How ‘Sarah’ Quit Smoking After 20 Years with Hypnosis
Let me tell you about Sarah. She’s not a real client—but her story is based on the real, lasting change I’ve seen in so many of my clients who’ve quit smoking with hypnosis. If you’ve been feeling stuck, or wondering if hypnosis is just one more thing that “might not work,” I invite you to read on.
“I’m So Tired of This Habit Controlling Me”
Sarah had been smoking for 20 years. She’d tried the patches, the gum, apps, quitting cold turkey—everything. But nothing really stuck. She’d go a few days or weeks, then something would trigger her—a stressful day, that first coffee in the morning, driving alone with her thoughts—and she’d find herself lighting up again, feeling defeated.
When we first spoke, she told me she wasn’t even sure if she could imagine her life without cigarettes. But what she could imagine was why she wanted to quit:
She wanted to breathe better.
She wanted to feel free in her body again.
She wanted to live a long life and be around for her family.
She wanted to trust herself to keep the promises she made.
That’s where we began.
What Happens During Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation
In our hypnosis session, Sarah got deeply relaxed in her favorite chair at home. (That’s one of the reasons virtual hypnosis works so beautifully—you're in your own safe, comfortable space.) Once her nervous system settled, we began one of the most powerful processes I use: two path imagery.
I guided Sarah to imagine the path she was currently on—continuing to smoke. She saw herself weeks, months, even years down that road. Her breathing felt shallow. Her energy low. Her fears about her health began to grow louder. She felt that path not just in her mind, but in her body—tight chest, foggy mind, and a deep sense of disconnection.
Then we shifted.
She stepped onto a new path. She visualized herself breathing fully, moving through her day without even thinking about cigarettes. Her body felt lighter. Her mornings clearer. She saw herself proud, energized, connected to her purpose. And we anchored that feeling again and again, back and forth, until the old path started to feel farther and farther away.
Navigating the Triggers
One of the most powerful parts of Sarah’s work wasn’t just what happened during the session—it was how she used the suggestions and techniques afterwards.
We built in specific, subconscious suggestions to help her handle the moments that had always made her cave:
First thing in the morning – Instead of lighting up, she started with deep breaths, hearing the internal suggestion, “With every breath I take, I am clean, clear, and free.”
Driving – She’d rub her fingers together, a tactile anchor we created in session, and her body would remember: “I am calm. I am grounded. I am in control.”
After meals – The old craving would arise, but she’d hear a gentle voice in her mind (her own): “My body is already satisfied. I breathe deeply and move on.”
We also addressed those old beliefs that sneak in—like, “I’ll always be a smoker” or “I just don’t have the willpower.” I often remind clients that we all come into this world with limiting beliefs. The question is, what’s your flavor?
And for so many people like Sarah, trauma or stress has layered on another belief: It’s not safe to feel. It’s not safe to be still. But with hypnosis, we gently start to shift those patterns—not by pushing them away, but by working with the nervous system to create something new.
Reinforcing Her New Identity
After our session, Sarah listened to the recording daily for a few weeks. (Every client I work with gets a personalized recording—only my voice is recorded, and it’s done securely through WebEx.)
With every listen, her subconscious got stronger at choosing the new path. The suggestions embedded in her session didn’t just help her stop smoking—they helped her step into her desired future self.
A Message From Sarah (That Could Be You)
Weeks later, Sarah emailed me to say:
“I still can’t believe how free I feel. I’ve made it past all the moments that used to break me—driving, morning coffee, after dinner. I actually look forward to those moments now, because I know I’m stronger than the habit. I feel like I finally got my life back.”
And the thing is—it didn’t take months of struggle. It took one powerful shift in how her mind and body related to smoking.
What If It’s Your Turn?
If you’re reading this and wondering if hypnosis could work for you—whether it’s smoking, stress, pain, or something else—I want you to know: your mind is powerful. And you don’t need more willpower. You need the right support to align your nervous system with what you truly want.
You already have the wisdom. Hypnosis just helps you access it.
Experience my voice leading you into hypnosis here. Contact me to get started.
