Smoke-Free Forever with Clinical Hypnosis

 

Dr. Steve Eichel's Smoke-Free Forever program is based on the best research available on hypnosis-assisted smoking cessation without weight gain. My goal is to be effective, and to help you become permanently smoke-free; rather than go for the "quick fix," I choose to go for permanent cessation.

I specialize in working with people who have tried and already quit smoking (several times!) and have relapsed; in other words, the "problem" smoker.

Here is what research tells us about smoking cessation:

 

• Motivation is the key. The more motivated you are to quit, the more likely it is you will quit. This also means making smoking cessation your #1 priority for now.
• A combination of smoking cessation techniques is better than any single technique. Nicotine replacement therapy, (i.e., nicotine patches or gum) works very well when combined with behavioral treatments, such as hypnosis. By themselves, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is not more effective than just quitting "cold turkey."
• Single-session hypnosis does not work significantly better than placebo in the long-run. While one-shot group or individual hypnois sessions may actually help you quit, your chances of relapsing back into smoking are about the same as if you had stopped smoking without hypnosis. Sadly, there is a better than 50% chance you already know this from your own experience.
• Post-cessation treatment is the key to staying smoke-free forever without significant weight gain. Follow-up sessions after you have stopped smoking are the single best guarantee that your treatment will "stick" for the rest of your life.

 

Here is what I do in my smoking cessation program:

 

• A thorough evaluation of your motivation to stop, including an assessment of your past attempts and why you relapsed. I then work to enhance motivation before working on actually quitting.
• I test your hypnotic talent and preferences.
• I strongly encourage the use of NRT (nicotine replacement therapy), although I have worked successfully with clients who did not use NRT.
• I help you to develop a behavioral plan that rewards you for quitting, and helps to keep you smoke-free without significant or permanent weight gain. Note: Your chances of relapse are much higher if loved ones and/or close friends smoke after you quit. If other members of your household smoke, I strongly encourage them to meet with us to figure out how not to sabotage you!
• I schedule follow-up sessions (with hypnosis) to solidify your smoke-free behaviors and (if needed) enhance your ability to maintain weight control.

With this program, a typical smoking cessation plan might look like this:

 

• Session I: History and Test of Hypnotic Talent.
• Session II (1 week later): Motivation Enhancement Hypnosis.
• Session III (1 week later): Smoking Cessation Hypnosis.
• OPTIONAL Session III, part B (within 48 hours): Smoking Cessation Hypnosis for behavior strengthening, including motivation enhancement and weight control (if needed).
• Session IV (1 week later): Smoking Cessation Hypnosis for behavior strengthening/follow-up and weight control (if needed).
• Session V (2 weeks later): Smoking Cessation Hypnosis for strengthening/follow-up, weight control (if needed) and relapse prevention.
• Session VI (1 month later): Smoking Cessation Hypnosis for strengthening/follow-up, weight control (if needed) and relapse prevention.
• OPTIONAL BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED Session VII (6 months later): Smoking Cessation Hypnosis for strengthening/follow-up, weight control (if needed) and relapse prevention.

Estimated cost for 6 sessions at $125 per session: $750.00 (not including cost of NRT patches or gum, and not taking into account any insurance reimbursements) spread over about 2.5 months; if you include the 6 month follow-up session (Session VII, which is highly recommended) the total cost is $875.00.

For the person smoking about 1.5 packs per day or about 10 packs per week, at about $35.00 per week, this fee is over $230 less than the conservative estimate of $980.00 ($35.00 x 4 weeks x 7 months) that would be spent on smoking over the same time period. Note: the cost of other smoking-related items, like breath fresherners, increased cleaning costs, replacement of items that are burned, etc. is not included here

By quitting smoking, even if it costs $750.00, you will be saving a great deal of money in the first year alone.

To date, my effectiveness with people who complete this program has been 100%, including at 1 year follow-up.

[A little bit about my qualifications: In addition to being a licensed and Board-certified psychologist, I am certified in clinical hypnosis at the highest level - Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis - by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, one of the two U.S. professional hypnosis associations recognized by the International Society of Hypnosis and the World Health Organization. I am a past-President of the Greater Philadelphia Society of Clinical Hypnosis and have taught clinical hypnosis locally and nationally. I have been practicing clinical hypnosis since 1983.]

Note: If you are a parent, or plan to be a parent, you might want to look into my program designed specifically for family women and men: Your Baby Thanks You (click here for more information).