Many studies report that people who use hypnosis to quit smoking are likely to succeed. This is not surprising. Hypnosis works at the source of smoking behavior.

Smoking is not a single behavior accomplished in isolation. Instead, it is integrated with other behaviors, such as smoking while drinking coffee, drinking alcohol, reading the newspaper, talking on the phone, driving, waiting in line, after dinner, after sex, and so on. It is also connected with getting certain results, such as relieving anxiety, relaxing, getting away from the office. It even piggy backs on breathing. Together with related behavior and associated results, smoking is a complex habitual pattern.

Habitual patterns reside in and operate from the subconscious mind. They function below conscious awareness automatically. Any changes to subconscious patterns involve overwriting or editing them in the subconscious. Hypnosis to quit smoking is the best tool for accessing and changing habitual smoking behavior.

Depending upon the reasons a person smokes, the amount he smokes, and the complexity of his smoking behavior, hypnosis, in the one-size-fits-all approach of commercial self hypnosis CD's or cessation clinics, may not work. Hypnotherapy with a qualified therapist will work best.

A hypnotherapist will conduct therapy specific to an individual's smoking behavior. A therapist will most likely also employ cognitive behavior modification techniques to accelerate results. Actual quitting may not actually take place until the end of the therapy. Hypnotherapy typically takes about 6-7 sessions at one session per week. Periodic follow up is also recommended.

Motivation is a factor in quitting even with hypnosis. If a person does not really want to quit, no approach will succeed until motivation is strengthened. One advantage of seeking hypnotherapy is that a therapist will assess motivation. If lack of motivation is apparent, a hypnotherapist will give the smoker a choice between therapy to improve motivation, or not going ahead with stop smoking therapy.