- 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
- Smokers, don't take your health for granted
Jan. 27, 2010
- Don't give up on goal to quit smoking
Jan. 9, 2010
- Helping others can help you become a non-smoker
Dec. 24, 2009
- Finding inner talents can aid the quit smoking process
Dec. 15, 2009
- Focus on gratitude, not craving a cigarette
Nov. 24, 2009
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Quit smoking blog
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July 21, 2009
Blog: Government tightens rules on tobacco companies
By Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
President Obama recently signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which grants the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products, as well as putting restrictions on tobacco marketing and advertising.
The FDA will now be able to reduce the nicotine content and regulate the chemicals in cigarettes. Tobacco companies will no longer be allowed to target children by adding flavors, other than menthol, to cigarettes in order to improve taste and make them seem more appealing.
Tobacco advertising will be limited to black-and-white-only text, and outdoor advertising within 1,000 feet of schools will be prohibited. Within the next three years, tobacco companies will no longer be able to use words like "light" or "low tar" on cigarette packaging, as these terms create the illusion that certain cigarettes are safer. There is no such thing as a safe cigarette. Period.
The goal of Big Tobacco is to get people hooked on their products so they gain a "client-for-life." Currently, there are over 1,000 new daily smokers under the age of 18 every day in the United States. The objective of the tobacco control act is to protect America's youth from ever starting smoking. It should also benefit current smokers by moderating the kind of chemicals that are added to tobacco to manipulate the chemistry and make it more addictive.
What are your thoughts about the government creating the tobacco control act and imposing such regulations on the tobacco industry?
13 comments posted