Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.

Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.

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Jennifer Kern is a tobacco treatment specialist, certified through the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center. Although her primary work is done as a counselor with the Mayo Clinic Tobacco Quitline, she also has experience working with patients in a face-to-face setting.

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.

A native of Rochester, Minn., her work includes various aspects such as addressing the love-hate relationship many tobacco users have with their smoking or chewing, providing education about nicotine addiction, and offering effective strategies to help with quitting. In addition, she explores the importance of getting emotional and social support when stopping tobacco use, with ideas and suggestions about how to ask for and give this support in helpful ways.

She also enjoys volunteering with the Mayo Outreach to Students and Teachers Program through which she visits local area schools to talk with students about the perils of tobacco use. "As a former smoker, I am personally familiar with the complexity of dealing with a nicotine addiction," she said. This makes her work in schools and at the quitline particularly meaningful. "I am committed to helping others conquer this addiction so they may regain their freedom and possibly even save their own lives."