UC San Diego

Telephone counseling for smoking cessation has gained popularity as studies demonstrate its efficacy. What comprises a successful program, however, has not yet been detailed in the literature. In this article, an innovative telephone counseling intervention for smoking cessation is described, with attention to the clinical issues of client assessment, motivation, self-efficacy, planning, coping, relapse-sensitive call scheduling, and self-image. Counselor training and supervision, ethical and legal considerations regarding this form of service delivery, and suggestions for future direction are also discussed.