an important context to consider when helping clients identify effective emotion regulation strategies, and review research supporting the notion that effortful cognitive strategies are less effective at high levels of emotional distress. We also describe how we teach clients to use the “thinking threshold” concept and provide a brief case study demonstrating the utility of the concept with a client. Finally, we review ways in which the “thinking threshold” could be tailored and adapted alongside acceptance-based approaches, and we describe future directions for both empirical examination of the “thinking threshold” as well as expansion within clinical practice.

The trait of self-criticism is a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. Although self-criticism is certainly an individual difference, whereby people higher in self-criticism are more vulnerable to psychopathology compared to people low in self-criticism, self-criticism is also something people can do in moments of time. The current study describes the development of a brief index of momentary self-criticism using ecological momentary assessment, with the aim of exploring factors associated with heightened self-criticism in daily life. Participants (N = 197) received five random prompts per day for one week on their mobile phones, where they reported their current affect (negative and positive affect), willpower self-efficacy, distress intolerance, current social support, degree of criticism from others, current context (location, activity, hunger, tiredness) and momentary self-criticism. We first validated the new 3-item index of momentary self-criticism by demonstrating that self-criticism varies over time and across contexts, and is also associated with heightened trait self-criticism. Then, using multilevel modeling, we explored the contextual factors associated with greater self-criticism, as well as the psychological factors. We found that self-criticism was higher when people were at home, and more tired. We also found higher self-criticism to be associated with greater negative and lower positive affect, greater distress intolerance, lower willpower, and greater perceived criticism from others. In addition, prior prompt negative affect and perceived criticism from others predicted subsequent self-criticism. This study provides evidence that self-criticism is not only a trait, but an activity that varies over time.

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