What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that involves the therapist guiding the client into a relaxed state to help individuals make positive changes in their behaviour or thoughts. This process helps clients center on what the therapist says without being distracted by other thoughts or anxieties.

The process of inducing hypnosis

To begin hypnotherapy, the therapist guides the client into a hypnotic state through a series of relaxation techniques. This process helps the client achieve a state of deep relaxation, reducing distractions from everyday thoughts or anxieties and allowing them to concentrate fully on the therapist's guidance.

Steps in inducing hypnosis

1. Creating comfort - The therapist ensures the client is physically comfortable, often by having them sit or lie down in a quiet environment.
2. Guided relaxation - The therapist speaks in a calm, quiet voice to promote relaxation, helping the client let go of tension.
3. Visualisation - The client is asked to imagine a peaceful scene of their choice, such as a serene beach or forest, which enhances mental focus and relaxation.
4. Progressive deepening - Techniques like counting slowly from one to eight are used, with the therapist instructing the client to relax more deeply at each number.

This structured induction creates a receptive mental state, helping the client to concentrate clearly on the therapist's guidance without being distracted by other thoughts or anxieties.

Therapeutic suggestions for nicotine addiction

Once the client is in a hypnotic state, the therapist introduces positive suggestions aimed at changing the client's relationship with smoking.

Key suggestions used in sessions

• Reducing desire - The therapist suggests that the client no longer feels the urge to smoke, framing it as an unnecessary or unappealing activity.
• Altering perceptions - Suggestions may include visualising smoking as unpleasant, such as associating it with bad tastes or smells, to build aversion.

Session structure and long-term effects

Sessions usually last between about 60 and 90 minutes.

Long-term effects

The effects extend beyond the session because the ideas implanted in the unconscious continue to shape behaviour even after normal consciousness returns.