Starting with a plan
Choosing someone to work with is easier when you break the decision into steps. This guide is written for people in Reno who want to stop smoking or vaping and are comparing coaches, consulting hypnotists and group programs. The directory introduces you to independent providers; it does not run programs, and it does not check credentials or make claims about any provider.
Step 1: Map where and when you smoke or vape now
For one ordinary week, jot down each time you light up or vape: the time, the place, who you are with, and what you were doing just before. Patterns show up quickly. For many people in Reno, the list is shaped by rules they already follow. Under NRS 202.2483, smoking in any form is prohibited inside indoor places of employment, including restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, malls and government buildings, and the law's definition of smoking covers electronic devices that create an aerosol or vapor. So your log will probably show outdoor breaks, the car, home, and any spaces the law exempts.
Step 2: Note the places that matter to you
Some exemptions in the statute apply directly to Reno life. One is areas inside casinos where minors are already not allowed to loiter under state law. If you work in or spend time in those spaces, write that down; it is a different situation from a smoke-free office.
If you study or work at the University of Nevada, Reno, note that policy 5,460 bans tobacco, marijuana, alternative nicotine products and vapor products on university property, including buildings, grounds, sidewalks, parking lots and vehicles throughout campus. A campus day already has long stretches with no smoking at all, which you can build on.
Step 3: Decide which format suits you
Read the descriptions below and pick the one or two that feel realistic.
- A stop-smoking coach offers one-on-one planning sessions, in person or by video.
- A consulting hypnotist offers hypnosis sessions for people who want to stop smoking or vaping.
- A group program meets on a schedule with several participants.
Ask yourself whether you want privacy or company, how much time you can give each week, and whether evening or weekend sessions are a must.
Step 4: Contact two or three providers
Use the request form on this page to reach providers who serve Reno. Ask each one the same questions so you can compare:
- How many sessions are typical, and how long does each last?
- Where do you meet, and do you offer video sessions?
- What is the total cost, and is anything extra?
- What support do you give between sessions?
- What do you suggest if someone slips after the start date?
Write the answers down. Comparing side by side keeps the choice grounded in facts rather than sales language.
Step 5: Check the fit before you pay
A provider should be able to explain in plain words what they do, how long it takes, and what it costs. If anyone promises a sure thing or pressures you to sign up on the spot, move on. If you are considering any product, that is a conversation for your own doctor or pharmacist.
Step 6: Choose a start date and tell people
Pick a date that gives you a few days to prepare. Tell the people you live and work with. If coworkers take smoke breaks together, decide in advance what you will do during that time instead, such as a short walk or a call. Clear lighters, ashtrays and vaping supplies out of the car and the house before the date arrives.
Step 7: Use the rules around you
Use places where smoking and vaping are already off-limits. A long lunch in a restaurant, an afternoon at a movie theatre, a few hours studying on the university campus: Nevada law or campus policy already keeps those spaces clear. Planning some of your first days around them gives you stretches of time where the choice is made for you.
Step 8: Keep in touch with your provider
Stay in contact on the schedule you agreed. Share what has been hard, including any slips, without embarrassment. Adjust the plan together. If a format is not right for you, it is fine to try another provider or approach from this directory.