Final answer:
The professional should support and guide the dually-diagnosed client in their decision to quit smoking by discussing benefits, preparing a quit plan, and addressing cognitive dissonance with factual health information.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a dually-diagnosed client, who is stabilized on medication for his psychiatric disorder, decides to quit smoking, it's vital to provide support and guidance. As a professional, you would want to encourage the change in behavior and assist in the process. It's important to recognize that quitting smoking is a significant challenge, especially for individuals with psychiatric disorders, and will require a comprehensive and supportive approach.
Strategies to help might include discussing the benefits of quitting, preparing a quit plan, exploring medication or nicotine replacement therapies, and providing resources for counseling or support groups. While the client has decided to change their discrepant behavior by stopping smoking, they may encounter cognitive dissonance. This is when they might rationalize their smoking behavior or add new cognitions to justify it, such as smoking to control weight. Addressing such cognitions head-on by providing factual health information and highlighting the risks of smoking in relation to any perceived benefits is essential.