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I hypnotized a chain smoker, but she lit a cigarette within the hour?
I followed a Jeffrey Stephens 8 Word induction and his stop smoking script, everything went really fine, and the person felt great after the session. This person smokes for about 30 years. She lights one cigarette after the next. After the session, she did not light a cigarette which was comforting, however after an hour she did. But she also said she had a weird feeling about it, and a sensation of having water in her mouth.
Jeff Stephens is known for 15 minute change work. I am too ambitious for wanting this person to become a non smoker in one session of 15 minutes? Can that work?
Will the client get better by herself, or do I need another session(s)?
Would love to hear from you. I'm a budding certified hypnotist. Thanks.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jess Marion on -
Hi Dimitrios,
Stop smoking sessions can often be successful in one session but why limit yourself to 15 minutes. Smoking in some ways is straight forward but other ways it is not. You need to make sure there is serious motivation to quit. You also need to take into account the triggers for her smoking as well as the emotions tied up into it. Then of course there may be secondary gain issues and you want to make sure she doesn't pick up a new bad habit instead.
Can you be successful in a 15min session? Sometimes. Should you expect to be every time? Why would you want to expect that, every client is different. It's better to really work with the client as opposed to doing speed work.
There could be any number of reasons why she went back to smoking, and I don't really know what since I don't know her but I would suggest having her come in for another session. And when you do a session with someone, always test your work! It's better to have them relapse in front of you as opposed to three hours later or something.
Keep at it. Hypnosis is an art and as you gain experience you will become even more talented than you already are.
cheers!
jess
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Permalink Reply by Graham Old on -
If she lit a cigarette only an hour after therapy, my guess is that a "part" of her didn't really want to quit.
It happens to all hypnotists, apart from those that lie to boost their public ego.
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Permalink Reply by Reg Blackwood - The Quicknotist on -
Talk to Jeff.
You'll find him very approachable.
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Permalink Reply by Susan French on -
Dimitrios,
John Cleesatel has the best smoking protocol that I've ever come across. He sells if for such a nominal price. It's the only one out of the barrel-full I studied that has provided any kind of consistent results for me. Ask him.
My own experience with smoking cessation, even after all of these years, is still spotty and more inconsistent than I would like it to be.
Because I have an extensive background in addiction, the psychology of it, the physiology of and the experience of it, my own experience with smoking cessation is that both nicotine and the smoking habit can be a lot more addicting than we realize at first blush. My own experience, too, is that are many different aspects or components to smoking cessation, making it more complicated than "just stopping."
My own thoughts here: don't try to do instant change work until you've mastered more methodical change work. There is a big difference between inducing instant trance and doing the change work.
Let's see what others think.
Who will share their thoughts, ideas, questions and other relevant comments?
Susan
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Permalink Reply by Ricky Strode on -
I would take the time needed to help them do what they want to do. You will get faster, but with some skills practice is the only way to get there. I would start by getting away from using scripts. Scripts are good for ideas, but there is not a single way to help eveyone, then it would not take any skill to be a hypnotist, but rather good scripts and that just is not the case at all. I strongly suggest, "My voice will go with you". It may not be the best book in the world but it is packed with ideas and many ways to build upon helping you develop ways of working without scripts. I also suggest Trancework by Michael Yapko, it is not as technical as some books, but offers a nice way to think about things to make things easier with developing techniques and so on. I think the main piece of advice is read as much as you can and learn from anyone you get the chance to learn from. It all helps when helping people to do things easier and faster.
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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on -
Ditto on Cleessatel's stop smoking protocol. Of course, you should adapt to each client, but John's approach has worked great for me.
James
Susan French said:Dimitrios,
John Cleesatel has the best smoking protocol that I've ever come across. He sells if for such a nominal price. It's the only one out of the barrel-full I studied that has provided any kind of consistent results for me. Ask him.
My own experience with smoking cessation, even after all of these years, is still spotty and more inconsistent than I would like it to be.
Because I have an extensive background in addiction, the psychology of it, the physiology of and the experience of it, my own experience with smoking cessation is that both nicotine and the smoking habit can be a lot more addicting than we realize at first blush. My own experience, too, is that are many different aspects or components to smoking cessation, making it more complicated than "just stopping."
My own thoughts here: don't try to do instant change work until you've mastered more methodical change work. There is a big difference between inducing instant trance and doing the change work.
Let's see what others think.
Who will share their thoughts, ideas, questions and other relevant comments?
Susan
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Permalink Reply by Dimitrios on -
Susan French said:
Dimitrios,
John Cleesatel has the best smoking protocol that I've ever come across. He sells if for such a nominal price. It's the only one out of the barrel-full I studied that has provided any kind of consistent results for me. Ask him.
My own experience with smoking cessation, even after all of these years, is still spotty and more inconsistent than I would like it to be.
Because I have an extensive background in addiction, the psychology of it, the physiology of and the experience of it, my own experience with smoking cessation is that both nicotine and the smoking habit can be a lot more addicting than we realize at first blush. My own experience, too, is that are many different aspects or components to smoking cessation, making it more complicated than "just stopping."
My own thoughts here: don't try to do instant change work until you've mastered more methodical change work. There is a big difference between inducing instant trance and doing the change work.
Let's see what others think.
Who will share their thoughts, ideas, questions and other relevant comments?
Susan
Hi Susan, thanks for your comment. I will certainly look up John Cleesatell, looks like a lot of people swear by his approach. Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by Graham Old on
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Yeah, for future clients I'd recommend John's PDF as well. Easily worth the cost.
(Hey, John. Where's my affiliate fee? ;-) )
If you're using Jeff's system, you'll already have some familiarity with the ideas inside.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on -
Hi Dimitrios,I have not read John C's stop smoking program but I have read enough praise for it to recommend it with confidence.FYI--I tell my clients that all roads lead to being smoke-free and quickly run the possible outcomes by them during my intake/pre-talks: "A high percentage of my clients leave my office happy to be smoke free and never smoke again - a very small percentage smoke a cigarette as soon as they get outside and quickly discover smoking has become utterly boring and stop, others smoke less and less and then stop and a very, very small percentage actually smoke more than usual before they stop -- I wonder how you will decide to become smoke-free..."Hint: I recommend giving smoking cessation clients a post hypnotic cue for changing their state from Hot (I gotta have a smoke) to Cool (the last thing I want or need is a freaking cigarette) so that they are leaving your office knowing that they have a tool to help them, if necessary.
FYI - It is widely known that anything is more valuable if you pay something for it - so here's the deal:
The next time a person on the street asks you for spare change - give him or her a dollar and tell em it's from me
Michael E. @ http://www.nycanxietyhypnosis.com
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Permalink Reply by Joe K Fobes on -
I'm going to add my voice to the chorus of those recommending John's program.
As for it's similarity to Jeff's, I must say that to me they seem completely different. John's program is very very through and comprehensive, as well as addressing the SC issues involved with smoking it addresses the conscious issues, and it plays very strongly on enhancing and using the clients motivation. It's airtight. I can't imagine a client making it to the end and possible taking a cigarette right after the session.
Jeff's program on the other hand is more of the 'awe rapport' type of program. Hypnotize the subject, deepen, do direct suggestion (with some basic 6 step reframe), and bring em out. If it works, thats great, if not, then there isn't really anywhere else to go from there.
Joe
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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Stephens on -
Hello Dimitrios,
You have been given a great deal of good advice already. As the one under the microscope here, I thought I would throw my 2 cents in.
First, even though I 'typically' get the job done in one session of 15-25 minutes, I don't sell my time. I sell results. I have had clients 'in the chair' for as long as 2 hours when the circumstances warrant that. I use a very direct and authoritative style that - in the vast majority of cases - gets the job done very quickly.
So, as Jess Marion mentioned, don't limit yourself to 15 minutes. Do what needs to be done. Period.
As Graham Old mentioned, when they light up that quickly, there is a very good chance that they didn't want to quit in the first place. I have a small number who go back to smoking, but it is generally after several days. And I always ask them what the cravings, withdrawals, etc. were like.
The answer I get in almost every case is... "There weren't any. I just started smoking because...". And the reasons vary from 'I want those extra breaks at work' to 'My husband insisted I start again so he wouldn't have to quit."
I haven't heard of John Cleesatel, who was mentioned by several people. However, my philosophy is 'Fill Your Toolbox'. Learn multiple ways to do everything. Then, if for some reason one method doesn't work, you already have something else to use. My methods will not work all the time, on everyone. Good grief, even I go all Ericksonian from time to time. ;-)
As Susan French mentioned, learn how to do change work first... then concern yourself with doing it quickly... if you still want to. Quickly is how I do it. But then, I have been doing this for many years.
Several people mentioned adapting to each client. I sing my praises to that mindset. Each and every person who sits in front of you as a client is a unique individual. Each of them will bring his or her own beliefs, attitudes, preconceptions, etc. The one thing I completely insist upon in my training is that, when doing hypnosis, the MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE ROOM is not you, it is the person you are working with. And they should be your focus as you give them what they have come for.
And, to be clear, I neither recommend nor approve of the use of 'scripts'. My core philosophy is that all your attention belongs to the person you are working with. If your attention is on a script, you are not paying attention to that person. That may well be the problem in this case.
And finally, I am not sure what Joe Fobes has seen or read. My methods bear no resemblance to a 6-step reframe (unless you go so meta that you come to the place that both are change patterns). And I certainly would never tell any client "there's nowhere else to go from here". I tell my clients that they are paying for a result. If, for ANY reason, they feel that they need to see me again, they have already paid to be a non-smoker, and I will do whatever it takes to get them there.
In summary Dimitrios, don't try to be me. Don't try to be anyone but you. Learn all you can and fill your (metaphorical) toolbox. Do what needs to be done and don't worry about how long it takes. Giving the client what he or she needs is the ONLY consideration when you take them on as a client.
Best to all, and thanks for everyone's comments. (Yes, even you Joe.)
Jeff S
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Permalink Reply by Aino / Akpolarmom on -
I can also suggest you get John Cleesattel's ebook "Stop Smoking Intervention." It is a quick read and quite easy too follow and learn, as it covers the full process from very first contact with the client, till he walks out a non smoker.
But once you read it, promise yourself you will learn the concepts and apply them, this is not a 'read to me' script. It does require adaptation and use of the clients home work. I think the most important part of the book is in the very beginning section, what will make and break any of our smartest interventions, filter the potential client to see if they are READY to quit of their own will! If we do that we can count on seeing our success rate sky rocket, even if we are using less effective methods!!!
And as Jeff said above, reading scripts takes your attention away from the most important person in your life at that moment - the client.
Always Looking for More Tools,
Aino
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