- With Mayo Clinic behavioral counselor
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Jennifer Kern is a tobacco treatment specialist, certified through the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center. Although her primary work is done as a counselor with the Mayo Clinic Tobacco Quitline, she also has experience working with patients in a face-to-face setting.
Being bilingual, she enjoys counseling in both Spanish and English. She holds a master's degree in psychology, with interests including: spirituality, psychosomatic illness, depression and anxiety, maladaptive coping behaviors, and overall health behavior change.
A native of Rochester, Minn., her work includes various aspects such as addressing the love-hate relationship many tobacco users have with their smoking or chewing, providing education about nicotine addiction, and offering effective strategies to help with quitting. In addition, she explores the importance of getting emotional and social support when stopping tobacco use, with ideas and suggestions about how to ask for and give this support in helpful ways.
She also enjoys volunteering with the Mayo Outreach to Students and Teachers Program through which she visits local area schools to talk with students about the perils of tobacco use. "As a former smoker, I am personally familiar with the complexity of dealing with a nicotine addiction," she said. This makes her work in schools and at the quitline particularly meaningful. "I am committed to helping others conquer this addiction so they may regain their freedom and possibly even save their own lives."
Latest entries
- Honoring self-promises
May 15, 2009
- Why do you want to quit tobacco?
April 17, 2009
- Thirdhand smoke another danger
March 24, 2009
- Protect yourself from secondhand smoke
Feb. 13, 2009
- Gradual change key to quitting smoking
Jan. 15, 2009
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Quit smoking blog
-
July 3, 2008
To prevent a relapse, remember the 4 D's
By Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
When quitting tobacco use, cravings are just part of the game. Most people experience them in some form or another with varying frequency and intensity.
When going through the quit process watch out for these four main triggers to relapse: Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, Tiredness. So, when cravings pop up, remember to H.A.L.T. Stop for a moment and check in on how you're feeling. Pay attention to what you need.
It is important to have some strategies to deal with cravings when they strike. One must have a "fire plan," a way to escape urges without falling back into the flames of tobacco use. A few easy tricks to remember are the 4 D's:
- Delay — do not respond to your cravings, but wait for them to pass.
- Distract — in order to help cravings pass more quickly, get your mind engaged in something else.
- Drink water — drinking water can help by giving you something to hold in your hands and put in your mouth.
- Deep breathe — taking slow, deep breaths not only helps calm you, it also mimics the motion your body goes through when you smoke. This can help you to feel more comfortable when combating urges by minimizing "missing" the cigarette.
On holiday weekends and other special occasions when you might be in high-risk situations, think of specific ways in which you can maintain your independence from tobacco. Plan ahead. Have substitutes handy. Limit alcohol use or avoid it all together. If you are attending events where other smokers are present, try to stick with the non-smokers. Find ways to remove yourself from tempting situations and be in touch with a support person when needed.
25 comments posted