A plant that "revives" after stopping smoking. — It's easier than we think to stop smoking.

Introduction

Hypnosis is often presented as a quick and "miraculous" method for quitting smoking. However, such a view is reductive and often a source of disappointment. This article offers a rigorous analysis of what hypnosis really does for smoking cessation: its mechanisms, its true benefits, but also the myths that must be deconstructed to support profound and lasting change.

The film industry is largely responsible for creating the complex association between stress and smoking a cigarette. Be like Chandler — quit!

What scientific research teaches us

Several studies have shown that hypnosis can be an effective tool for quitting smoking, often more effective than other traditional methods.

A pioneering meta-analysis by Viswesvaran and Schmidt (1992) showed that hypnosis is significantly more effective than counseling alone, or simply reading information about withdrawal.
More recently, a systematic review by Tahiri et al. (2018) confirmed that hypnosis has success rates comparable to, or even superior to, some behavioral therapies.
A randomized clinical trial by Elkins et al. (2006) also showed that hypnotherapy significantly increases the rate of sustained withdrawal compared to standard interventions.

Research conclusion: hypnosis is a serious way to support smoking cessation – provided that the patient's commitment is genuine and the support is structured.

How does hypnosis to stop smoking work?

Hypnosis works mainly by:

Accessing the unconscious automatisms linked to the act of smoking,
Redefining the emotional associations around cigarettes (pleasure, need, relaxation),
Reinforcing the identity of “non-smoker” through mental reprogramming,
Mobilizing the internal resources needed to maintain change.

It opens a "psychological window" where cognitive plasticity is greater, allowing new behavioral and emotional patterns to be implemented.

Why it's not a magic wand

Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis does not magically erase addiction. Several factors influence its effectiveness:

1. Individual subjectivity

Every person is unique: their suggestibility, real motivation and psychological patterns directly influence success.

2. The relationship to smoking behavior

Emotional compensation : Smoking to calm chronic anxiety or stress will require more in-depth work.
Social or gestural habit : apparently simpler to deconstruct, although it can sometimes be so ingrained that it requires a progressive dissociation of the gesture and the artificial need from the person's identity or their real need.
Pleasure vs. Disgust : Some people derive intense pleasure from cigarettes; reversing this emotional balance sometimes requires several sessions.

3. Background and behavioral characteristics

Past history (anxiety, depression, compulsive behaviors) can make quitting more complex without appropriate support.

Why multiple hypnosis sessions are necessary to quit smoking

Yes , it happens that patients stop after the first session, but this is not the norm .

A serious protocol of hypnosis to stop smoking aims to:

To sustainably install the changes (post-session anchoring),
To treat deep resistances ,
To reinforce the new identity of non-smoker in all critical situations (stress, parties, setbacks).

In general, a structured program includes 6 sessions , adapted to the patient's progress.

Flee from unrealistic promises

Any practitioner who promises a "guaranteed 2-session" quit is selling an illusion. Quitting smoking is a transformational process , not a magic trick, a showmanship demonstration, or a desire to impose a miracle method to flatter the practitioner's ego.

In serious hypnosis, we work:

With your deep consent,
With an individualized approach, which takes into account the system,
By respecting your pace of change.

Conclusion

Hypnosis is a truly powerful tool , validated by science to help people quit smoking. But it works within a conscious and committed framework , never by imposing change.

At Hypnology, we believe in deep, respectful and human work so that each person can once again become an actor in their inner freedom , without smoking.

Scientific sources

Viswesvaran, C., & Schmidt, F. L. (1992). A meta-analytic comparison of the effectiveness of smoking cessation methods. Journal of Applied Psychology , 77(4), 554-561.
Tahiri, M., Mottillo, S., Joseph, L., Pilote, L., & Eisenberg, MJ (2018). Hypnosis for smoking cessation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Medicine , 131(4), 460-468.
Elkins, GR, Rajab, MH, Marcus, J., & Lapointe, J. (2006). Brief hypnosis intervention for smoking cessation: A preliminary study. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis , 54(1), 73-84.