How Hypnotherapy Helped One Client Stop Vaping and Achieve a Special Goal

One of the things I love most about being a Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist is seeing people achieve goals that genuinely matter to them.

Recently, I worked with a client who wanted help to stop vaping. Like many people, he had a long history of smoking before switching to vaping. He was also living with COPD and knew that continuing to vape wasn't helping his breathing.

But what finally motivated him to make a change wasn't a particular health scare or pressure from anyone else (or even a New Year’s Resolution, which is often the case).

It was a trip to Skomer Island with his son.

One of the many beautiful puffin photos my client sent from his incredible trip to Skomer Island, after stopping vaping.

A Goal Worth Stopping For

If you've never heard of Skomer Island, it's a beautiful wildlife island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, famous for its puffins, seals and spectacular scenery.

My client had wanted to visit for a long time, but there was just one problem. The island involves a number of steep walks and, in particular, a climb of exactly 87 steps you must climb immediately after disembarking the boat from the mainland. These steps lead from the rocky landing jetty up to the island's clifftop welcome point and are the only way to access the island. Because they are steep, uneven, and unavoidable, a reasonable level of fitness is required. 

With COPD and reduced lung capacity, my client knew he needed to give himself the best possible chance of being able to make it to see the puffins, and he wouldn’t be able to do it if he was still vaping. He wanted to to be able to do something really special with his son.

Breaking the Vaping Habit

When people think about giving up vaping, they often focus on what they'll be losing. In Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, we take a different approach. Rather than dwelling on the habit itself, we focus on what life will look like when the habit is no longer there.

For this client, that future was clear. He wanted to feel healthier, breathe more easily, and most of all he wanted to be able to make the steps that were needed for this special trip.

Another fantastic image my client captured - a seal swimming around Skomer Island.

The Message That Made My Day

A few months after working with him, I received a message from him after his visit to Skomer Island.  Attached were some absolutely stunning photographs of puffins and seals. He said: “We had a lovely time…thank you…the steps still made me puff but I’m sure that with your help I was much better.”

His photos were so beautiful, they've made me want to visit myself! Apparently, if you're planning a trip to Skomer Island, it's worth knowing that bookings often open in November or December for the following summer.

Most importantly, though, he had done it. He'd made the trip, he'd absolutely loved the experience - and he'd achieved the goal that had motivated him to make such a positive change.

The Benefits of Stopping Smoking and Vaping

The human body has an incredible ability to recover when we stop exposing it to nicotine and harmful chemicals. According to the NHS, circulation begins to improve within weeks of stopping smoking, and breathing often becomes easier over the following months. While everyone's health journey is different, particularly when conditions such as COPD are involved, positive changes can start sooner than many people realise.

For my client, his determination to give up vaping meant he has been able to enjoy a meaningful experience with his son without feeling held back, and he knows that the future health benefits will help give him the best chance of coping with the COPD.

Could Hypnotherapy Help You Stop Vaping?

If you're looking for help to stop vaping, stop smoking, or create healthier habits, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy may be able to help.

At Dorset Hypnotherapy Practice, I work with clients who want to make positive, lasting changes to their lives. Whether your goal is improving your health, building confidence, reducing anxiety or breaking unwanted habits, we'll focus on the future you want to create rather than getting stuck in the problem. I offer a free initial consultation to discuss how I can help.

Appointments are available in my private therapy room in Ferndown, Dorset (just north of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole), or online from the comfort of your own home.

If you're ready to take the first step towards a healthier future, I'd love to hear from you.

Helen