As a hypnotherapist, I sit with people who are intelligent, capable, and deeply self-aware—yet many feel powerless when it comes to smoking. This isn’t because they lack willpower. It’s because smoking is one of the most subtle and deceptive traps the mind and body can fall into.

The body knows the truth long before the conscious mind is ready to accept it. I often hear clients describe an inner conflict: part of them enjoys the ritual, while another part is clearly saying, “You are feeding me poison—please stop”. That internal struggle is exhausting, and it’s one of the key reasons smoking can feel so hard to let go of.

The Myth of “Needing” Cigarettes

One of the most revealing things about smoking is this: most smokers do not wake in the night desperate for a cigarette. They can go hours without smoking in certain places or situations, often without distress. From a therapeutic perspective, this tells us something important—the addiction is not as absolute as it feels.

The real hook lies in belief, not biology.

Many people believe smoking relieves stress. In my work, I gently challenge this idea. Smoking doesn’t remove stress—it adds to it. The craving itself creates tension, and the cigarette merely ends the discomfort it created in the first place. What appears to be relief is actually a brief respite in a cycle of discomfort.

What Smoking Quietly Takes Away

Over time, smoking doesn’t just affect the body—it erodes vital parts of a person’s inner world. Health and energy are often the first losses noticed, but clients also speak about diminished confidence, peace of mind, self-respect, and a sense of freedom. These losses happen gradually, which is why they’re so easy to overlook.

Smoking is also frequently attributed to “helping concentration,” yet it does nothing of the sort. What people experience as focus is often just the temporary relief from withdrawal.

Why Cutting Down Rarely Works

Many smokers try to regain control by cutting down. From both experience and observation, this often keeps the door open rather than closing it. Each cigarette maintains the pattern—each one creates the need for the next,

When someone starts smoking, it’s like lighting a fuse without knowing how long it is. The danger isn’t always immediate, but it is real. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable and premature death worldwide, with millions of lives lost each year.

The Illusion of “Just One”

In therapy, I often ask a simple question: Will it really be easier to stop tomorrow, next week, or next month? The honest answer is usually no. Addiction doesn’t weaken with time—it strengthens.

And the idea of “just one cigarette”? For most smokers, it simply doesn’t exist.

A Hypnotherapist’s Perspective

From my professional viewpoint, smoking is not a failure of character. It’s a learned response—one that can be unlearned. When the unconscious mind is addressed with the same precision that created the habit, change becomes not only possible, but natural.

Freedom from smoking isn’t about struggle. It’s about understanding the trap—and stepping out of it.

The Government expects that those that can, work from home. This can very often not be the perfect set up for some people.

There is, of course, the obvious advantage of not having to commute, and with the latest technology this can mean we have more control over our time. However, it is important for us to monitor our mental health as, put simply, working from home is not for everyone.

There are those among us that working from home puts their mental health at risk, causing feelings of isolation and disconnection. They miss the feedback and encouragement from their colleagues, and this can impact on their productivity.

Also, working remotely can create pressure to appear busy, or be online throughout the working day. This can cause severe stress.

Working from home is new to many so guidance is valuable, and some hints and tips follow:

• Set your parameters and accept that it’s ok to work in the morning and take an hour or so out.
• Set up a work zone or space, try to avoid the bed or sofa.
• Arrange time for ‘self care’ for meditation or exercise.
• Hold a team group call on Skype, Zoom, Facebook messenger etc. for 20 mins each morning at the start of the day.
• Have some down time midday and don’t work after 5.30pm
• Don’t open emails until after midday (except those marked ‘urgent’) giving you time to set everything else up in the morning.
• Ensure you have a reliable messenger to deliver any necessary paperwork, contracts etc.
• Go paperless wherever possible
• Try to arrange to go to the office alone if you need time away from home.

This is for guidance only, take the measures that apply to you wherever possible and add in your own where appropriate.

Here if you need me.

Debra Clover.

Clients resistance is probably the biggest obstruction to successful hypnotherapy. We can be ‘resistant’ for many reasons, for example :

Afraid or nervous about hypnosis, either having never experienced hypnosis, having had a bad experience in the past or even just through watching a stage act where the hypnotist had their subjects carrying out hilarious acts!

Sometimes it just comes down to ‘belief’. Our client may simply not believe in the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, believing it to be mumbo-jumbo, making them very sceptical of the process.

The Client not wanting to be there, encouraged or even forced to attend therapy by someone else or an authority. Some of my Clients have told me that they are in session because their partner has offered an ultimatum, ‘get help, or I’m off!’ etc. Sometimes it can be a condition of a suspended sentence for a criminal act.

Another reason, and a very strong one, is the ‘hidden agenda’. This is when the issue or ailment serves the Client in what they view as a positive way, therefore the Client doesn’t truly want to get better. This may take the form of ‘increased attention’ from those friends and family surrounding them. The same friends and family not expecting too much from them. It could simply be a case of loss of financial benefits.

There are occasions that the Client just does not ‘gel’ with the therapist. If rapport isn’t established early on, it can be very difficult, if not impossible at times, to regain.

A well trained, experienced hypnotherapist/psychotherapist will help their clients overcome their resistance or refer on to another therapist who they feel will be better able to support the individual, depending on the reason for the resistance.

People come to therapy because they want to ‘feel’ and ‘think’ in new ways that help them live happier and healthier lives.

Approaching ‘retirement’ (this seems to be looming faster than I ever thought possible), and being a mother of 4 and grandmother to 2 beautiful, highly energetic grandchildren,  and this is the absolute truth, I am not in any way biased, I was feeling the effects of low energy levels and physical limits. It’s obviously no joke when playing with the grandbabies and listening to all the creaks and groans in the joints, experiencing the pain in the back, hips, knees etc. However, using hypnotherapy and psychotherapy, we can improve our ‘twilight years’, gaining more energy and enthusiasm to keep us young and interested in our lives and relationships, enjoying new adventures with a zeal for new projects and hobbies.

We all look to our more mature years to ‘relax and enjoy’ life but some of us find that when we get there we no longer have the energy or fitness levels required to pursue our dreams. With hypnotherapy and psychotherapy we can adjust our energy levels and control our pain levels to enable us to live our lives to the fullest.

This isn’t exclusive to the ageing generation. Anyone at any age can benefit from these procedures. This also helps to move into our older years with minimal loss of energy or physicality. Keeping our bodies and mind in tune with one and other, getting the best out of both, both at their peak.

Keeping our minds positive and our attitudes enthusiastic will help us stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan. No longer will exercise be a chore, something to try to get out of, we will positively look forward to it! As we will reject any unhealthy food and drink, opting for foods that will enhance our daily lives, giving us the energy and the nutrients necessary to carry out our plans, and enjoy our lives and relationships..

Perhaps some of these comments have resonated with you, they certainly have with me. Here’s to a better future than our recent past…

I am starting to feel like a ‘seasoned’ exhibitor having presented at 2 Wedding Fairs, specifically aiming at those getting married and wanting help with Weight Loss, Public Speaking, Nail Biting, General Anxiety, Stress, etc.

In all honesty, I absolutely loved the atmosphere, particularly enjoying chatting with people with regard to Hypnotherapy and BWRT® and all the issues that can be addressed with either therapy.

One lady in particular was really pleased to talk to me with regard to her difficulty in adjusting to retirement. Her children having now flown the nest and now nothing routine to take up her time. This very lovely lady told me how she felt there was nothing for her to do, and didn’t feel useful as she had prior to retiring. We chatted for a while and I have invited her to join me for a session of motivational therapy. (I also gave her some homework – jot down the things in life she loves to do, and indeed, anything that interests her).

I am really looking forward to seeing this lady again, I know she will be very receptive to and enjoy hypnotherapy. She also told me that she would love to do this herself. Well, you never know, do you?

Another fabulous thing about Wedding Fairs….. The leftover samples of wedding cake at the end of the afternoon!

Trevor is a 47 year old male, who has been married to Gill for 17 years and has 3 children, all girls aged 9, 12 and 14.

Trevor works in admin within a manufacturing company and has been there for over 20 years and is very familiar with all aspects of his companies routines and methods and is in charge of his own department.

My first contact with Trevor was at an exhibition I was attending, he almost went straight past my stand – but heard me speaking with another person about anxiety and panic attacks. He then approached me with various questions including – ‘How successful is Hypnotherapy or BWRT® when dealing with Anxiety and Panic attacks?’ This is quite a difficult question to answer as although there are no guarantees, I can honestly state that I have been extremely successful with these issues, using either Hypnotherapy or BWRT®. After a short conversation Trevor booked an appointment with me for the following week.

The following week, Trevor attended his appointment via Skype. After a free consultation, taking just the basic information necessary to gauge which therapy would best suit Trevor, we proceeded with BWRT® level 1. This is usually a ‘one to two session’ therapy and is extremely effective with fears, phobias, anxiety and panic attacks. It is also ‘content free’, which means the client does not have to disclose to the therapist the cause of the issue as all the work is done inside your own mind. Once explained to him, Trevor found the therapy really easy and at the end of the session was amazed at it’s effectiveness.

Trevor has had no anxiety or panic attacks since this therapy to date (over a year ago).

(Any identifying information has been changed.)

Having just been on a course called Ageing Unplugged developed and presented by the genius that is Terence Watts, I am now aware as to how we can all improve our twilight years by following this wonderful therapy and it’s recommendations.

We should be enjoying our latter years rather than just biding our time, waiting for our bodies to slowly seize up bit by bit. We can plan new adventures having regained the energy of our youth and the excitement and enthusiasm of things to come.

This therapy isn’t exclusive to the ageing population, everyone can benefit it. In their present lives and also in preparation for a happier, healthier and more enjoyable later life.

Perhaps some of these comments have resonated with you, they certainly have with me.

Here’s to a better future than our recent past!

Hypnosis has been around since the beginning of human evolution. In the past, Witch Doctors, Shamans and Preachers have all used a form of hypnosis. Even Political Leaders and the Military.

Hypnotherapy as we know it today had it’s beginnings with Sigmund Freud, who was the ‘Godfather’ of psychology and from then various practitioners have studied his findings – some agreeing with some of the findings – others debunking them.

Anton Mesmer then used magnets to heal his clients, his thinking was that he could redirect the magnetic force in the body to initiate healing and well being. It is now believed that the ‘belief, expectation and focus’ of the subjects is what ‘cured’ them.

Milton Erickson was the founder of ‘indirect suggestion’ therapy, having huge success and creating a dedicated following.

James Esdaile performed surgical operations in India as hypnosis was the only anesthesia available, showing the depth of hypnosis that could be achieved.

Harry Arons promoted the use of hypnosis in the Medical Profession and is widely acknowledged to be responsible for the acceptance of hypnosis in the field of medicine and Dentistry, also training Law Enforcement Agencies.

Charles Tebitts pioneered ‘Client Centred’ hypnotherapy, tailoring the hypnotherapy sessions to the client, rather than the Therapists own preference.