- 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
- 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
- Goal-setting helps smooth way to smoke-free future
Oct. 1, 2009
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Quit smoking blog
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Oct. 16, 2009
Build confidence in effort to go smoke-free
By Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Personal beliefs and self-confidence are important elements of any lifestyle change. We all have areas in our lives where we feel strong, and others where we're less certain. Most of our beliefs about ourselves are things we consider to be true and unchanging. Many of us can be dogmatic and downright stubborn when it comes to our conception about our personal limitations. We're so steeped in "I can't" or "I'll never" that we do precisely that. Nothing.
But we can make the choice to shift.
I recently had two experiences that are causing me to challenge what I've believed to be true about myself. In my youth, I was physically active, though not always the best athlete. After some injuries, I resigned myself to the fact that there were certain things that I'd never be able to do, including skiing and running. I told myself, and countless others, that I was not coordinated enough or that I was simply too fragile.
A few weeks ago, I was offered the opportunity to water ski. My knee-jerk response was, "No way! I can't do that." But after a moment of reflection, I agreed to at least try it. It took me about 5-6 attempts, but with enough patience and coaching I eventually got up! I accomplished something I told myself I'd never do. That small success urged me to then try something else I never thought I could do. Last weekend I ran a full 5K race. As I crossed the finish line, I felt a keen sense of personal triumph.
These physical feats are now challenging me to look at other areas of my life where I've held strongly to "I can't" or "I'll never." Sometimes we need to use the physical body to launch our confidence until it flows into other areas of our lives. The inner dialogue then becomes, "If I thought I could never do that, but now I know that I can, what else could I accomplish in my life that I am currently telling myself I'm incapable of?"
Breaking through limitations in one aspect of your life can have a surprisingly powerful effect on how you view yourself in other areas of your life. If the jump from "smoker" to "non-smoker" is too overwhelming, do something tangible to start shifting your self-view and personal confidence.
Set some goals and make a commitment to accomplish something you've been wanting to do differently or better in your life. It could be starting a new workout routine or discovering a new hobby. It might be getting a different haircut, being on time, or even cleaning out your car.
Do something physical to increase your confidence and challenge your beliefs about your personal limitations and capabilities. Then, apply those thoughts and feelings of success, no matter how small, to the endeavor of becoming smoke-free.
Please share your thoughts.
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