Well i think all that they mean by changing the cognitive learning of drinking alcohol is that if one drinks while on naltrexone while in one of the situations you mentioned, there is no pleasure derived from the drink - so it is rendered pointless.
I am in AA aswell by the way and have nothing to say about spirituality because i fully enjoy reading books by wayne dyer, eckhart tolle and praying... the only reason i asked about TSM was alongside AA and other addiction support like i mentioned because i find it extremely difficult to just "stop"... i hear all the time "Since i came to AA i have never had to have another drink" and it makes me feel like a failure because i slip all the time :/