Fed up with promising yourself you’ll stop after this packet? Or finding yourself outside having a cigarette when part of you would really rather be done with it?
You probably don’t need anyone to explain why you should stop. You’ve got your own reasons. Perhaps you’re ready to do something about them.
I’m Neil, a hypnotherapist based in Hayle, Cornwall. If you’ve made your own decision to stop smoking, hypnotherapy could help you follow it through. My stop-smoking programme is built around you, the way you smoke and the everyday situations you want to handle without cigarettes.
Book your initial consultation
You already know why you want to stop
The cost, the smell, having to go outside, checking how many you’ve got left. Perhaps you’re tired of all of it.
You might have been thinking about your health, or simply reached the point where smoking no longer fits with how you want to live.
And yet there’s still that cigarette with a coffee. The one after dinner. The one that seems particularly important when you’ve had a difficult day.
You can have plenty of good reasons to stop and still find those moments difficult. They’re worth talking about.
Let’s start with your relationship with cigarettes
I want to know what smoking is like for you.
Which cigarettes would you barely miss? Which ones do you look forward to? When do you light up without really thinking about it?
You can tell me what you enjoy about smoking as well as what you’re fed up with. There’s no telling off, and you don’t need to give me the answers you think I want to hear.
We’ll talk about:
- how smoking fits into your day
- the cigarettes that feel hardest to give up
- what you expect to find difficult about stopping
- any previous attempts and what happened
- your own reasons for wanting to stop
If you stopped before and went back to it, I’m interested in what caught you out. That gives us something useful to work with this time.
How hypnotherapy may help
Smoking can become closely tied to familiar routines and feelings. Alongside nicotine dependence, there’s the expectation of a cigarette at certain moments: finishing a meal, taking a break or getting into the car.
During hypnosis, we may work on those associations, give attention to your reasons for stopping and mentally rehearse doing things differently.
That could mean imagining your morning coffee without lighting up, enjoying a break without going out for a cigarette or deciding what to do when someone offers you one.
I’ll use what you’ve told me to shape the session. Your reasons for stopping and your particular smoking patterns are at the centre of it.
You don’t need to know how to “do hypnosis”. I’ll explain things as we go, and you’re welcome to ask questions.
You remain in control throughout. You can speak, move or bring the session to an end whenever you wish.
How the programme works
First, your initial consultation
We begin by meeting and talking about your smoking, what you’ve tried and what you’d like to change.
It’s also your opportunity to get a feel for me and how I work. If you’re curious about hypnosis, slightly sceptical or wondering what it feels like, you can say so.
We’ll discuss the main appointment and how to prepare for it. You’ll have time to ask questions before deciding whether to go ahead.
Then, your dedicated stop-smoking appointment
The main appointment takes approximately two hours and takes place in person at my practice in Hayle, usually around a week after your consultation.
We’ll spend the first part talking through your smoking patterns and preparing for the change. Then we’ll move into hypnosis, with suggestions and mental rehearsal tailored to you.
You’ll also receive a supporting MP3 recording to use afterwards.
We’ll think beyond the appointment itself too — the journey home, the evening ahead and the familiar moments when you would usually reach for a cigarette.
What if I’m worried I’ll fail again?
Tell me. You won’t need to pretend you feel more confident than you do.
If you’ve smoked for years, it’s understandable to wonder what life will feel like without it. And if you’ve stopped before, you may remember both how pleased you felt and how frustrating it was to start again.
A previous attempt gives us useful information. Perhaps a stressful week caught you out, a night out led to “just one”, or you found the cravings difficult to manage.
We can talk through what happened and what needs more preparation this time.
You don’t have to arrive without a single doubt. What matters is that stopping is your own decision and that you’re willing to follow it through.
How many appointments will I need?
The programme consists of an initial consultation followed by one dedicated, two-hour stop-smoking appointment.
That gives us time to focus on your smoking in detail and tailor the hypnosis to you.
People respond differently, and I can’t guarantee a particular outcome. Your determination, preparation and the choices you make afterwards remain important parts of stopping.
We’ll discuss the programme at your consultation so you know what’s involved before booking the main appointment.
What about cravings and nicotine withdrawal?
That’s something to plan for too.
You can use nicotine replacement or other stop-smoking support alongside hypnotherapy. A pharmacist, GP or qualified stop-smoking adviser can help you decide what’s appropriate for you.
Free advice and ongoing support are also available through NHS stop-smoking services.
If cravings were the difficult part of a previous attempt, bring that up when we meet. It deserves attention as part of your preparation.
Stop-smoking fees
Initial consultation — £25
Time to meet, discuss your smoking and ask questions about the programme.
Two-hour stop-smoking appointment — £170
Your dedicated appointment at my practice in Hayle, including a supporting MP3 recording to use afterwards.
The total for the consultation and main appointment is £195.
Ready to make a start?
If you’ve decided you want to stop smoking, I’d be pleased to meet you.
Bring your reasons, your questions and any doubts. We’ll talk about where you are now and how the appointment would be tailored to you.
If you’d prefer to ask me something first, you’re very welcome to get in touch.
Looking to stop vaping?
If it’s your vape you’re ready to leave behind, you can read about my stop-vaping programme here.