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Greater Boston Hypnosis
For an appointment call 617-964-4800
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Smoking
is both habitual and chemically addictive, and the
relative degree of chemical addiction or habitual dependency
varies from individual to individual. Regardless of whether the habit is
more habitual or additive, or both equally, hypnosis can be highly
effective in helping smokers to become nonsmokers.
Since there are both behavioral and addictive aspects to
the cigarette habit I recommend that, with physician approval,
hypnotherapy for smoking cessation be used in conjunction with
nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) such as
the patch, gum or lozenges or with other medications that the physician may
prescribe. Hypnotherapy to help modify behaviors associated with the
smoking habit and to ease nicotine withdrawal used in combination with
NRT or prescribed medications is generally a more effective approach.
Having said that, some clients (especially those who smoke less than
half a pack per day) choose to use hypnotherapy alone and have been successful
but the combination approach is an option that should be considered by anyone
using hypnotherapy to quit smoking.
Cigarette smokers tend to smoke in predictable situations. They may
smoke while having having meals, drinking cocktails, during work
breaks, while he is engaging in social conversation, while driving,
while under stress, after dinner, before dinner........ Depending
upon how severe a person's habit is the smoking is enmeshed in a
wide range of everyday activities. Particular factors associated
with these activities function as "triggers" that set in
motion a chain of stimulus-response conditions which seemingly
compel smokers to light up a cigarette. The stimulus is the external
or internal cause of the reaction, while the mental conditioning is
what we would normal refer to as the habit or habitual response. A
smoker sees a friend and strikes up a conversation, and before he
gets much further than "Hey, how ya been doing" he is
lighting up. Much the same with stress. The smoker is under pressure
to meet a deadline at work and without thinking he lights up
a cigarette or is going to the smoking area to do so. Hypnotherapy
can interfere and interrupt the habitual sequence by working with
the subconscious mind to modify cravings while simultaneously
implanting suggestions of alternative and substitute forms of
behavior. The simple suggestion of breathing deeply and enjoying the
feeling of filling the lungs with fresh air without coughing, or of
redirecting the minds attention to some pleasing memory or activity,
or of perhaps substituting a piece of gum or hard candy, to name
only a few are the sorts of alternative behavior patterns than can
interrupt the non-thinking pattern of reaching for a smoke. I also
carefully employ what is sometimes called "aversion therapy."
Although frowned upon by some hypnotherapists, I have found that
when used with discrimination and care negative suggestions
concerning the taste, smell and appeal of cigarettes can be highly
effective. I always obtain the prior consent of my client before
using any aversion therapy in my practice.
My smoking cessation program combines suggestions encouraging an
immediate and complete stop to smoking with a simultaneous option of
phasing out cigarettes more gradually. The abrupt cessation of the
cigarette habit works for some people but not for all. By allowing
the client the alternative of a gradual but steady reduction of the
habit s/he is given the maximum opportunity to succeed. Using hypnotherapy
to quit smoking can and very often does work!
Surrounding
Communities
Integral Hypnosis is conveniently located in Newton, MA near the Mass Pike and Route 128 and is within a 1/2 hour drive of the following Greater Boston, MetroWest, North Shore and South Shore communities:
MAP
& DIRECTIONS
| Arlington |
Bedford |
Belmont |
Boston |
| Brookline |
Burlington |
Cambridge |
Chelsea |
| Concord |
Dedham |
Everett |
Framingham |
| Lexington |
Lincoln |
Lynnfield |
Malden |
| Medford |
Melrose |
Natick |
Needham |
| Newton |
Norwood |
Quincy |
Saugus |
| Somerville |
Stoneham |
Sudbury |
Wakefield |
| Waltham |
Watertown |
Wayland |
Wellesley |
Weston |
Westwood |
Winchester |
Woburn |
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