Still smoking

Recently, I had my first bit of smoking cessation which didn't result in a new non-smoker. It was one of my friends again (I've only worked with friends so far). I went through my usual first session, which was mostly information gathering and a bit of hypnosis to get her ready to stop smoking at the next session. Then at the second session, I used the info from the first for an in-depth one, which would hopefully be enough to help her become a non-smoker. It wasn't 100% successful though. The next day she still wanted to have a cigarette. When she finally did have one she didn't finish it, and she only smoked 6 or 7 cigarettes that day, which was a big drop to what she was smoking previously. I offered to do a follow up session that would focus on her reasons for still smoking. But she said that she was actually pretty happy with only smoking a few each day, and that she thinks that's all she wanted in the first place. So even though she didn't quit smoking, I think I'll count it as a success because she achieved the result she wanted :)

This was probably also my most difficult session yet. She wasn't fully comfortable with the whole hypnosis thing, mostly concerns about not being in control (she still wanted to try it anyway), so I spent a lot more time than usual preparing that session, making sure it would be ok for her. The follow up session I'd prepared for her was also the first time that I'd personalised the whole thing right from the induction (I usually use pre-baked inductions and deepeners that I feel will work best for the person, and haven't found a need to change them very much). I never got a chance to see how well that worked though, but I do still have them. So if she changes her mind I've got another session ready to go :) She's a lot more comfortable about hypnosis in general now as well, so that should hopefully make things go a bit smoother if she does decide on a follow up.