Stopping smoking or vaping in Burlington
People in Burlington decide to stop smoking or vaping for all kinds of reasons: a new job, a move, a change in the household, or simply being tired of stepping outside in January. This page lists independent stop-smoking coaches, consulting hypnotists and group programs that see people from Burlington and the rest of Chittenden County. We are a directory. We don't run sessions, and we don't review or rank providers. Each listing is an introduction, and the decision is yours.
Vermont's indoor rules
Vermont has a long history of limiting smoking indoors. The Vermont Department of Health's policies page, cited below, says the state's Clean Indoor Air Act banned lit tobacco products in nearly all common areas of indoor places of public access. The same page says Act 135, passed in 2014, extended secondhand smoke protections in workplaces, motor vehicles and public places, and that Act 108, from 2016, restricts e-cigarettes and other vaping devices wherever smoking is prohibited.
In practice, that means the indoor spaces most Burlington residents move through each day, from offices and shops to restaurants along Church Street, are places where neither cigarettes nor vapes are allowed. For someone planning to stop, those rules can be a help: long stretches of the day are already spent somewhere you can't light up.
A campus with its own policy
The University of Vermont sits on the hill above downtown and is a daily destination for thousands of students and staff. Its Tobacco and Cannabis-Free policy prohibits the use of tobacco products, and the use and possession of cannabis products, on University Property. The policy defines that as any property owned, leased or operated by the university, including vehicles, and applies it to faculty, students, staff, contractors and visitors.
If you study, teach or work at UVM, or visit regularly, this rule already shapes your day. Some people find it a useful anchor when choosing a start date, since a large part of their week takes place where tobacco is off the table.
Types of providers you will find here
Listings near Burlington fall into a few broad groups:
- One-on-one coaches who meet weekly or every other week, in person or by video, and help you plan around routines and triggers.
- Consulting hypnotists who offer sessions focused on stopping smoking or vaping. Ask how many sessions they suggest and what happens in each one.
- Group programs that meet on a set schedule, often in the evening, where people at a similar point share plans and check in with each other.
None is right for everyone. Think about what you would keep showing up to.
Questions to ask before you book
When you contact a provider, ask:
- What happens in a typical session, and how long does it last?
- How many sessions do you usually suggest, over what period?
- Do you meet in person in Burlington, by video, or both?
- Do you help with vaping as well as cigarettes?
- What is the total cost, and is there a fee if I need to reschedule?
- What support do you offer between sessions, if any?
Pay attention to how clearly a provider explains its approach. Be cautious about any promise that sounds too simple.
Fitting a plan into Burlington life
Winter matters here. Many people find their smoking habits are tied to stepping outside, and from December to March that can mean standing in the cold. Some choose to start a plan in winter for that reason; others prefer spring, when walks along the waterfront make a better replacement routine. There is no single right moment.
If you commute by bus or bike, think about where in your trip you usually smoke or vape, and plan something else for that stretch. If you work from home, the habit may be tied to breaks at your desk instead.
Talk with your own doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your health while stopping. A coach or hypnotist is not a substitute for that conversation.
Telling the people around you
Stopping is easier when the people you live and work with know your plan. Tell a housemate, partner or coworker what you're doing and what kind of help you'd like, whether that's company on a walk or just not being offered a cigarette. If you're on the UVM campus or in a downtown office, you may already have colleagues who have gone through the same thing.