The Nicotine Freedom System TM (NFS) was first developed as a doctoral dissertation by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D. in 1984. The program was intially conducted through the wellness centers of San Diego's two largest workplaces: General Dynamics and Rohr Industries.
Guided by Drs. Richard Givirtz, James Sallis from UCSD and Nina Schneider from UCLA, Dr. Maheu compiled a comprehensive nicotine cessation program by drawing on scientifically proven effective intervention components developed by the leading published nicotine researchers.
The program was adminstered to a large group of tobacco smokers and chewers through 1984-85. With the direction of Dr. Schneider in 1984, Dr. Maheu was also successful in obtaining a modest grant to fund the expensive equipment needed for biochemical verification of participant's use of nicotine products.
Before she could graduate from her doctoral program, Dr. Maheu oversaw an administration of the program as licensed by one of Dr. Maheu's professors and sold to a nationwide airline based in San Diego at the time.
One year follow-up studies proved the program to be a resounding success. The disseration was published and Dr. Maheu then went on to formally package the program as the Nicotine Freedom System.
She also then developed a Train-the-trainer program to educate her colleagues in the protocols found most effective for tobacco users in their quests to free themselves of nicotine.
NFS has since enjoyed success not only as a program for nicotine users working with Dr. Maheu, but for those professionals who deliver the system to their clients and patients nationwide.
The program soon proved of great interest to the US Navy, whose officials at the large Naval base in San Diego was one of the first institutional clients in the late 1980's and early 1990's.
Having obtained further grant support for expanding the program, Dr. Maheu then worked with Dr. Stephen Rollnick to augmented the basic NFS program with a Motivational Interviewing component tailored to tobacco users.
She has also worked with Linda Ferry, MD of Loma Linda University, California, to deliver various aspects of the program to in-patient and military populations.
Various elements and research findings regarding this program or its underlying principles have been presented at scientific meetings over the years, including presentations to the Amercian Association of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
Today, Dr. Maheu is bringing the program to the Internet through her Telemental Health Institute and its Center for Online Counseling and Psychotherapy.
NFS will soon be another course available to professionals seeking to earn continuing education (CMEs and CEUs) online for technology-based interventions. Subscribe to the Telemental Health Association's Newsletter to be kept aprised of this professional training opportunity (see right sidebar for newsletter subscription box - and we promise to protect your name from spam!).
About Dr. Maheu
As a publisher, Dr. Maheu is the President and CEO of Pioneer Development Resources, Inc., where she has been the Editor-in-Chief of SelfhelpMagazine (SHM) since its inception in November of 1994.
SHM is an award winning online electronic magazine that is peer reviewed and holds contributions from hundreds of professionals. It has one of the largest and most active online support communities in the world.
Dr. Maheu has been interviewed for her publications on hundreds of national and international radio stations, including National Public Radio, the Utne Reader, USA Today, the Miami Herald, the LA Times, CNN, US News and World Report, etc. The SelfhelpMagazine has been featured in the "Best 100 Website" lists for multiple publications, such as Web Magazine.
Psychologist/Activist
Dr. Maheu is a Licensed Psychologist in San Diego, California (PSY#11921). To help advance her profession through technology, Dr. Maheu served numerous American Psychological Association committees and subcommittees as a telehealth thought leader. She has served as a Content Expert to the APA’s Telehealth Institute, and has completed a 3-year term as an appointed member of the APA Committee on Professional Practice Standards (COPPS).
Locally, she has also served the California Psychological Association in multiple roles. She has been recognized by the California Psychological Association with the Division of Media, Technology and Communication, Jacqueline Bouhoustsos, Ph.D. Award For Contribution to Media Psychology, 1999.
Speaker/Trainer
Dr. Maheu has delivered many inspiring presentations re: online counseling and telemental health for professional organizations since 1995, including APA, ATA, ACA. She also is the former Director of Telehealth and E-health for Alliant University.
Author
Dr. Maheu is the lead author of the "E-Health, Telehealth & Telemedicine: A Guide to Startup and Success."
Co-authored by Pamela Whitten, Ph.D. and Ace Allen, M.D., this academic/professional book is a hands-on resource that shows how communication technologies can be designed, implemented, and managed to help professionals expand and transform their contact with patients and clients. For more information, see this description and comments from leaders in healthcare, business and administration. See details of E-Health, Telehealth & Telemedicine.
Titled,"The Mental Health Professional and the New Technologies," this handbook was co-authored with Myron Pulier, M.D., Joseph McMenamin, M.D., Esq., Frank Wilhelm, Ph.D, and Nancy Brown-Connolly, RN, MSN.
Internet-wired offices using e-mail, online chat groups, web pages, auto-responders, search engines, electronic databases, webcasts, webinars, video-conferencing and wearable computers --- all lead the way to new forms of practice as well as new therapeutic dilemmas.
In this reader-friendly textbook, the authors guide the reader through clearly show the way for the beginner as well as advanced professional, with practical examples contributed by pioneering professionals worldwide. See details of the The Mental Health Professional and the New Technologies.
Consultant
Dr. Maheu offers consultation to individuals, groups, and organizations.