Since the American Medical Association (AMA) approved the use of clinical hypnosis in the 1950’s, hundreds of thousands of people have found hypnosis to be an effective way to stop smoking, lose weight, and otherwise improve their lives. For smoking cessation, many hypnotists now even offer a one-time, half-hour individualized session. Since most insurance typically does not cover for hypnosis, the fee-for-service for this half-hour session can be more affordable than other treatments. Although some people may benefit from group hypnosis, most appear to find individual sessions as preferable.
Each singular session often consists of a brief discussion of one’s prior smoking behavior and common reasons why people might initially smoke; a discussion of the hypnotic process; reinforcement of one’s conscious motivators for wanting to quit; and a simple hypnotic trance induction with a post-hypnotic suggestion for smoking cessation. Most are quite susceptible to hypnotic suggestion, if it’s consistent with something desired.
It is not uncommon for many two-pack a day, twenty-plus years smokers to quit, after their first session. Subsequent to in-person treatment, following-up with a self-hypnosis audio program for smoking cessation is recommended. Reinforcing the hypnotic suggestions by listening to your self-hypnosis recording daily, for at least two weeks, should help to ensure a more positive treatment outcome.
Since 1992, according to New Scientist, it has been known that “Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking.” Its quote was based upon a study cited within the Journal of Applied Psychology, earlier that same year.
There even exists evidence based clinical research that single-session hypnosis can be just as effective (if not more effective) than any other smoking cessation treatment program available. Although I often recommend combining hypnosis sessions with another treatment approach, which your family physician or pharmacist can recommend, it is not a necessity for efficacy
The best indicators of success, with this approach to quitting, are one’s prior ability to have successfully quit for at least one month; and one’s desire today to be smoke-free. Self-hypnosis audio recordings and smoking cessation readings appear to serve as a nice complement to the individualized session. The Internet provides an array of free quit smoking aides, including smoking cessation MP3 downloads!
