Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Stop Smoking Programme right for me?

The Stop Smoking Programme may be suitable for you if you are ready to stop smoking and want focused support to help you make that change.

You do not need to feel completely confident before booking. Many people feel nervous before stopping, especially if smoking has been part of their life for a long time.

What matters most is that you have made a genuine decision that you want to become a non-smoker.

How many sessions will I need?

The programme is designed as a focused stop smoking session.

For many people, one session may be enough. However, everyone is different, and some people may benefit from additional support, especially if smoking is strongly connected to stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, alcohol, or other emotional patterns.

Your programme also includes one free backup session within 12 months of your original appointment if you need extra support.

What is the free backup session?

Your Stop Smoking Programme includes one free backup session within 12 months of your original appointment.

The aim is for you to leave your main session ready to continue life as a non-smoker. However, if you need extra support later, your backup session is there to help you get back on track.

This can be especially useful if you experience unexpected stress, a major life event, or an old trigger that catches you by surprise.

The backup session is not there because you are expected to struggle. It is there so you know support is available if you need it.

What if I have tried to stop before?

Many people who book the programme have tried to stop before.

That does not mean you have failed. It usually means the previous approach did not deal with the habit in the right way for you.

Smoking is often connected to routine, stress, emotion, identity, and automatic behaviour. The Stop Smoking Programme is designed to work with those patterns, rather than relying on willpower alone.

Do I need to stop smoking before the session?

No, you will not usually be asked to stop smoking before your session unless this has been discussed and agreed in advance.

The session is designed to help you make the change from smoker to non-smoker.

Before your appointment, you will be asked to listen to a short pre-recorded relaxation audio a few times. This helps you become familiar with relaxing, focusing your attention, and following guided suggestions before the main session.

What is the pre-session relaxation recording for?

Before your appointment, you will receive access to a short pre-recorded relaxation audio.

This is not the stop smoking treatment itself. It is simply preparation.

Listening to the recording a few times before your session can help you become more comfortable with relaxing, focusing your attention, and following guided suggestions. This can make the main session feel more familiar and natural.

There is no right or wrong way to listen. Some people feel deeply relaxed, while others remain more aware of their surroundings. Both are normal.

Will I be hypnotised?

The session may include hypnosis, NLP, relaxation, guided mental exercises, and other change techniques.

Hypnosis is a focused, relaxed state. It is not sleep, and it is not mind control.

You remain aware and in control throughout the session. You can speak, move, or open your eyes if you need to.

What if I cannot be hypnotised?

Most people can experience hypnosis or a relaxed focused state when they are willing to engage with the process.

It is normal for the experience to feel different from person to person. Some people feel deeply relaxed. Some notice their mind wandering. Some remain very aware of the room around them.

You do not need to achieve a special or dramatic state for the session to be useful.

Will I be made to do anything against my will?

No.

Hypnosis cannot make you do something against your values, wishes, or better judgement.

The purpose of the session is to help strengthen the decision you have already made: to become a non-smoker.

You remain in control throughout.

Do I need willpower?

You need a genuine decision to stop, but the programme is not designed to rely on willpower alone.

Willpower often feels like a battle: part of you wants to stop, while another part still wants a cigarette.

The aim of the programme is to help change your relationship with smoking so that stopping feels less like constant resistance and more like moving on.

What if I still enjoy smoking?

This is very common.

Many people say they want to stop but still feel there are parts of smoking they enjoy, such as the break, the social side, the feeling of relief, or the routine.

The session helps explore and change those associations, so cigarettes no longer feel like something you need, want, or rely on.

What if I smoke when I am stressed?

Stress is one of the most common smoking triggers.

Many smokers have trained themselves to associate cigarettes with relief or a moment of calm. The problem is that smoking does not solve the stress; it simply becomes part of the stress pattern.

The programme is designed to help change that association, so you can respond to stress without automatically reaching for a cigarette.

What if I smoke and vape?

If you smoke and vape, this can be discussed before or during your session.

Smoking and vaping can be connected, but they are not always exactly the same habit. Vaping may be more constant, more automatic, or more closely linked to certain situations.

The first step is to understand what you currently use, when you use it, and what you want to change.

Can the programme help me stop vaping?

The main programme is focused on stopping smoking, but support for vaping may also be available.

If vaping is your main issue, or if you have replaced smoking with vaping, it is best to mention this when you enquire so the right approach can be discussed.

Is this suitable if I smoke heavily?

Yes, heavy smokers can still benefit from stop smoking support.

The number of cigarettes you smoke is not the only important factor. It is also useful to understand when you smoke, why you smoke, what cigarettes represent to you, and how ready you are to stop.

Whether you smoke a few cigarettes a day or have smoked heavily for many years, the key starting point is your decision to become a non-smoker.

What happens if I start smoking again?

If you need extra support after your main session, your programme includes one free backup session within 12 months of your original appointment.

The important thing is not to turn a slip into a return to smoking.

If something happens and you feel you need help getting back on track, get in touch and arrange your backup session.

Are results guaranteed?

No responsible practitioner should guarantee a result for every person.

The programme is designed to help you stop smoking, and many people experience a strong positive change from this kind of focused session. However, results can vary from person to person.

Your outcome may depend on your readiness, your personal circumstances, your level of commitment, and how smoking is connected to your life.

What you can expect is a professional, focused session designed specifically to help you become a non-smoker.

Is hypnosis safe?

Hypnosis is generally considered safe when used appropriately by a trained practitioner.

It is a natural, focused state of attention, often combined with relaxation and positive suggestion.

If you have a diagnosed mental health condition, a history of psychosis, epilepsy, or any medical concern that may affect your suitability, please mention this before booking.

The Stop Smoking Programme is not a replacement for medical advice or treatment.

Can I do the session online?

Online sessions may be available depending on your circumstances and location.

If you would prefer an online appointment, please mention this when you enquire.

You will need a quiet, private space where you will not be disturbed, a stable internet connection, and a device with camera and audio.

Where are in-person sessions held?

In-person sessions are available in Bideford or on occasions Barnstaple, North Devon.

Full appointment details will be provided when you book.