Six Steps to a Smoke-Free Life: What This Stop Smoking Programme Actually Does

05 Feb

05Feb

If you’ve landed on the Stop Smoking page for The Joyful Mind Mentor or The Northern College of Clinical Hypnotherapy, you’ll have seen that it isn’t a “try harder” approach. It’s a structured programme led by Amanda Joy (Director of Studies), designed to tackle the real reason people keep smoking, not just the cigarette, but the pattern behind it. The method is called Six Steps to a Smoke-Free Life, and it works by identifying the specific triggers that drive your smoking… then using a blend of therapeutic tools to rewire those triggers so you’re not fighting willpower all day long.

The Six Triggers Behind Most Smoking

Most smokers don’t smoke for one reason — they smoke for a stack of reasons, and those reasons change depending on the moment. This programme focuses on six core triggers:

1) Boredom / Stimulation

Sometimes smoking fills a vacuum — something to do with your hands, your mouth, your attention. The cigarette becomes “activity” when the nervous system is under-stimulated or restless.

2) Physical Addiction

This is the chemistry piece — nicotine withdrawal, cravings, and the “something’s missing” sensation that can hijack your brain in the early stages.

3) Handling

For a lot of people, it’s not only nicotine — it’s the ritual: holding, tapping, rolling, lighting. If you don’t replace the physical habit, your body can feel lost even when your mind is determined.4) Habits and Rituals

Coffee = cigarette. Driving = cigarette. Socialising = cigarettes. Certain places, people, and routines become anchors that automatically cue smoking. This step is about breaking those links.

5) Tension / Stress Relief

Many people smoke to regulate stress — not because they love cigarettes, but because they need a quick off-switch. This step teaches your system how to release pressure rather than contain it.

6) Pleasure / Relaxation

For some smokers, cigarettes are tied to reward: “my moment,” “my break,” “my calm.” Here, the focus is on building genuine relaxation skills that give you that same exhale without nicotine.

How the Programme “Reprogrammes” the Pattern

This isn’t a single technique. It’s a bespoke mix of approaches that can include:

Clinical Hypnotherapy
NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
Breathwork
Counselling

The aim is simple: instead of battling cravings, you change the internal cues that create them — so quitting feels more natural and less like a daily fight.

What the Process Looks Like

The programme follows a clear sequence:

1) Complete the pre-cessation homework before your session. Download and complete the Six Steps interactive PDF guide. This isn’t busywork — it’s the thing that makes the session yours. It helps identify:

When you smoke
What you feel before and after
What smoking is doing for you (even when it’s costing you)
What you’re actually afraid will happen without it

2) Book your appointment

You contact Amanda Joy to schedule your stop-smoking session.

3) Your personalised session

The session is tailored around your answers, with the goal of moving you to NOPE: Not One Puff Ever.

What You Get (Beyond “Just Quitting”)

People often come for smoking… and leave with extra wins they weren’t expecting. Because the programme targets stress regulation and nervous system patterns, it can also support things like:

feeling calmer without nicotine
better sleep
more resilience under pressure
fewer “automatic” habits running your day

And there are free resources too: the interactive PDF guide and instructional videos that break down the six triggers.

If You’re Thinking About Quitting…

One of the most interesting things about this approach is that some people complete the homework guide and realise they’re already ready — they quit before they ever need the session. That tells you something important: when the mind is properly prepared, quitting stops feeling like punishment… and starts feeling like relief.

Phone: 07958 578464

Availability: Monday–Friday, 08:00–19:00. If you’re even considering stopping, start with the homework guide. It’s a free mindset prep, and it will show you exactly what you’re working with.