 Although spousal support predicts the success of a smokers cessation efforts, social support interventions based on teaching partners better support skills have had consistently disappointing results. We examined the potential utility of a family-consultation FAMCON intervention based on family-systems theory in a treatment-development project involving 20 couples in which one partner the primary smoker continued to smoke despite having or being at significant risk for heart or lung disease. Results were promising. The 50 rate of stable abstinence achieved by primary smokers over at least 6 months exceeds benchmark success rates reported in the literature for other, comparably intensive interventions, suggesting that a couple-focused intervention different in concept and format from social-support interventions tested in the past may hold promise for health-compromised smokers. The FAMCON approach appeared particularly well-suited to female smokers and smokers whose partner also smoked two sub-groups at high risk for relapse. 