I got a call at the end of March about a lady who said she wanted to stop smoking. As a mother with 2 young children, she knew that smoking was not healthy. She smoked one pack a day which equated to $140 per week. Finances were already tight for her family. As I asked more questions, I learned that her mother had died at this age from lung cancer. Maybe turning 38 was a reminder that life will end one day she too would pass away leaving her children to fend for themselves.

Fortunately it was the beginning of a new chapter. To make sure it would work for her, I explained in detail what to do prior to quitting. It was like going on vacation, where preparation was critical. She had to be physically, mentally and emotionally ready. There was a long check list which included throwing out her cigarettes 24 hours prior to seeing me, washing her car inside and out, throwing out ashtrays and lighters, washing all clothes that had any smell of cigarettes. The list was quite extensive. On the list I asked her to write down for just 24 hours every time she had a cigarette.

On the big day, she walked into my office and was all nervous. She had done everything I asked her except the list. I was apprehensive because when a person is committed to the change they do everything I ask them. I felt apprehensive about this but sensed I could make it work anyways. Here is how the session went. I started by asking her how anxious she felt about quitting. She said on a scale of 0 to 10 it was at the extreme 10. To add to the anxiety, her children hid her coffee and sugar as a joke because it was April 1st. April Fool's Day. To help her calm down I taught her how to tap. This is known as EFT or emotional freedom technique. Another tool was an elastic band around her wrist and every time she thought or had a craving I wanted her to snap that band until it hurt. The technique was about doing something that would result in more pain than the joy of smoking. Finally we did the hypnosis. At the end I told her that if she had the urge to smoke to call me first and we would do a little more work.

Three days later she said that while the temptation was still there, she was holding it back and it was not too intense. A follow up 30 days later, she says to me, " I am smoke-free for life". A big grin on her face. I could sense how proud she was. She tells me that now she has more energy and feels absolutely great. She is spending more time playing with her kids and is not running out in between clients for a fast cigarette beak.

In hypnosis I put in suggestions. You always do the work. There really is nothing I can make you do. If you are really ready give me a call and lets replace this habit with peace and calm.