We frequently hear people say that they don’t see how counseling helps a smoker to stop smoking. It can. Counseling increases the success in quitting smoking, like good coaching can improve a team’s chances of winning. In fact, the more time or sessions a person spends in counseling for stopping smoking (up to 300 minutes or 8 sessions) the more likely a smoker will become and stay smoke free.
Counseling can help in many ways. A counselor can review a person’s tobacco use history and highlight past successes that might not be apparent. A counselor can encourage a person to elaborate on their reasons for quitting smoking which can help strengthen a smoker’s resolve. Counselors can help develop a plan to manage danger situations and recognize ‘red flags’ that could lead to relapse to smoking. Counseling can help a smoker understand why it is so hard to stop, can help with the proper use of medications, and can refer a smoker to a healthcare provider to prescribe medication.
Counseling with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist may be available in your area through your State Quit-line or through one of the local hospitals or clinics. When you decide to quit, use all the tools at your disposal on becomeanex.org, and don’t forget that counseling could be the key.
