Stop Smoking Hypnosis: A Guide to Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation

Hypnosis to quit smoking, eat less and lose weight seems like a promise that is too good to be true, but is it? This guide begins with a look at the evidence to find out if stop smoking hypnosis really works before letting you know what to expect if you decide to go for it.

Also see: self hypnosis instructions and find a reputable stop smoking hypnotist.

Does Hypnosis Stop Smoking?

In a word: probably. "Hypnosis is probably at least as effective as other common methods of helping people to stop smoking" (The British Psychological Society, 2001).

More recently, in 2007, ScienceDaily reported on hypnotherapy for smoking cessation showing strong results:

A new study* shows that smoking patients who participated in one hypnotherapy session were more likely to be nonsmokers at 6 months compared with patients using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) alone or patients who quit "cold turkey" (American College of Chest Physicians, 2007).

However, scientific studies have tended not to provide us with conclusive evidence one way or the other. In 2005, a Cochrane Collaboration review concluded that: "The review of [randomized] trials [of hypnotherapy] did not find enough good evidence to show whether or not hypnotherapy can help people trying to quit smoking" (Abbot, Stead, White and Barnes, 2005).

Scientific research and debate will no doubt continue but it seems safe to say that while many smokers testify to its efficacy, hypnosis to stop smoking has not been proven conclusively.

Hypnotism to Quit Smoking in Practice

Once you decide to go for stop smoking hypnosis, what should you expect?

Many stop smoking hypnosis treatments consist of in a single session, lasting sixty to ninety minutes. Precise methods vary between practitioners but after you make your appointment and arrive at the clinic the first thing you should expect, is an interview.

The answers you provide, relating to your smoking habits and possibly your perception of yourself as a non-smoker, will generally provide the information used for creating imagery and suggestions that will be used during the time you are actually hypnotized.

"Some methods try to weaken people’s desire to smoke, strengthen their will to quit, or help them concentrate on a quit programme" (Abbot, Stead, White and Barnes, 2005) but the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (2010) says that practitioners use clinical hypnosis in three main ways:

  1. Encouraging mental imagery in a focused state of attention. The mind seems capable of using imagery, even if it is only symbolic, to assist us in bringing about the things we are imagining.
  2. Presenting ideas or suggestions to the patient. In a state of concentrated attention, ideas and suggestions that are compatible with the individual's goals seem to have a more powerful impact on the mind and body, and are therefore more readily translated into desired changes.
  3. For unconscious exploration, to better understand underlying motivations or identify whether past events or experiences are associated with causing a problem. It seems that hypnosis avoids the critical censor of the conscious mind, which often interferes with the discovery and ability to make use of new possibilities.

Typical Hypnosis Induction Stages

The next thing you should expect is for your hypnotist to begin hypnotic induction which helps you to relax and prepares your entry into a state of deepened hypnotic trance.

  • Exercises - such as tensing and then relaxing muscle groups around the body to release any tension.
  • Focused attention - Focusing on your breathing or focusing your mind/gaze on an imaginary spot on the ceiling or a picture on a nearby wall
  • Recital of an induction script - The words and techniques used by your hypnotist to keep you relaxed.

Hypnosis Therapy

A deepening phase often follows the induction script. This helps you go into an even deeper trance. These may be associated with downward movement and your hypnotherapist counting downward from 10 to 1.

This leads to the actual (Post-Hypnotic) therapy in which suggestions are made for you to stop smoking or for you to imagine yourself as a non-smoker.

Finally, you are gradually awoken from trance state until you are fully awake.

You should ensure that you feel fully awake before leaving your session. You should not feel numb and have all of your normal sensations (sight etc.).

Your hypnotist may also teach you self-hypnosis for you to practice after the session or provide you with material to take away such as a stop smoking hypnosis CD.

Next: Self Hypnosis Instructions

Related

  • Free Stop Smoking Hypnosis Script
  • Stop Smoking Hypnosis CDs

References

Abbot NC, Stead LF, White AR, Barnes J. (2005) Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD001008. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001008.

American College of Chest Physicians (2007) Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation sees strong results. ScienceDaily. Available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2007/10/071022124741.htm (Accessed 27 May 2010).

American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (2010) Media guide on hypnosis. Available at: http://www.asch.net/MediaPress/MediaGuideonHypnosis/tabid/105/Default.aspx (Accessed 27 May 2010).

The British Psychological Society (2001) The nature of hypnosis. Available at: http://www.bps.org.uk/downloadfile.cfm?file_uuid=A7AF6617-1143-DFD0-7E14-10B42D589040&ext=pdf. (Accessed 27 May 2010).

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