Non Smoking Script, "Benefits

Approach"
by C. Roy Hunter, M.S., FAPHP
Certified Hypnotherapy Instructor
Before hypnosis, ask your client to imagine it is one year from today, and he/she has
gone one full year without smoking. We are all tuned in to "WII-FM" (the call letters
for What's In It ForMe?). Now ask your client to tell you several important benefits
he/she now enjoys for being a successful non-smoker.
List them on a sheet of paper, which you will give to your client after the session. (Make
a copy for yourself for reference in a followup session.) For detailed instructions on the
Benefits Approach, refer to Chapter 3 in THE ART OF HYPNOTHERAPY (2nd Edition,
Hunter, Kendall/Hunt, 2000). Ask your client to identify the most important benefit, and
put an asterisk or checkmark by it. After other appropriate pre-induction discussion,
begin the formal hypnosis session.
Use appropriate induction and deepening...
Now imagine this is one year from today, and you have already been a totally
tolerant non smoker for one year. Your lungs reward you for the fresh air you give
them and you love how you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Make sure your client's list of benefits is within easy reach. At this time, suggest all the
client's stipulated benefits in ways which make him/her feel good, incorporating as
many of the five senses as possible. Use programmed imagery. Help the client to
establish a positive emotion towards the benefits.
Now imagine your MOST IMPORTANT BENEFIT SO VIVIDLY that you feel as
though you already enjoy success. [Slowly!] Imagine your benefits . . . SO
VIVIDLY . . . that you feel . . . as though . . . you already . . . enjoy . . . SUCCESS! If
you choose these benefits for yourself, then indicate that choice right now by
moving one of your index fingers.
Wait up to a minute for the ideomotor response, then repeat the suggestion if
necessary. If client fails to give an ideomotor response after two attempts, then you
might have to use another hypnotherapy technique or you may consider awakening first
and asking the client to reconfirm whether he/she is ready to quit totally, or wishes to
simply control the habit in which case you need to deal with the request appropriately.
Once you have the appropriate ideomotor response, then continue...
You have used your power of choice to choose your benefits. The terms are so
simple... you simply use that same power of choice to choose one deep breath
any time an old light up trigger occurs, allowing one deep breath to become a
totally satisfying replacement for yesterday's fair weather friend. The physical
replacement for yesterday's breath of smoke is one deep breath of air. The mental
replacement for yesterday's urge is your new friend, FREEDOM to focus your
mind or imagination on whatever you choose, because you love your power of
choice.
You LOVE your power of choice. And like a muscle that's used becomes stronger
with use, your power of choice becomes stronger with use. Imagine using that
power of choice right now by imagining a situation that used to trigger a light up.
Now take a deep breath and RELAX... CHOOSE something fun, enjoyable,
beautiful, or pleasant to imagine. Indicate you have successfully done that by
moving a finger.
Wait for response.
Very good. Like a muscle that's used becomes stronger with use, your power of
choice becomes stronger with use. And every time you take that deep breath, it
becomes easier and easier to choose the deep breath instead of the old slave
master.
You are a non smoker now, because the BENEFITS are so satisfying, and you
LOVE your power of choice! Now once again imagine another old light up trigger.
As you do, take a deep breath and RELAX. Now imagine something fun,
enjoyable, beautiful or pleasant. As you do, you are already practicing your ability
to use your new power and friend, FREEDOM, to be a non smoker.
When you use your power of choice to focus your mind on whatever you choose,
yesterday's urges are simply forgotten... fading away into the mists of time,
vanishing into the fog of forgetfulness, replaced with your new friend,
FREEDOM... to focus your mind, thoughts or actions on WHATEVER YOU
CHOOSE, whether at work or play, at home or away from home, alone or with
others. You have the power of choice. You LOVE your power of choice, and it was
YOUR CHOICE to become a non smoker... and it is YOUR CHOICE to put your
mind or imagination on WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE. And YOUR DECISION is
bringing you the benefits you have chosen...
At this time, suggest all the client's stipulated benefits once again, in ways that makes
him or her feel good. Help to establish a positive emotional attraction towards the
benefits.
Now imagine your MOST IMPORTANT BENEFITS SO VIVIDLY that you feel as
though you already enjoy success. [Speak slowly and with feeling!] Imagine your
benefits... SO VIVIDLY... that you feel as though you already... enjoy . . .
SUCCESS!
You have chosen the benefits because you absolutely deserve them. KNOW that
you deserve the benefits. You LOVE your power of choice and every day it
becomes easier and easier for you automatically to take that deep breath at times
you used to light up. And as you do, you feel more and more like a non smoker
with each passing day, as the deep breath becomes a TOTALLY satisfying
replacement for yesterday's fair weather friend. Your new friend, FREEDOM,
becomes so much more satisfying that you simply allow your subconscious to
accept that you are now a non smoker simply because you chose to be, and you
love your power of choice.
And now, as I give you some silence, once again imagine your success SO
VIVIDLY that all of these ideas and suggestions simply go deeper and deeper into
your subconscious, becoming a part of you simply because you choose them.
And when you again hear my voice, it will be almost time to come back.
After a brief silence, tell client to remember what was rehearsed in imagination, and
then awaken properly.
********
Roy Hunter was trained by the late Charles Tebbetts, who also certified Roy as a
Certified Hypnotherapy Instructor. He was inducted into the International Hypnosis Hall
of Fame in 2000 for his written contributions to the hypnotherapy profession, and was
also the recipient of Charles Tebbetts Award from the National Guild of Hypnotists in
2001 for spreading the light of hypnosis. Roy is the author of several respected books,
as well as the official FAQ on the [Link] newsgroup. His books are recommended
by numerous hypnosis instructors around the world. Roy was honored in 2005 by the
NGH with the "Order of Braid" for lifetime achievement in the field of hypnosis.
Copyright ©2005 C. Roy Hunter - All Rights Reserved.