Smoking Cessation through Cognitive Hypnotherapy
Finally be free of smoking ... with Hypnotherapy
'Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking"
- New Scientist ( vol. 136)
Contrary to many claims from hypnotherapists stop smoking does require some will-power and motivation. However studies indicate that with hypnotherapy you are five to fifteen times more likely to succeed than by willpower alone.
Imagine a life as a non-smoker...
- Better health and a longer life
- More freedom (and more money!)
- More energy and confidence
- No more worries about what you are doing to your body!
- Increased libido!
- Younger looking skin
- More in control of your life (more professional and social opportunities too!)
- You will smell great (at last!)
- Your body clear of poisonous toxins like nicotine
Tired of being "controlled" by smoking?
Nicotine: a powerful neuro-stimulant
When you smoke your heart rate soars and your whole nervous system is stimulated into greater agitation. A cigarette gives you a two minute fix of dopamine (brain chemical that feels good) combined with 48 hours of an agitated nervous system. You keep going back for that good feeling to counteract the agitation.... only to increase the agitation. Cigarettes hold out a promise of relaxation that they NEVER deliver!
"It feels wonderful to be free of cigarettes after years of trying..."
In these Stop Smoking Hypnosis sessions we use the most powerful techniques available to ensure you get the best chance to quit you will ever receive. We don't take a cookie-cutter approach that relies on one technique. Instead we use a whole range of techniques to create a unique treatment session for you.
These methods are individually proven in research studies to be effective ways to stop smoking and are broadly based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Clinical Hypnotherapy. Each technique on it’s own could be 100% effective for you—however as one can never tell exactly which approach will “click” with a client we use several techniques in a powerful combination.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Of all psychotherapies CBT has the strongest evidential backing and is now the treatment of choice under the NHS. CBT aims to change thoughts and behaviours to bring about positive changes.
Clinical Hypnotherapy
Clinical hypnotherapy works by taking you into a state of heightened suggestibility where your critical mind takes a break and we can work directly and deeply with your imagination and subconscious to create new beliefs, patterns and habits. (Read more about hypnotherapy here.)
CBT & Hypnotherapy combined
Research studies where CBT and hypnotherapy are applied together have shown that they are strongly complementary and their effectiveness is raised many times when used in combination.
Individual and Group Programmes available
Read on for information about Individual sessions.
What Happens in a Session?
First we have a phone interview to assess your habit and motivation. If I don’t think your motivation is strong enough or if you have a lot of current stress in your life (for example a recent divorce) I will not recommend we proceed at that time as I don’t want you wasting your money and effort. Providing your motivation is good I’ll give you some ways to prepare to stop and we’ll meet a week later. The actual session lasts 2 hours – during that time we’ll review your habit and motivations in depth. I’ll then use a whole package of techniques to dismantle your habit—basically we throw the book at it! And remember it only needs one of these techniques to work for you to stop. This session includes working deeply with your subconscious in hypnosis, giving you the skills, belief structure and deep inspiration to stop smoking immediately.
I’ll train you in the session to ensure that you have the skills you need to remain a non-smoker. I also give you several “last-resort” tools that you can use during challenging moments in the weeks following, including self-hypnosis CD’s and phone support.
Most people require only one session which is a specially extended session lasting approximately two hours - and is tailor-made to your needs. The session is uplifting, very inspiring and deeply relaxing.
"But I've tried to stop so many times!"
No problem. In fact there is good evidence to show that the number of failed attempts to stop smoking is a good predictor of final success.
Smoking Cessation Success Rates
'Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit.' - New Scientist v136
In 1992 New Scientist Magazine published the results of an extensive clinical study on the most effective smoking cessation methods. A meta-analysis, statistically combining the results of more than 600 studies (over 72,000 individual cases) showed that single session hypnosis increased a smoker's success chance by 1000% from 6% to 60%. Here are the success rates for different smoking cessation methods:
60% - Single session Hypnosis
24% - Acupuncture
10% - Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
6% - Willpower alone
These impressive figures are for hypnosis alone - and include many hypnotherapists using hypnosis alone and often antiquated methods. Using modern clinical hypnotherapy combined with cognitive behavioural therapy these results are likely to improve considerably.
Interestingly the latest research on NRT (see "NRT hyped" on BBC website) shows a success rate of only 7.2%, barely better than willpower alone! Yet NRT is the currently recommended treatment for smoking cessation under the NHS.
It's never to late too quit!
It's never too late to quit smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, about half of all smokers who keep smoking will die from a smoking-related disease. Quitting has immediate health benefits. .
Better Health After Quitting |
Time after last cigarette
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Physical Response |
20 minutes
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Blood pressure and pulse rates return to normal. |
8 hours
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Levels of carbon monoxide and oxygen in the blood return to normal. |
24 hours
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Chance of heart attack begins to decreases. |
48 hours
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Nerve endings start to regrow. Your ability to taste and smell increases. |
72 hours
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Bronchial tubes relax and the lungs can fill with more air. |
2 weeks to 3 months
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Improved circulation; lung function increases up to 30%. |
1 to 9 months |
Decreased rates of coughing, sinus infection, fatigue, and shortness of breath; regrowth of cilia in the airways, increasing the ability to clear mucus and clean the lungs and reducing the chance of infection; overall energy level increases.
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Long-Term Effects
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After a year, risk of dying from heart attack and stroke is reduced by up to 50%. |
Want to train to be a hypnotherapist?
Read more about how to train to become a hypnotherapist at The UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy website here: hypnotherapy training courses
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