Stop smoking. Make space for something better.
Smoking can become woven into your routines, stress and sense of taking a break. Together we can explore what keeps the pattern going, and how to approach change with Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, NLP-informed techniques and CBT-informed tools.
You already know why you want to stop. The harder part is what happens next.
Perhaps you smoke with your morning coffee, after a difficult meeting, on the drive home, or whenever you finally have a moment to yourself. Perhaps you've stopped before, only to find yourself reaching for a cigarette at precisely the moment you most wanted not to.
That doesn't mean you lack character or determination. Cigarette smoking involves nicotine dependence as well as learned associations with people, places, feelings and routines. Both deserve to be taken seriously.
At Best Mind Therapy, I offer a supportive, solution focused space to understand those patterns and consider realistic alternatives. The aim is to help you engage in your own change process—not to persuade you that hypnosis can simply take away nicotine addiction.
Gary Smith · Solution Focused Hypnotherapist & Psychotherapist
Smoking is rarely just one habit.
Two different forces can become tangled together. Recognising both makes room for a more considered approach.
Nicotine dependence is real.
Nicotine changes how the brain responds to reward. When you stop smoking, withdrawal can bring cravings, restlessness, low mood and a sense that something is missing. Those symptoms are not simply imagined, and appropriate stop-smoking medicines or nicotine replacement can help.
So are the moments that invite a cigarette.
A cup of coffee. A stressful conversation. A particular route home. Time with friends. The mind can learn to associate these moments with smoking, even when a person strongly wants to quit. Those cues can be noticed, anticipated and approached differently.
Sometimes the cigarette feels like the solution to a feeling.
The challenge is finding other responses that fit your life—not asking you to simply “be stronger”.
In sessions we can explore the situations most connected to smoking and practise ways to approach them. For some people, anxiety or stress support is also relevant; for others, a dedicated NHS stop-smoking service will be the most important place to start.
- 01Pressure and overwhelmWhen a cigarette has become shorthand for pausing, decompressing or stepping away.
- 02Automatic routinesWhen the hand moves almost before the decision has been made.
- 03Social expectationsWhen smoking is woven into friendships, breaks, gatherings or evenings out.
- 04Fear of finding it difficultWhen memories of previous quit attempts make change feel daunting.
A considered combination of conversation, rehearsal and hypnosis.
The methods are selected around you. They are not presented as a guaranteed replacement for evidence-based stop-smoking treatment.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
We explore what you want to be different, what already supports you and what small changes are worth practising. Where appropriate, hypnosis can provide a period of focused attention, relaxation and rehearsal of your intentions.
NLP-informed techniques
We may use reframing, future pacing and guided imagery to reflect on familiar cues and rehearse alternative responses. NLP has a limited evidence base as a smoking cessation treatment, so we discuss its role openly.
CBT-informed strategies
We can identify all-or-nothing thinking, explore predictions such as “I can't cope without one”, and build specific plans for high-risk moments. These are selected CBT-informed tools, rather than a claim to offer a specialist CBT cessation course.
A different response begins in the moment between urge and action.
This is one example of the practical thinking we can explore together, not a promise that every craving will disappear.
Let's talk about your pattern ↗Notice
What happened just before the urge? An emotion, a familiar place, the end of a meal, or a moment of boredom?
Name the need
Is it a nicotine craving, a wish for calm, a need for company, or a way of pausing?
Choose a response
Use a pre-agreed plan: stepping outside without smoking, contacting someone, moving your body or using an appropriate stop-smoking aid.
Learn from the moment
What helped, even slightly? What would make the next difficult moment easier to handle?
The health benefits begin sooner than many people realise.
Quitting smoking can improve health over time, even if the first days feel challenging. These milestones come from NHS Better Health guidance.
Your pulse rate can already be starting to return towards normal.
Carbon monoxide levels have fallen, and taste and smell may begin to improve.
Circulation improves, supporting blood flow to the heart and muscles.
The risk of heart attack is lower than for someone who continues to smoke.
Source: NHS Better Health — What could happen when you quit smoking. Individual experiences vary.
What happens if we work together?
We begin with a free consultation, not a promise that a particular session will solve everything.
- Understand your reasons and your smoking pattern. We talk about how often you smoke, when it feels hardest to resist, and what you have tried before.
- Consider the right support. We discuss whether my approach may fit and whether NHS, pharmacist or GP-led cessation support should be part of your plan.
- Plan the work. If we proceed, we can use solution focused conversation, targeted techniques and hypnosis where suitable.
- Review and adapt. We look at what is helping and adjust rather than assuming that every person needs the same appointment format.
What does the evidence say about hypnosis for stopping smoking?
Some people choose hypnotherapy because they value the chance to reflect, rehearse change and work with established routines. However, a Cochrane review found insufficient evidence that hypnotherapy improves long-term smoking cessation rates compared with other forms of behavioural support or quitting unaided.
That is why I will not promise that hypnosis can switch off nicotine dependence, guarantee a smoke-free result, or replace evidence-based support. My work is about collaborative change and realistic expectations.
You can also speak with an NHS stop-smoking adviser about treatments with a stronger evidence base, including behavioural support, nicotine replacement and appropriate medicines. Choosing NHS support does not mean you cannot also have a discussion about wider habits and anxiety.
Questions before you begin.
A free consultation is also a chance to ask the questions that are specific to you.
Can hypnotherapy help me stop smoking?
Hypnotherapy may be a supportive option for some people who want to change smoking-related habits and routines. Evidence that it improves long-term quit rates beyond established stop-smoking methods is limited. Your own decision, practical support and a realistic plan remain important.
Will I stop smoking after one session?
No particular outcome or number of sessions can be guaranteed. Some people enquire about a focused smoking appointment; others may need additional behavioural support or medical stop-smoking treatment. We can discuss the most sensible approach in a free consultation.
What is NLP used for in smoking cessation?
NLP-informed exercises may be used to explore learned triggers, rehearse alternative responses and prepare for situations linked to smoking. The research base for NLP as a stop-smoking treatment is limited, so it is not presented as a proven replacement for established care.
Do you use CBT during stop smoking hypnotherapy?
I use selected CBT-informed principles, including recognising unhelpful predictions, planning for high-risk situations and practising alternative responses. This is not advertised as a separate specialist CBT smoking cessation programme.
What if I smoke because I feel stressed or anxious?
We can look at the moments when smoking has become associated with stress relief, a pause or emotional comfort and consider other ways to manage those situations. Nicotine withdrawal itself can affect mood and anxiety, so appropriate NHS support may also be helpful.
Can I combine hypnotherapy with nicotine patches or stop smoking medication?
Yes, where appropriate. Hypnotherapy does not require you to avoid evidence-based help. Ask a pharmacist, GP or NHS stop smoking service about nicotine replacement therapy or medicines that may suit you. I do not prescribe medication.
Is online stop smoking hypnotherapy available?
Yes. Suitable appointments can be arranged online across the UK, as well as in person in Swindon. We will discuss privacy, suitability and practical arrangements before booking.
How much does a stop smoking appointment cost?
The current fee and appointment format will be confirmed before booking. Please check the fees page or ask during your free consultation, as stop-smoking sessions may differ from standard appointments.
What if I have tried to quit before and started smoking again?
A previous return to smoking does not mean your next attempt is pointless. We can look at what made earlier changes difficult, identify triggers and consider a more realistic plan with support options that fit your circumstances.
What happens in the free consultation?
We will talk about your smoking pattern, what you want to change, possible triggers, the approaches I use and whether this service is a suitable fit. You can also discuss evidence-based NHS support and ask about fees without any obligation to book.
You don't have to work it all out on your own.
If smoking has become something you rely on but no longer want, we can start with an honest conversation. We'll explore your goals, discuss the support options and decide whether working together feels appropriate.
Best Mind Therapy · Swindon & online UK-wide · Monday–Friday, 9:00am–8:30pm