The University of Chicago Stop-Smoking Program:

The Stop Smoking Clinic assists smokers who are ready to quit.  The clinic director, Dr. Andrea King, oversees all treatment aspects and supervises the program therapists.  Dr. King has been awarded several nationally-funded grants to study nicotine dependence and improve strategies for smoking cessation treatments.

Clients in the program usually attend one on one counseling sessions for several months (groups may be offered, depending on interest).  The sessions help the client prepare for a quit date, anticipate barriers, and learn cognitive-behavioral skills for stress reduction and relapse prevention.   The University of Chicago accepts most major insurance plans; if smoking cessation is not covered, clients will need to pay themselves for sessions, and payment options will be discussed prior to enrollment.  Success rates for the program are good, with about 40-50% of clients remaining smoke-free several months after the quit date.  Many other clients have significantly reduced smoking levels and re-set a quit date if setbacks have occurred.  Each client is provided with an individualized approach to aid in his/her goal to be smoke-free. 

Components of The University of Chicago Stop-Smoking Program:

1)      Call 773-702-3858 to schedule an initial evaluation appointment with one of our Master’s or Ph.D. level clinicians; insurance and fees will be discussed

2)      First session is an Informative Orientation and Feedback Session

3)      Program includes 6 individual (or group) sessions led by a University of Chicago Master’s or Ph.D. level trained therapist

4)      Quit date is usually on the 3^rd session.  Weekly sessions usually end one-month after the quit date.  All participants are encouraged to attend booster sessions at 3 and 6 months after the quit date to reinforce skills, review progress, and anticipate future high-risk situations. 

5)      Participants receive program materials, included a 2-inch binder.  This contains written materials, practice exercises, and educational information.

6)     Program also provides psychoeducation on use of medications, including Nicotine Replacement or bupropion (Zyban ®)

7)      If the client does not have a physician willing to prescribe anti-smoking medication, consultation with an addiction psychiatrist on faculty at The University of Chicago (Dr. Steven Dinwiddie) can be arranged.

Program sessions at-a-glance

 SESSION 1

 

·    Readiness to quit

·    Psychoeducation on Nicotine Replacement

           (NRT) and Zyban®

·    Set quit date (x 2 wk) and review calendar

·    Monitoring and/or nicotine fading

 SESSION 2

·    Triggers

·    Avoid, Alter, Substitute

·    Deep Breathing and Relaxation

·    Support systems

 

 SESSION 3 Quit Day!!

 

·    Review quit day experiences

·    Relapse prevention

·    Cravings and coping with urges

·    Withdrawal symptoms:  how to treat

·    Emergency game plan

     

SESSION 4

 

·    Weight and health issues: metabolic
          changes

·    Hungry, angry, lonely, tired (HALT)

·    Stinkin’ Thinkin’ and Straight Thinking:

          Counter Rationalizations

  

SESSION 5

 

·    HALT- Revisited

·    Stinkin’ Thinkin’ and Relapse Prevention

·    High-Risk Situations

·    Social Support for Maintenance

 

SESSION 6

 

·    Confidence inventory on nonsmoking

·    Situational narratives and vignettes

·    Program termination issues

·    Do’s and don’ts: to maintain smoke-free  
          status