If you are looking for hypnotherapy to quit smoking in Haywards Heath, this page sets out what an appointment involves, what it costs, and — just as importantly — what hypnotherapy cannot promise you.
Stopping smoking is one of the most worthwhile things you can do for your health, and one of the hardest. It is easier with the right support. Hypnotherapy is one of the approaches people try. It cannot be guaranteed to work, and it does not replace medical care.
Can hypnosis help you quit smoking?
The honest answer is that nobody can tell you in advance. Published reviews of the research have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether hypnotherapy is more effective than other approaches to stopping smoking. Some people find it genuinely useful. Others do not.
What we can describe is what happens. Hypnosis is a state of focused relaxation — you stay awake and in control throughout — in which the therapist works with you on the thoughts, situations and routines that keep you reaching for a cigarette. Much of the appointment is ordinary conversation. For a fuller explanation of the method, see our hypnotherapy service page.
Where you see a success rate advertised for stop-smoking hypnotherapy, ask where the figure came from and how it was measured.
What happens at your first stop-smoking appointment
Your first appointment follows the pattern the clinic uses across its hypnotherapy sessions:
- Assessment. Your smoking history, what you have already tried, why you want to stop now, and screening for whether hypnotherapy is suitable for you at all. Nothing goes ahead without your consent.
- A plan. What you want to achieve, and simple strategies to practise between appointments.
- The hypnosis itself. Guided relaxation with suggestions and imagery aimed at the habits and triggers you have identified. You remain in control throughout.
- Aftercare. Progress is reviewed and the plan adjusted with you.
Free local stop-smoking support in West Sussex
Before booking anything privately, it is worth knowing that free stop-smoking support is available locally — and we would far rather you used it than not.
Quit4Wellbeing, provided by West Sussex County Council, offers free support for twelve weeks from specialist advisors, face to face or over the telephone, through local Wellbeing Hubs including Mid Sussex, Crawley and Horsham. Advisors talk you through the stop-smoking medications available and provide free quit aids such as vapes and nicotine replacement — patches, gum or lozenges. Other stop-smoking medication may be subject to a prescription charge unless you are exempt. Call Smokefree West Sussex on 0330 222 7980, or see West Sussex Wellbeing.
Nationally, NHS Better Health offers a free Personal Quit Plan and the free NHS Quit Smoking app.
Nothing stops you combining approaches. If you are using stop-smoking medication, tell the practitioner at your first appointment.
Your hypnotherapist
Hypnotherapy at the clinic is provided by Nicola Preston Bell, who has worked with clients in Sussex for over twenty years. She holds a Diploma in Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy and a degree in Psychology and Linguistics from the University of Reading, is verified on the General Hypnotherapy Register, and is a member of the European Institute of Therapy Studies. She is also an NLP and EFT practitioner, and trains and supervises on a Brighton-based diploma course. Her sessions are one-to-one and solution-focused.
You can read more on Nicola’s profile.
Fees and appointments
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Stop Smoking (two appointments) | £250 |
Hypnotherapy appointments run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9.00am to 9.00pm, so evening slots are available. Fees for other hypnotherapy appointments are on the hypnotherapy service page and our Fees & Availabilities page.
The clinic is at Naldred Farm Offices, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XR, with free on-site parking and disabled access. We are a short drive from Lindfield, Cuckfield, Burgess Hill, Crawley, Horsham and East Grinstead.
To ask a question or book, call 01444 616797 or use our contact form. An initial enquiry carries no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Does hypnotherapy work to stop smoking?
Some people find it helpful and some do not. Reviews of the evidence have concluded there is not enough good-quality research to say whether hypnotherapy works better than other approaches, so we cannot promise you a result.
What is the success rate for hypnosis to quit smoking?
We do not publish one, because we cannot evidence one. Figures advertised online are rarely accompanied by any explanation of how they were measured, over what period, or how many people were followed up. Under UK advertising rules a clinic must be able to evidence any claim it makes.
What is the most successful way to stop smoking?
The approaches with the strongest evidence behind them are the ones your GP, pharmacist or local stop-smoking service can offer: behavioural support combined with licensed stop-smoking medication. That is where we would suggest you start. Hypnotherapy is better thought of as additional support than a replacement.
Will I be asleep, or lose control?
No. Hypnosis is focused relaxation, not sleep: you stay aware, you can speak, and you can stop at any point. Feeling a little tired afterwards is common.
What about vaping?
Some people come wanting to stop vaping, others to stop smoking without switching to it. Tell the practitioner at your assessment exactly what you currently use, including e-cigarettes, so the plan reflects your situation.
Is hypnotherapy safe, and who is it not suitable for?
Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical care, and suitability is screened at your first appointment. If you have a diagnosed mental-health condition, or you are under the care of a specialist, speak to your GP first — and with your permission the clinic can liaise with them.