Putting it on the line: Telephone counseling for adolescent smokers

Adolescent smokers need cessation help, but the question of how best to intervene remains unanswered. This article describes the empirically validated protocol of an established, well-utilized adolescent telephone counseling program for smoking cessation, tailored to adolescent developmental needs and shown to increase clients' 6-month prolonged abstinence rate significantly. Clinical issues addressed include client assessment, motivation, self-efficacy, familial and social support, planning, coping, relapse-sensitive call scheduling, and self-image. Counselor training considerations are also discussed.