Stop smoking and weight

Lots of people want a hand to stop smoking or vaping, or to change how they eat and feel about food. Practitioners who help with this are most often hypnotherapists, but they also include coaches, nutritionists and dietitians. Each works in their own way, and all of them focus on you: your habits, your triggers and what will make the change stick. They belong to professional registers with training standards and a code of conduct, so choosing one with confidence is quick and easy.

What happens at a first appointment

A first appointment usually starts with a conversation about your habit: when you smoke, vape or snack, what sets it off, what you have tried before and why you want to change now. The practitioner explains how they work and what you can expect.

What follows depends on who you see. A hypnotherapist guides you into a relaxed, focused state and uses suggestion and imagery to support the change you want, often with a recording to use at home. A coach helps you set clear goals, plan for tricky moments and stay on track. A nutritionist or dietitian looks at what you eat and drink and helps you build a way of eating that suits your life.

Many people combine more than one kind of help, and practitioners are happy to talk about how their sessions fit with anything else you are doing.

What people come for

People most often come to a practitioner for:

• Stopping smoking
• Stopping vaping
• Cravings and triggers
• Emotional and comfort eating
• Snacking and portion habits
• Healthier eating
• Confidence and motivation
• Keeping going after a good start

Free NHS support, alongside

The NHS offers free stop smoking support, and it sits very comfortably alongside a private practitioner. Your local Stop Smoking Service is free, and the NHS Better Health website has a free Personal Quit Plan and tips for every stage of quitting. October is Stoptober, a good month to start.

For weight, the NHS has a free Weight Loss Plan app and other free and discounted programmes. If you have a health condition, take medicines, or have symptoms that haven't been looked at yet, talk to your GP as well before making big changes. Many practitioners will ask about this at your first session.

How many sessions, and what it costs

It depends on the practitioner and what you're working on. Stopping smoking with a hypnotherapist is often offered as a single, longer session, sometimes with a follow-up. Weight and eating habits usually take a few sessions over several weeks, because new habits need time to settle.

Prices depend on the kind of practitioner, how long the session lasts and whether support between sessions is included. Some offer a package price for a set number of sessions, and many offer a free first chat. Each practitioner lists their prices on their page.

Professional registers

Because several kinds of practitioner help with smoking and weight, the right register depends on who you see. Most have a public search, so you can look your practitioner up in moments.

• Hypnotherapists: the CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council) and the National Hypnotherapy Society both run registers accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, the body that oversees the UK's health regulators. The NCH (National Council for Hypnotherapy) keeps a register of its members.
• Nutritionists: the Association for Nutrition keeps the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, with the letters RNutr (Registered Nutritionist) and ANutr (Registered Associate Nutritionist). BANT is the professional body for nutritional therapists, and nutritional therapists can also join the CNHC register.
• Dietitians: the title is protected by law. Every dietitian must be registered with the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council).
• Coaches: the International Coaching Federation, EMCC and the Association for Coaching set training standards and award credentials.

Choosing your practitioner

Practitioners are happy to talk about how they work. Good things to ask at a first chat:

1. Where did you train, and which qualification do you hold?
2. Which register or professional body are you a member of?
3. Do you have professional insurance?
4. How do you usually help people with smoking, vaping or weight?
5. How many sessions do you suggest, and what will it cost in total?
6. What support do I get between sessions?
7. Do you offer a free first chat?

Want to look someone up? Check a practitioner's registration → every regulator and register in one place, with links to their public searches.

Common questions