Stopping smoking can be difficult. Nicotine dependence, established routines and the situations associated with smoking can all play a part.
You may automatically reach for a cigarette while driving, after eating, during a break, when drinking alcohol or whenever you feel stressed or bored. These associations can continue even when you have made a clear decision to stop.
Hypnotherapy may help a motivated smoker give up. I offer a focused, in-person stop-smoking appointment at my practice in Hayle, Cornwall. It should be considered as one possible source of support, without any promise that stopping will be immediate or effortless.
Is the appointment suitable for me?
The appointment is intended for adults who have made their own decision to stop smoking.
You do not need to feel completely free from doubts or concerns. It is helpful, however, to have a genuine personal reason for stopping and to be willing to make practical changes after the session.
If someone else is pressuring you to attend, or you are not yet ready to attempt to stop, it may be better to wait.
Previous attempts do not prevent you from booking. They can provide useful information about the situations you found difficult, the support you used and what might need to be approached differently this time.
What happens during the appointment?
Before using hypnosis, we will talk about:
- how long you have smoked
- when and where you usually smoke
- previous attempts to stop
- the situations you expect to find most difficult
- your personal reasons for stopping
- any relevant health considerations
- the support you intend to use afterwards
The hypnosis part of the appointment may include focused attention, imagery and mental rehearsal. This gives you an opportunity to rehearse responding differently to familiar situations such as finishing a meal, taking a work break or being offered a cigarette.
You remain aware and in control throughout hypnosis.
Preparing for your appointment
Before attending, it can be useful to notice your smoking patterns for a few days. Pay attention to the cigarettes that feel particularly important, the ones you smoke automatically and any situations where you already go without smoking comfortably.
You may also want to consider:
- your main reasons for stopping
- what you will do with cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays
- how you will respond if somebody offers you a cigarette
- which routines may need to change
- who can provide encouragement
- whether you want advice about nicotine replacement or stop-smoking medication
Please tell me about relevant medical conditions, pregnancy, prescribed medication or current mental-health care.
Nicotine withdrawal and additional support
Hypnotherapy cannot be promised to prevent nicotine withdrawal or remove every craving. Nicotine replacement products and stop-smoking medicines may help some people manage withdrawal, and advice should come from a pharmacist, GP or qualified stop-smoking adviser.
You can use hypnotherapy alongside NHS stop-smoking support where appropriate. Your local service can provide specialist guidance, help you consider available treatments and support you beyond the appointment.
Do not stop prescribed medication or disregard medical advice because you are having hypnotherapy.
Smoking and vaping are different services
Smoking and vaping can involve some similar routines, although the patterns are not always the same. Vaping devices can be used much more frequently throughout the day and may contain different amounts of nicotine.
If vaping is your main concern, please visit my separate Hypnotherapy Support to Stop Vaping page.
What I can and cannot promise
People respond differently after a stop-smoking appointment. I cannot promise that every craving will disappear or that nobody will ever smoke again.
Your motivation, preparation and the decisions you make afterwards remain important. The aim is to support the choice you have already made and help you feel prepared for the familiar moments in which smoking used to fit
The aim of the appointment is to support the decision you have already made, help you prepare for familiar situations and give you an opportunity to rehearse living without cigarettes.
Fees and booking
The current appointment length and fee are shown on my Appointments & FAQs page.
If you have decided to stop and would like to arrange the appointment, you can book online. You are also welcome to contact me first if you have a question about whether the service is suitable.