Can Hypnotherapy Help Me Stop Smoking?

Interview with a Chicago hypnotherapist

By: Daniel Sullivan, LPC

Are you hooked on cigarettes? Is your spouse trying to kick the habit? Thinking about hypnotherapy? If the answer is yes, you wouldn’t be alone.

The hard truth is many people who try and stop smoking struggle to stay quit. While the research is somewhat scattered, most of the studies suggest the relapse rates are incredibly high.

This makes sense when one considers that smoking is an addiction involving three parts: psychology, physiology, and behavior. When you add it all up, it means trying to quit can be rough.

And to keep it real – the worst part is nicotine withdrawal.

You know what I’m talking about, right? Problems with sleep, irritability, concentration issues, and super strong cravings.

I should know. I used to smoke cigarettes for many years. In my case, it took multiple quitting attempts before I finally stopped. It wasn’t easy and to this day I still have the occasional craving.

Which brings us to the central question of this blog post. “Can hypnotherapy help me stop smoking?”

The answer to that question is more complicated than you might think. That’s because no two studies on this subject agree. Some show hypnosis holding great promise. Others, not so much. It just depends on who carried out the research.

Curious to find answers, I decided to talk to a professional about the topic. Frank Moore, a Chicago hypnotherapist, and certified addictions counselor shared the following insights in an interview.

What follows are my questions and his responses.

Does hypnosis for smoking work?

I’ve seen many people benefit from stop-smoking hypnotherapy. Particularly when the individual combines hypnosis with other things, like nicotine replacement therapy and emotional support.

So, it doesn’t work on its own?

I’m not saying that it can’t. For some people, it absolutely does. But in my experience, the greatest benefits are realized when a person takes a comprehensive approach.

Does hypnosis take away the urges?

I’m not sure it completely takes them away. But what it can do is help the cravings to become less intense. And that’s kind of a big thing when you think about it.

Urges are probably the number one reason people relapse.

How does hypnotherapy help with smoking cessation?

Let’s start with the premise that a person reaching out for help through hypnosis is already wanting to quit. They made the effort to seek out help – which is kind of a big deal.

Hypnotherapy helps to build upon that sense of motivation so that the person can move about the business of quitting. By offering positive reinforcement through messaging in a trance state, the individual gains mental strength.

Does the person get put to sleep?

That’s a huge myth [laughs]. The truth is the person is completely awake during hypnosis. Instead, they enter a highly focused state of awareness while being totally relaxed.

Have you made any observations over the years?

One of the things I’ve noticed is that men seem to think they can quit smoking all on their own. I don’t know if this is because guys buy into stereotypes about personal strength or what.

The reality is that nicotine addiction is powerful. Withdrawal can be intense. To me, men who want to quit are actually showing a sign of courage by reaching out to get support.

Women seem more open to the experience, which can have a big impact on outcomes.

Any tips for finding a hypnotherapist?

Above all, make sure the person has a mental health license. Being certified as a hypnotist doesn’t mean much because anyone can obtain this credential by simply paying a fee.

Additionally, make sure they are trained in addictions and credentialed in hypnotherapy. Sure, you can check reviews but bear in mind some unscrupulous hypnotists will pay companies to write up fake claims.

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Thanks for your time.