Can Hypnotherapy Help Me Stop Smoking?

If you want to stop smoking, you might be curious to know if hypnotherapy can help you quit.

Let me provide you with some information to help you decide if hypnotherapy is the correct answer for you.

Introduction

If you want to stop smoking, you probably want to know how you can stop smoking for good. You want a process that is fast, easy and gets you the results you want.

Maybe you are looking for stop smoking support online.

Hypnotherapy is one option that many people will discuss.

If you have tried to quit smoking before but nothing has worked, you are not alone. Hypnotherapy might be the breakthrough that you need.

Why quitting smoking is so hard

Why is quitting smoking so hard?

I’ve heard lots of people ask this question.

As a retired nurse who used to work for the NHS stop smoking service, I know how some people find it difficult to quit.

You may be like many people who have tried nicotine replacement patches, chewing gum, nasal sprays, and even gone cold turkey, but nothing seems to work.

Or you may be someone who stopped for a short time but then went back to smoking. You might know the reason why you started again, or you might be annoyed with yourself and wonder why you did.

I believe that choosing the right time, having a good reason to quit, good preparation and getting the right help are essential.

Nicotine affects both the body and mind, which is why many people in the UK who want to stop smoking struggle without extra support.

What Is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a safe, evidence-based, complementary therapy which is increasingly used to help people stop smoking.

It involves focused attention, imagination and suggestions. Hypnotherapists use different techniques to guide you to that hypnotic place. You are not asleep or unconscious, and most people are aware of what is being said.

Hypnosis is a tool, and when used with therapy, it becomes hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy is used to help people with a wide range of conditions.

Although discussions of its clinical applications engender controversy, there is scientific evidence that hypnotherapy can be applied with some success to a wide range of health problems (e.g., hypertension, asthma, insomnia, bruxism), chronic and acute pain management, habit modification (e.g., overeating, smoking), mood and anxiety disorders (e.g., some phobias), and personality disorders. There is also some positive evidence demonstrating its effectiveness as an adjunctive therapy. APA Dictionaly of Psychology 2025.

How Hypnotherapy Helps People Stop Smoking

Hypnotherapy helps with:

• Behavioural modification. In other words, it helps you change your habits and try new things.
• Stress and anxiety reduction. It can help you cope with stress and build resilience, so you can learn to deal with pressures and not go back to smoking again.
• Motivation enhancement. It can provide you with positive suggestions to help restructure and build motivation.

Also, I provide information so that you understand the risks of continuing to smoke.

I do this with an additional CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Solution-Focused approach.

What the Research Says

Compared to other branches of psychology, there isn’t a massive amount of research directly about hypnotherapy and stopping smoking. The reason for this is probably because hypnotherapists are often self-employed, solo businesses; they don’t have research budgets like drug companies, and many hypnotherapists just want to be great practitioners rather than researchers..

But the hypnosis research is increasing, and what has been found in studies suggests that hypnotherapy can successfully help people to quit if they are motivated to succeed.

What we also know is that hypnotherapy to stop smoking is effective when compared to no help or support, and placebos.

Now, let’s review some of the scientific papers that specifically research the topic of smoking cessation.

Stop smoking research has been around since the 1970s.

For example, Veswesvaran and Schomidt reported on a meta-analysis in 1992. In this study, 71,806 people were reviewed who used different methods to stop smoking, including hypnotherapy.

A study in 2014 showed that hypnotherapy was more effective than Nicotine replacement therapy.

In 2018, a study stated that there was an 80% success rate for stopping smoking with hypnotherapy, but the study was small, with only 16 people quitting.

One study by Barnes et al (2019) stated that there was insufficient evidence to say that hypnotherapy helped more than other behavioural programmes.

Hypnosis is as good as using CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), and it’s faster. For example, other studies show that hypnotherapy has a 16-29% abstinence rate while CBT has a 14-23% abstinence rate in group therapy after 6-12 months.

Different protocols, such as single-session and multiple-session hypnotherapy, as well as group hypnotherapy, yield different results. However, combining CBT and hypnotherapy continues to have a positive impact.

As with all attempts to prove whether a treatment works, there will be opposing studies, some of which will have poor research methodology, while others will be of very high quality. This is why research into stopping smoking with hypnotherapy continues, and the efficacy of its use continues to grow.

This year, 2025, Ekanayake and Elkins did a systematic Review on hypnotherapy and smoking cessation. They analysed 33 studies and found a positive effect with hypnosis. They state that there is a 67.7% positive effect of hypnotherapy on stopping smoking.

How many sessions of hypnotherapy do you need?

Many hypnotherapists offer one session of hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. The session typically lasts around 90 minutes. This may be primarily hypnotherapy, or the session could include psychoeducation and CBT.

However, the evidence suggests that for some people. i.e.. Those who are heavy smokers, have tried unsuccessfully to quit before, have high stress and anxiety levels, or other psychological issues, benefit more from two or more sessions of hypnotherapy.

Some hypnotherapists might offer as many as six sessions.

I usually offer two sessions.

Common Myths About Hypnotherapy and Smoking

Hypnotherapy is a way to stop smoking without medications, as it’s a natural method to help yourself make changes, yet there are many myths surrounding its use.

Let me take you through some of the common myths related to quitting.

• Is hypnosis real? Yes! Changes in the brain can be seen with fMRI scans.
• Does hypnosis control your mind? No. It’s a natural process. If you are given suggestions that go against your morals and values, then you will reject them and may come out of hypnosis. It’s not mind control, it’s a partnership.
• Isn’t stopping smoking difficult? If you are prepared, motivated to change, have good reasons to quit and have support, stopping smoking is easier than you might think.
• Everyone gets awful cravings when they stop smoking. This is not true. Some people may experience cravings for a few days, but many others do not. If this concerns you, tell the hypnotherapist, as they can work to minimise this.
• There aren’t many people who stop smoking with hypnotherapy. False. Lots of people do quit smoking with hypnotherapy, but the media doesn’t promote this. Stories of bad hypnotists are preferred, although there are good and bad in all professions.
• Some people say that they tried hypnotherapy before to stop smoking, but it didn’t work. This may be true, but was it the right time to quit, and was it the best hypnotherapist you used to help you? And just because it didn’t work once, doesn’t mean that it won’t work again.
• I will gain lots of weight when I quit smoking. There is evidence that when people quit, they tend to enjoy their food more, which can lead to weight gain. However, a hypnotherapist can also address this concern and provide positive suggestions for healthy eating.
• Will it really work for me? Yes, it can help you if you want it to, and it’s the right time to quit.

Why Choose Hypnotherapy Over Other Methods?

You have probably tried everything else, but it didn’t work.

Hypnotherapy is effective, although a combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) often yields improved outcomes.

Unlike nicotine replacement therapies, hypnotherapy addresses the mindset and emotional triggers that keep you smoking.

What to Expect in a Hypnotherapy Session

Whatever you seek help with from a hypnotherapist, you should be provided with all the information that you need to provide informed consent.

All hypnotherapists will ask questions to assess your needs and specific areas that impact your smoking habits.

Some practitioners will suggest preparation before the first session.

At the session, you may be given information about quitting.

Hypnotherapy can vary depending on the hypnotherapist’s approach and your responses.

During hypnosis, you will not be asleep, and you will be able to hear what is being said.

Afterwards, you should be able to continue as usual.

Consider the benefits

As with any change in your life, you need a good reason to stop smoking.

Living smoke-free can be easier than you think.

Imagine no more smelling of tobacco, struggling with social situations when no one else smokes, and saving, not wasting money.

Consider the benefits of stopping smoking and what it will mean to the people around you.

Imagine breathing easier and living smoke-free with the support of hypnotherapy.

Now, take my mini quiz and see if now is the right time to quit with me.

Mini Quiz. Is it time to stop smoking?

Answer these quick questions honestly. Keep score as you go.

1. When you think about quitting smoking, what’s your first reaction?

• I would love to, but it feels impossible. (2 points)
• I will do it one day, but not yet. (1 point)
• I’m ready, but just not sure how. (3 points)

2. How many times have you tried to quit before?

• More than three (3 points)
• Once or twice (2 points)
• I’ve never tried seriously (1 point)

3. What usually triggers you to light up?

• Stress or anxiety (3 points)
• Social situations (2 points)
• Habit. It’s just part of my routine (2 points)

4. What do you fear most about quitting?

• Cravings and withdrawal (2 points)
• Losing my coping mechanism (3 points)
• Putting on weight or feeling irritable (1 point)

5. How would life be different for you if you stopped smoking tomorrow?

• I would feel healthier, more energetic, and proud of myself (3 points)
• I would save money and have more freedom (2 points)
• Honestly, I’m not sure (1 point)

Your Results

• 11–15 points: You’re ready for change!
  You know smoking is holding you back, and you’re motivated to quit. Hypnotherapy can provide the powerful mindset shift you need to achieve lasting success.
• 7–10 points: You’re thinking about it.
  You want to quit, but something’s stopping you. This is where hypnotherapy helps by tackling the subconscious blocks that make quitting hard.
• 5–6 points: You are curious, but not quite ready.
  That’s OK. Even reading this blog is a step in the right direction. When you’re ready, hypnotherapy can give you the tools and confidence to take control. Perhaps you need help resolving another issue first.

Taking the Next Step

If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me. At Awaken the Change, I offer a unique blend of CBT and hypnosis to assist you.

As I am also a counsellor, if you need to talk about something that’s bothering you first, I can also offer support.

Book a complimentary 30-minute consultation to help you stop smoking and learn more.