This is the question, isn’t it? The one that sits between you and picking up the phone. The one your mate asks when you mention you’re thinking about hypnotherapy. The one that Google gets asked thousands of times a month.
“Does it actually work?”
I’m going to answer it properly. Not with vague reassurances or cherry-picked success stories, but with what the research says, what the limitations are, and what I’ve observed across more than a decade and hundreds of clients right here in Wollongong. You deserve the full picture. So here it is.
What the Research Actually Shows
Let’s start with the science, because that’s what matters if you’re trying to make an informed decision.
A frequently cited analysis from the University of Iowa, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, reviewed multiple studies comparing different smoking cessation methods. The finding that gets quoted most often: hypnosis was found to be approximately three times more effective than nicotine replacement therapy and up to 15 times more effective than trying to quit through willpower alone.
A 2014 study involving 164 hospitalised patients compared hypnotherapy directly against nicotine replacement therapy. At the 26-week follow-up, the hypnotherapy group had higher quit rates than the NRT group.
A randomised controlled trial conducted at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Centre enrolled 286 smokers. At 12 months, the biochemically confirmed abstinence rate was 20% for the hypnosis group compared to 14% for the standard behavioural counselling group. Among participants with a history of depression — a group that typically finds quitting harder — the difference was even more pronounced, with hypnosis producing significantly higher quit rates.
Now, I want to be upfront about something. Not every study shows the same results. The Cochrane Collaboration, which conducts the most rigorous systematic reviews of medical evidence, has noted that while hypnotherapy shows promise, the overall evidence base needs more high-quality trials. Some studies are small. Some have methodological limitations. That’s true of a lot of complementary therapy research — it’s expensive to run large-scale clinical trials, and there’s no pharmaceutical company funding them because there’s no drug to sell.
But here’s what the research consistently shows: hypnotherapy is at least as effective as other widely accepted methods, and in several studies, significantly more effective. It’s safe. It has no side effects. And it works on the psychological dimension of addiction that patches, gum, and medication simply don’t address.
Why Not All Hypnotherapy Is Created Equal
This is where I get a bit passionate, and I make no apology for it. Because the variation in quality across the hypnotherapy industry is enormous, and it directly affects whether it “works” for you.
Basic suggestion hypnosis — the kind where someone puts you in a trance and says “you don’t want to smoke anymore” on repeat for 30 minutes — has a success rate of roughly 30 to 40 per cent. That’s better than willpower alone, but it’s not good enough. And it’s what a lot of bargain-priced hypnotherapists offer.
What I do at Quit Smoking 4Good is fundamentally different. I use a combination of advanced clinical hypnosis techniques and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, tailored to each individual client. We spend real time identifying your specific triggers, your specific reasons for smoking, and your specific emotional patterns. Then we work with your subconscious mind to dismantle those patterns at the source. Plus the practical life tools I give you aren’t just nice-to-haves — they’re the reinforcement system that keeps the change locked in.
That’s why I can offer a lifetime guarantee. That’s why I’m the only hypnotherapist in the Wollongong region who does. If basic suggestion hypnosis was all I did, I’d have gone bankrupt offering free follow-up sessions to the 60 per cent of people it didn’t stick for.
What I’ve Seen in 15+ Years of Practice
Research is important. But let me tell you what 15 years of sitting across the table from real smokers in a real clinic in Woonona has taught me.
The people who succeed share three things in common:
- They genuinely want to quit for their own reasons. Not because their wife told them to. Not because their doctor scared them. Because something inside them shifted and they said, “Enough.”
- They come in open to the process. They don’t need to “believe in” hypnosis. They just need to be willing to engage with it honestly. Some of my most dramatic successes have been with self-proclaimed sceptics.
- They use the tools I give them. The session is powerful, but the life tools — the breathing techniques, the reframing strategies, the stress management approaches — are what bridge the gap between the session and the rest of your life.
One of my clients, who’d smoked 30 a day for over 20 years, shared this: he said that not only did the hypnotherapy work, but it taught him things about his own potential that he’d never discovered. He’d saved nearly $8,000 in under six months. Another client, a 25-year smoker, had one session and hasn’t smoked in over three years.
I’m not telling you those stories to show off. I’m telling you because when you’re reading “study of 164 hospitalised patients,” it can feel abstract. These are real people who live around the corner from you. Who shop at the same Woolies. Whose kids go to the same schools. They did it. You can too.
The People It’s Not Right For
I turn people away. Not many, but some. And I think being honest about that is more important than pretending hypnotherapy is a magic wand.
If someone walks in who clearly doesn’t want to be there — they’ve been dragged in by a partner, they’re rolling their eyes, they have zero internal motivation to quit — I’ll have an honest conversation with them, and if I don’t think it’s going to work, I’ll send them away with a full refund. I explain this on my FAQ page: I can’t make someone do something they genuinely don’t want to do. What I can do is make it dramatically easier to do something you DO want to do.
The screening happens in the first 15 minutes. If I take you on as a client, it’s because I’m confident the method will work for you. And if it does, you’re backed by the lifetime guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the success rate of hypnotherapy for quitting smoking?
Success rates vary depending on the technique used and the practitioner’s skill. Basic suggestion hypnosis typically achieves 30–40% success. Advanced clinical hypnotherapy combined with NLP, as practised at Quit Smoking 4Good, achieves significantly higher rates. A University of Iowa meta-analysis found hypnosis to be approximately three times more effective than nicotine patches.
Is there scientific evidence that hypnotherapy works for smoking?
Yes. Multiple peer-reviewed studies, including randomised controlled trials, have found hypnotherapy to be effective for smoking cessation. A 2014 study showed hypnotherapy outperforming NRT at 26-week follow-up. The evidence is strongest when hypnotherapy is combined with behavioural techniques and personalised to the individual.
How is clinical hypnotherapy different from stage hypnosis?
Completely different. Stage hypnosis is entertainment. Clinical hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique used in medicine, dentistry, psychology, and smoking cessation. You’re fully aware, fully in control, and cannot be made to do anything against your will. It’s essentially a state of focused relaxation that allows your therapist to work with your subconscious mind.
What if hypnotherapy didn’t work for me before?
The quality of the technique matters enormously. If you had a basic suggestion-only session previously, you experienced only a fraction of what clinical hypnotherapy can offer. Advanced neuro-hypnotic techniques combined with NLP work at a different level entirely, targeting the specific psychological patterns driving your smoking rather than applying generic suggestions.
Do I need to believe in hypnosis for it to work?
No. You don’t need to “believe in” hypnosis any more than you need to believe in anaesthesia for it to work. You simply need to be willing to engage in the process, follow the guidance, and genuinely want to quit for your own reasons. Many successful clients started as sceptics.
The Real Question
Does hypnotherapy work? The evidence says yes, with important caveats about technique quality and individual readiness. My 15 years of experience says yes, for the vast majority of people who come to me genuinely wanting to quit.
But here’s the question that actually matters: will it work for YOU? There’s only one way to find out, and it starts with a conversation. Call me on 1300 114 557 or 0408 880 606. Or book online. No obligation. Just an honest chat.
Curious? Let’s talk. Call Michael: 1300 114 557 or book online at quitsmokingwollongong.com
You were born to be a non-smoker. Let’s get you back to that.
— Michael Haber
Clinical Hypnotherapist (CHt. ClinHyp) | NLP Practitioner
Quit Smoking 4Good, Woonona, Wollongong NSW
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and should not be taken as medical advice. Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy and individual results may vary. If you have specific health concerns, please consult your GP. Research citations in this article are sourced from peer-reviewed studies including Hasan et al. (2014), the Journal of Applied Psychology meta-analysis, and the Cochrane Collaboration. Individual results from hypnotherapy vary and are influenced by factors including client readiness, engagement, and the specific techniques used.
