Is stop smoking hypnotherapy available on the NHS?

Quitting smoking is one of the hardest and most rewarding, decisions you can make, but is stop smoking hypnotherapy in Edinburgh available on the NHS

For decades the NHS has supported millions to stop smoking through patches, gum, medication, and counselling. But there’s another approach many people quietly turn to when the usual methods fall short: hypnotherapy.

If you’ve ever wondered why hypnotherapy isn’t included in NHS stop-smoking programmes, or if it actually works, this article will help clear the air.

🏥 What the NHS Offers for Quitting Smoking

Across the UK, the NHS provides excellent support through local stop-smoking services.

Here in Edinburgh, that service is called Quit Your Way NHS Lothian. It’s free, open to everyone, and includes:

One-to-one or group sessions with trained advisors

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as patches, gum, or sprays

Access to prescription medications like Champix (varenicline) or Zyban

Weekly check-ins and progress tracking

These options are grounded in clinical trials and government-approved data. They absolutely help many smokers reduce or quit but they also tend to focus on chemical dependence, not the psychological habit that drives the urge.

That’s where hypnotherapy comes in.

Why Hypnotherapy Isn’t on the NHS (Yet)

If you visit the NHS website, you’ll see a line that reads:

“There’s not enough evidence that hypnotherapy helps you stop smoking.”

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work it means large-scale, long-term clinical trials are limited. The NHS relies on strict scientific evidence before funding or recommending treatments. Hypnotherapy research, although promising, hasn’t yet met the threshold for inclusion in NHS programmes.

However, thousands of people in Edinburgh and across the UK continue to quit successfully with hypnotherapy every year. Private clinics report high satisfaction rates, particularly for clients who’ve already tried patches or medication without success.

In short, the NHS doesn’t fund it not because it’s “woo-woo,” but because it falls outside their current evidence-based model.

🌬️ Why Smokers Turn to Hypnotherapy

Most smokers know cigarettes are harmful. They don’t need another lecture about tar or lung disease.

What keeps people smoking isn’t lack of knowledge it’s the mind’s association between smoking and comfort, stress relief, or identity.

Hypnotherapy works by addressing that emotional wiring.

It’s not about convincing your mind you “shouldn’t smoke”; it’s about reprogramming the subconscious to no longer see cigarettes as comforting, rewarding, or necessary.

Many clients describe the process like this:

> “It’s as if I woke up one morning and just didn’t fancy a cigarette anymore.”

That shift is powerful and it’s why hypnosis succeeds where willpower alone often fails.

The Science Behind It

Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and suggestion to access the subconscious mind.

When in this calm, focused state, your brain becomes more receptive to positive behavioural change.

Studies (for example, University of Iowa, 1992) found hypnosis to be up to three times more effective than nicotine replacement therapy.

More recent research (e.g., American Journal of Medicine, 2019) shows hypnosis can alter neural pathways linked to craving and stress response.

It’s not magic; it’s measurable psychology.

Inside a Stop-Smoking Hypnotherapy Session

A typical session with Aaron lasts about an hour to ninety minutes. Here’s what really happens:

1. Consultation . You talk about your smoking history, triggers, and motivation to quit.

2. Relaxation and Induction . You’re guided into a deeply relaxed, daydream-like state.

3. Therapeutic Suggestion . Andy uses tailored language to change how your subconscious perceives smoking, breaking the link between cigarettes and stress, calm, or identity.

4. Reinforcement . You visualise yourself as a non-smoker, free and in control.

5. Post-Session Support . Many clients receive recordings or follow-ups to strengthen the new mindset.

You remain fully aware, in control, and able to recall everything. You can’t be “made” to do anything against your will.

It’s simply a way of giving your mind new instructions that align with your conscious goal to quit.

Combining NHS Support and Hypnotherapy

For some, hypnotherapy replaces nicotine replacement therapy entirely.

For others, it works beautifully alongside NHS support.

You might use NRT to ease the chemical withdrawal, while hypnosis helps dissolve the emotional and habitual pull.

Think of it as treating both the body and the mind at the same time.

The result?

Fewer relapses

Lower stress levels

A calmer, more confident quit experience

It’s a holistic approach, one that respects science and psychology equally.

Is Hypnotherapy Available on the NHS in Edinburgh?

At the time of writing, no.

NHS Lothian’s Quit Your Way service does not include hypnotherapy sessions, because they adhere strictly to NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines.

However, you can refer yourself to a private hypnotherapist, such as Aaron Lee McArthur, who is trained, insured, and experienced in smoking cessation work.

Private practice means you get:

Flexible session times

A personalised approach

Discretion and ongoing support

It’s an investment in long-term change rather than short-term symptom control.

Common Questions About Hypnosis for Smoking

“Can anyone be hypnotised?”

Almost everyone can. It’s similar to daydreaming or being engrossed in a film—your mind is focused and open, not asleep.

“Will I lose control?”

No. You’re fully conscious, and you can stop at any time. You can’t be made to do anything against your will.

“Will it work for me?”

Success depends on readiness to quit and willingness to follow through.

Aaron’s clients typically report dramatic reduction or complete cessation after one to two sessions.

“Will I gain weight?”

Because hypnosis works on the cause—the need for oral comfort or stress relief—it can actually help reduce post-quit weight gain by retraining those habits too.

A Realistic, Compassionate Way to Quit

Hypnotherapy doesn’t rely on scare tactics or statistics.

It works with human nature, not against it.

It helps you feel ready, emotionally, mentally, and physicall, to become the version of yourself who doesn’t need cigarettes anymore.

Whether you use it alone or alongside NHS support, it’s one of the most empowering ways to reclaim control of your health.

Final Thoughts

The NHS provides incredible resources for quitting smoking. But what it doesn’t tell you is that the mind, the part that clings to comfort, routine, and identity, needs its own kind of help.

That’s where hypnotherapy shines.

If you live in Edinburgh or the surrounding area and you’re ready to quit, consider blending the best of both worlds: the NHS for physical support, and hypnotherapy for mental freedom.

You don’t have to fight the urge.

You just have to change the story your mind tells about smoking.