In person in London
A quiet, calm space designed for deep therapeutic work, in my private practice in Camden.
- 5 Calstock, Royal College Street, London NW1 0RX
- Within walking distance of King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston
Stop smoking · In person in London & online
Stop Smoking Hypnosis
Quit smoking or vaping for good, without relying on willpower alone: ease cravings, break the habit and feel like a non-smoker. Ericksonian hypnotherapy with Michele Occelli, in London or online.
- Postgraduate diploma, DistinctionEricksonian Hypnotherapy
- Diploma, DistinctionNLP, Advanced Level
- Registered and insuredGHR and GHSC
- 5.0 from 69 Google reviews
- Since 2010 15+ years' clinical practice
Michele has worked with
The short answer
Can hypnosis help you stop smoking?
In brief
Yes. Hypnosis can help you stop smoking by changing the automatic habits, triggers and emotional associations that keep you reaching for a cigarette, and by strengthening your own reasons for quitting.
Nicotine withdrawal fades within a few weeks. What usually brings people back to smoking is the habit around it: the cigarette with coffee, after a meal, under stress or with friends. Hypnosis works with that automatic layer of the mind, which is why it can help when you already know all the reasons to stop and still find yourself lighting up.
I am Michele Occelli, a London hypnotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. I have worked with clients who had smoked for decades and left a session no longer wanting a cigarette. Everyone is different, and I will be honest with you about what to expect, but my aim is for you to feel like a non-smoker, not someone fighting cravings every day.
Recognise yourself?
When stop smoking hypnosis can help
You may be ready to stop if you recognise some of these:
In your mind
- You know all the reasons to stop but have not managed to
- Cigarettes feel tied to stress, boredom or reward
- You worry about your health, or the example you set
In your body
- Strong cravings at certain times of day
- Irritability or restlessness when you go without
- Feeling short of breath, or noticing the effect on your skin and sleep
In your behaviour
- Smoking automatically, with coffee, alcohol or after meals
- Swapping cigarettes for vaping, and now finding it hard to stop that too
- Having quit before, then starting again under pressure
It does not matter how long you have smoked or how many times you have tried to stop. What matters is that you want to stop now.
Book a first session → The method
How stop smoking hypnosis works
In hypnosis, your attention becomes focused and absorbed, and the critical, analytical part of the mind steps back. In this state, the nervous system settles and the mind becomes more open to new responses. In our sessions, that allows us to work on four levels:
- 01
Strengthening your reasons
We start with what you want instead: your health, your money, your family, your freedom. In hypnosis those reasons are connected with feeling, not just thought, so the decision to stop feels like yours rather than a rule.
- 02
Breaking the automatic habit
We identify your personal triggers, the morning coffee, the break at work, the drink with friends, and rehearse those moments in hypnosis without a cigarette, so the link between them starts to dissolve.
- 03
Easing cravings and stress
Many people smoke to manage stress or emotions. Hypnosis calms the nervous system and gives you other ways to find that same relief, so a craving becomes something that passes rather than something you have to obey.
- 04
Becoming a non-smoker
Rather than "trying not to smoke", we work on your sense of yourself as someone who does not smoke. You leave with self-hypnosis techniques to use whenever you need them, especially in the first few weeks.
- 1
Book a first session
In person in London or online. Each session lasts 60 minutes.
- 2
We start with a conversation
About how long you have smoked, when and why you smoke, what has happened when you have tried to stop and why you want to stop now.
- 3
Hypnosis
I guide you into a relaxed, focused state. You stay aware and in control, can hear everything and can stop at any time.
- 4
A plan that fits you
Many people stop after one or two sessions. A follow-up session can help reinforce the change, especially in the first weeks or if a stressful period puts it to the test.
The research
What does the research say about hypnosis to stop smoking?
The evidence is mixed, and I think it is important to say so. A 2019 Cochrane review of the controlled trials so far could not say with confidence whether hypnotherapy helps more people stay smoke-free after six months than other approaches, largely because many of the studies were small or of low quality. Some individual trials have found hypnosis to be as effective as, or more effective than, standard counselling. What the research does consistently show is that support of any kind improves your chances compared with stopping on your own, and hypnotherapy can be combined with NHS stop smoking services or nicotine replacement if you choose.
Read more: is hypnosis really a quick fix? Smoking
“I went to see Michele as I wanted to quit smoking. I have been smoking for almost 15 years and I am happy to share that I have not had a cigarette since 25/06/23 after only 2 sessions and I also stopped vaping since 30/07 after 4 sessions. I would like to add that I really enjoyed each session which have always left me feeling in a really good headspace. thank you so much!”
Google review
In London or online
Stop Smoking Hypnosis in London or online
Online, wherever you are
Online sessions follow the same structure as in-person work, and many clients find it easier to relax at home.
- Over Zoom, FaceTime or WhatsApp
- Anywhere in the UK, or abroad while you travel
Low-income clinic: a limited number of reduced-rate sessions each month. Ask about availability · All fees and gift certificates
Your hypnotherapist
About Michele Occelli
I am a registered hypnotherapist practising since 2010, with postgraduate diplomas in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and NLP from the British Hypnosis Research and Training Institute. I trained with Dr Ernest L. Rossi and Dr Stephen Gilligan, both direct students of Milton H. Erickson.
- Practising since
- 2010
- Registration
- GHR & GHSC, fully insured
- Method
- Ericksonian & clinical hypnotherapy
- Locations
- London, NW1 & online
- GHR
- GHSC
How many sessions of stop smoking hypnosis will I need?
Many people stop after one or two sessions. If smoking is closely tied to stress or emotions, or you have tried to stop many times before, a short series of sessions can help make the change last. We will agree a plan together at the first session.
How much does stop smoking hypnosis cost in London?
A 60-minute session costs £150, whether in person in London or online. If you would like to commit to a series of sessions, bundles bring the price down to £140 per session (3 sessions) or £130 per session (6 sessions). A limited number of reduced-rate sessions are available each month through my low-income clinic.
Can hypnosis help me stop vaping?
Yes. Vaping keeps the same nicotine dependence and many of the same habits as smoking, so the approach is the same: we work with your triggers, cravings and reasons for stopping, whether you smoke, vape or do both.
Will I gain weight if I stop smoking?
Some people do, partly because food replaces the hand-to-mouth habit and the reward of a cigarette. We can include this in our sessions, finding other ways to manage stress and cravings, so you do not simply swap one habit for another.
Do I have to want to stop for hypnosis to work?
Yes. Hypnosis cannot make you do something you do not want to do. It works best when you have decided to stop for your own reasons, even if part of you is still attached to smoking. If you are coming because someone else wants you to stop, we can explore that first.
Can I use nicotine patches or medication alongside hypnotherapy?
Yes, hypnotherapy can be combined with nicotine replacement or stop smoking medication if you choose. If you take regular medication, let your GP or pharmacist know you are stopping smoking, as smoking can affect how some medicines work.
Book stop smoking hypnosis
You do not need to have stopped already, or to feel completely sure, before you get in touch. If you want to be free of cigarettes, that is reason enough to start.