I have to say I’m completely baffled by some of the responses here. It almost seems like smoking is being equated with child pornography the way people react to the idea of their therapist smoking. This is not a judgment, simply an observation. This is truly fascinating.

I think this is a cultural thing because in Europe smoking is not seen that way at all. Lots of people smoke. Half of my colleagues smoke for instance: they regularly take a « cigarette break » that is they go outside to smoke.
It was the same when I was in university: the majority of students smoked.
Same when I was in high school where half of my class would smoke (which is concerning obviously).

Yes it’s bad for your health but tons of things are bad for your health (drinking heavily, eating junk food, etc.) and who knows how many therapists engage in those behaviours?

I personally hate cigarettes. I smoked twice (just to know what it was all about) and I had to lie down because my head was spinning and I was close to fainting. I find the taste absolutely disgusting. Before the smoking ban in Western European countries (around 2008-2010) it was a nightmare for me to get into a club/bar or even a restaurant because of all the smoking. I would come out reeking of cigarette smell and I would have to put my clothes in the washing machine to get rid of it.

Anyway all this to say that while I understand hating the smell, I personally don’t care what therapists do outside of my session. If they want to smoke ten packs of cigarettes every day this is their life and I simply don’t care.
I don’t consider them role models for me to emulate.
Anyway interesting debate!