Frequently Asked Questions
Things You Need To Know
Is it safe?
Yes. Relaxation, hypnosis and focused psychological techniques are the core of STOP QUIT NOW Programs. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis utilise a natural state of mind experienced daily as you transition into sleep. It’s safe. It’s healthy. When you use your mind to relax, your physical body is deeply relaxed and your mind is calm, confident, focused and very much in control. Relaxation, meditation, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, mindfulness and self-hypnosis exercises use your personal mindset and your creative imagination. These validated behaviour modification techniques form the basis of the program.
Can I learn the techniques easily?
Yes. They are easy to learn, just listen to the exercises. You will be provided with links to each exercise and they are stored online for download or listening 24/7. When you are relaxed, you are more creative and decisive. It feels comfortable, reduces anxiety and it works. You will look forward to your relaxation time each day.
Am I in control?
Yes. When you are relaxed, creative and decisive, you are in control. It is the ideal time to “imagine” and “create” your “smoke free” future. Of course, you also work with your personal reasons for wanting to quit cigarettes, tobacco or vapes.
What’s your success rate?
After more than 30 years gathering data from clients, my success rate with smokers, at the time of therapy is over 98%. More importantly, two years after they stopped, the success is over 95%. I keep checking in up to 2 years after seeing a client and I’ve had referrals from clients 5 or even 10 years later, from smoke free former clients. The success in the online program for the last 5 years follows the same pattern.
Do I have to do the exercise each day?
No, you don’t. If you do, the results will be long lasting and become familiar habits, easily transferable to other aspects of your life. My “in person” clients would see me three times and take a recording home after each session. The third session was always a future focused session as they had already stopped smoking after the second session.
Some clients listened every day, others did not. It’s up to you and I’d prefer you listen each day, but you will have other priorities in your daily life. Make your quitting journey a priority for a few weeks and you will get the success you deserve. The program is structured to give you a personalised best opportunity to succeed.
What if I have a problem during the program?
If you really want to quit smoking or vaping, make it your priority for one month. If you are dealing with another major life issue, wait a bit. Timing is important. It’s also important to realise that you are simply stopping something that you don’t want to do and don’t’ need to do. You won’t miss it and you’ll have more time and energy available, as well as an increased sense of accomplishment and self belief.
I recommend that you don’t try and “do it all”, just do one thing at a time, even if you are making a “health change” or engaging in a “life makeover”. I suggest you don’t attempt to change your diet, start exercising, stop drinking and quit smoking all in one month. Pick one. Quitting smoking is a great place to start, because the sense of personal accomplishment and skills you use can be applied in other areas of life.
Make sure you read the blog post This is NOT for you because this program is not for everyone.
Sometimes events happen in your life that mean you may need to stop the program and deal with the issue. Contact me and I will provide you with a support plan so that you can return to the program. This offer is valid for up to 3 months from the start date.
I tried other programs, but it didn’t work.
That’s common. Most smokers attempt quitting between 6 and 30 times [according to peer reviewed research]. Not all programs are equal and not all therapists are equally experienced. If you’ve stopped before, congratulations, you have an experience of being smoke free. It’s amazing how personalising your sessions and having the ability to contact you each day by text works so much better than one big session or an in person session once a week for a few weeks.
Why don’t you use plant extracts?
That’s a great question, considering I have been a herbalist and hypnotherapist for over 30 years. Most programs claiming to use natural plant extracts are using cytisine, an alkaloid found in some plants. The substance used is not derived from plants, but synthesised, as the dosage to avoid negative side effects is critical. Cytisine is not approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia. It has been used in a similar way to varenicline (Champix) for smoking cessation.
Are there herbs I could use? Yes, but they are not necessary. Could herbs support the anxiety or stress levels experienced when quitting smoking? Yes, but the STOP QUIT NOW program helps you manage stress without drugs or herbs. Can herbs help you regain lung and heart fitness after quitting? Yes, they can be useful and should be prescribed for you by a qualified herbalist or naturopath.
All herbs and supplements are best prescribed for your unique situation. The STOP QUIT NOW Programs are deliberately drug and herb free, but if you have a herbalist or naturopath, ask them what is best for your situation. Also, I provide a service for your health practitioner to support you through this program. You can suggest they read the Health Practitioners Post and they can find contact details on that page.
But what if I do have a “lapse”?
Every now and then this does happen. Within a few years, I can expect 2-5% (between 2 to 5 in 100) of clients to have “a moment”. It can be be quite understandable due to a major event, or sometimes it’s almost accidental. You will be able to deal with such a situation, as this is incorporated into the program. You have the tools. I will talk about this in our final session. It’s not a big deal and most people report that they were really impressed with how they handled it.
Will I put on weight?
No. You won’t put on weight. In fact, as you improve your health and vitality, you are more likely to exercise and adjust your dietary habits, and lose extra weight. This is part of the personal mindset that you create for your smoke free future.
Will I become anxious?
No. You will be less anxious and feel more in control. You will improve your self esteem and confidence. Most people continue to apply the simple techniques in other areas of life.
Will I become angry?
No. You will have a greater sense of calm, focused control. You will not be bothered by “not smoking”. You didn’t want it, you didn’t need it, so no need to be angry about something you didn’t want or need. Smoking doesn’t suppress anger, it’s just not there to express.
Do I need to keep doing it?
No, but most people do. You don’t need to keep doing the exercises, but most people choose to use exercises learned in the program in other areas of life. They even teach them to friends and family members. I’ll send you a guide at the end of the program to suggest how you can apply the principles and use the skills and experience you gain from becoming smoke free in other areas of your life.
Can anyone enrol?
You must be over 18 years old (or have consent from a parent or guardian), understand English and have a mobile phone with internet access [for text and email messages]. Please read the blog This is NOT for you to make sure you are suited to the program.
What if I roll my own cigarettes?
Or smoke cigars sometimes?
Or smoke Cannabis?
No problem at all, as I ask these questions in the Online Survey. For rolled cigarettes, just a few adjustments as you personalise your program. Similarly with cigars, where you don’t inhale the smoke. With Cannabis, you will decide whether you want to stop using tobacco altogether or stop cigarettes alone. Either choice is perfectly fine.
Are numbers limited?
Yes. In order to support and monitor the progress of all participants, I limit the numbers in the program at any one time. At present, due to my private clientele, I can only take 5 new clients each week into the STOP QUIT NOW program.
Can I start any time?
Yes. As soon as you make your payment, you are sent the Prepare To Quit Guide and the first relaxation exercise [RELAX 15©]. You can start using the RELAX 15© Session straight away and I recommend scheduling a relaxation time each day. You take your time [usually up to a week] to work through the Quitting Guide. I keep the number of clients limited so I can support each person fully.
How much time do I really need to put in?
I ask you to read, listen to, or watch the content sent to you [usually only takes a few minutes]. You commit 20-30 minutes a day to the program.
In that time, you do a 15 minute relaxation session with a guided imagery exercise. You relax and become calm, confident, focused and in control. You also learn a 5 minute exercise for use when you need it. And each time you have a cigarette, there is a short mindset exercise (15 seconds) to use.
Some clients make the time to do a second 5 or 15 minute session each day. It’s not necessary, but many people find it so valuable they schedule it in.
I think that’s a great deal! Less time than it takes to smoke 5 cigarettes. And you end up smoke free forever! Each day, I send you a text message. You text me back with how many cigarettes you smoked the day before. This way we can track the changes in your smoking habit.
Will my information be shared?
No. All communications are private and no information is shared.
How much does it cost?
The Supported Online Program is $AU 350 [about $US 225 or Euro 200 or 170 Pound sterling]. Australia is one of the most expensive countries to smoke, with the cost of smoking 10 cigarettes each day can approach $AU 800/month. And if you are a “pack a day” smoker, you could spend up to $AU 30,000 each year. For an investment of under $AU 7/week for the next year you can be smoke free forever. Vaping costs less than smoking, depending what you vape, but quitting still saves you money as well as the obvious health benefits.
For the cost of less than 2 coffees a week
you get to be SMOKE FREE
and then get your investment in the program back
from savings on smoking.
It’s a classic WIN WIN situation.
Other countries have lower taxes on cigarettes and I have worked with clients all around the world. At the end of the day, the cost of the program is recovered because you no longer spend money on cigarettes or vapes.
You do the work, you get the results, and you get your investment back by not smoking. On completion you will also be offered the opportunity to become an Ambassador and receive affiliate income by referring clients to the program.
Can I work with you one on one outside the program?
This program is a 1:1 packaged program, with considerable cost benefits. For other issues, whether personal health challenges, individual goals or habits, contact me through the Holistic Health Online site.
Are you qualified and experienced?
That’s a great question. I am very experienced in behaviour management, specifically in relation to habit change, anxiety reduction and lifestyle change. I have over 30 years clinical experience working directly with clients to resolve health and lifestyle issues. I continually refine my techniques and continue to research and study in order to find the best solutions for my clients. That research and experience led me to this online program for smoking.
Yes. Academically, I hold University qualifications in Psychology [Graduate Diploma from the University of New England], Sociology [Masters Degree] and Biology [Bachelor’s Degree] both from the University of NSW. I studied counselling and psychotherapy [Jansen-Newman Institute] and developed and taught a Diploma in Humanistic Counselling at [Nature Care College].
I have completed advanced training with experts including Michael Yapko, Gil Boyne and Andrew Newton. I was a Researcher and University Lecturer in Natural Medicine [Southern Cross University]. My Masters Theses investigated mesmerism.
I have been a Naturopathic and Chinese Medicine College Principal, consultant to academic and natural health associations in Australia and overseas, including the Commonwealth Health Ministers . I have served as a Director of several natural medicine associations [Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia, Australian Traditional Medicine Society, Psychophysical Therapists Guild]. I have Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas in Clinical and Humanistic Hypnosis as well as Diplomas in Herbalism and Nutrition.
In relation to online education and delivery of audio files, I am experienced in curriculum development up to university level (I developed the first university naturopathy curriculum in Australia). I hold a Diploma in Sound Fundamentals and a Diploma in Digital Content Production from the Australian Film Television and Radio School. I spent several years researching, preparing and presenting a weekly 1 hr radio program [mindwaves], recorded over 40 podcasts reporting on Australian university researchers [Soundminds Radio] and produced an award winning radio documentary [In Search of Silence].
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