Smoking Cessation
About Smoking Cessation Hypnotherapy
I am a fully trained smoking cessation hypnotherapist. I would like to tell you how Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy (CBH) works successfully for those wanting to stop smoking.
Firstly things to consider before you embark on the journey of becoming a non smoker:
- Timing is of the essence. If you are going through other major changes or suffered a bereavement, divorce, loss of job or trauma this would not be a good time to try to stop smoking. It will be difficult to manage the necessary effort to quit smoking alongside other challenges.
- Motivation is paramount when intending to stop. Simply being persuaded, nagged or cajoled by another person will not be enough. Whilst it is important to have their support, you must really want to stop smoking for yourself. Only you can make that conscious decision that now is the time to quit and you’re going to do it.
- Commitment to the work is needed. This process is a collaborative one. You are not ‘done to’, there is no magical hypnotic trance that will turn you into a non-smoker. The magic lies in your own self-belief and understanding your smoking habit and how to break the cycle with the help of hypnosis. My goal and role are to support you so that you can draw on your own imagination, self-awareness and motivation and belief that it will work.
This belief is reinforced with the use of hypnosis.
CBH is different from some other forms of hypnotherapy. We know that a habit built up over many years or even decades cannot disappear overnight. You need time to recondition your thoughts and feelings. The model I use is multi-component, it incorporates many elements of therapy that can be used for a bespoke treatment programme.
We are all unique and our reasons for continuing to do something that is extremely harmful to us varies greatly. I ask that before the session you complete self-monitoring forms for 4-5 days. This helps identify smoking patterns and triggers for smoking. We will look at thoughts and behaviours relating to your smoking.
I will explain about the effect of nicotine on the body and mind often referred to as the “nicotine trick”. Poor coping strategies can be replaced by mindfulness or “thought spotting” techniques to get you through those time when you would usually reach for a cigarette. The use of hypnotherapy will help with anxiety relating to fear of relapse and managing the occasional craving (they only last for around 10 seconds).
Hypnotherapy is excellent for boosting confidence too, it will give you that self-assurance that you can accomplish your goal of becoming a non-smoker. ‘Habit reversal’, this is a behavioural intervention which will train you to become more aware of internal and external triggers which lead up to smoking a cigarette and learn how to counteract these with positive substitute behaviour. I will teach you strategies to help you continue to be a non-smoker. I will give you a recording for relaxation to take with you. You will also have learnt the technique of self-hypnosis to put into your own resource tool box alongside a better understanding and confidence in yourself.
Research comparing many different studies of hypnotherapy has shown that people who want to give up smoking are over five times more likely to break the habit with hypnosis than by will power alone. Hypnotherapy in general is also proven to be more than twice as effective compared with nicotine gum. The goal of becoming a non-smoker can be achieved in a two-hour session. Additional support can be given if needed, generally this is not needed. Anytime I can be of further assistance you are more than welcome to call or email me.
I have a vast toolbox of evidence-based techniques to fit all wishing to become a non- smoker. All I ask is for your motivation and I will help you recognise that you have the ability to make this change which will improve and most definitely extend your life considerably.