- With Mayo Clinic behavioral counselor
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
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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.
Her counseling work addresses various aspects of tobacco addiction, including the love-hate relationship many tobacco users have with their smoking or chewing, education about nicotine addiction, and effective strategies to help with quitting.
In addition, she explores the importance of getting emotional and social support when stopping tobacco use, and offers ideas and suggestions about how to ask for and give this support.
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.
"As a former smoker, I am personally familiar with the complexity of dealing with the 'tobacco shackles,' " she said. "I am committed to helping others conquer this addiction so they may regain their freedom and possibly even save their own lives."
Latest entries
- Focus on gratitude, not craving a cigarette
Nov. 24, 2009
- Join the Great American Smokeout
Nov. 17, 2009
- Preparation key to quitting smoking
Nov. 5, 2009
- Learning to be a non-smoker
Oct. 23, 2009
- Build confidence in effort to go smoke-free
Oct. 16, 2009
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Quit smoking blog
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July 7, 2009
Blog: Is sneaking a smoke cheating?
By Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
The language of smokers who are en route to becoming smoke-free is always intriguing to me. I often hear people say "I cheated the other night" to describe smoking a cigarette while they're actively trying to quit.
It's interesting that the word choice is "cheating." This is the same term that identifies infidelity, the immoral duplication of exam answers or even tax fraud. Why is this same word then used to describe smoking during the quit process?
Cheating refers to intentional dishonesty or deception. Does breaking a promise also imply a type of cheating? Permissive thoughts such as "I can have just one" may be a way of negotiating with oneself to the point of breaking the self-commitment to be smoke-free. But is this self-deception? Is it dishonest?
Alternatively, in the case of quitting smoking, could the word cheating be used because of its association with the negative emotions, such as shame, that accompany breaking the vow to be a non-smoker?
To me, when someone smokes during the quit process a better term for that is a "slip" or a "lapse." These words do not have the same negative connotation as the emotionally laden term "cheating." It's important to avoid judgment or self-reproach when making a significant life change, as with stopping tobacco use.
What are your thoughts on why "cheating" is used in this context?
14 comments posted