While dealing with a smoker yesterday I was telling him that he was fortunate in one way. Because he had started smoking late in life, aged 19, he would find it easier to give up. My belief is that people who start smoking aged 11 or 12 find it much mor… more »

I find that I tend to get into the habit of doing much the same thing with my smokers, but yesterday I got one who made me reconsider. This smoker had never given up at all, even when he was on patches he was still smoking the odd cigarette. He had no… more »

I notice that men from the uniformed services - for example policemen, firemen, ambulance personnel, career military - tend to exhibit Black and White Thinking to an extent more that other people. B & W thinking is the name given to the type of ment… more »

People often have quite clear reasons for smoking. Some people have always seen smoking as a form of rebellion. Girls in their teens in particular seem to resent having to  be good all the time but they equally don't want to be bad. So smoking gives th… more »

I had a smoking client last week who reminded me of the power of listening. During the data gathering part of the session when I asked him what he needed from me, he said 'I need you to help me take the last step'. This was a beautiful example of a meta… more »

I had another memorable client yesterday. She came in to stop smoking. She sat on the chair clutching her handbag and sitting forward as if she was ready to spring out of it. It was only with some difficulty I was able to persuade her to settle back int… more »

Sometimes the simplest tests are the best. When dealing with smokers another little test that I use with them is to ask one key question to assess their attachment and dependency on smoking. Right at the beginning I say to the smoker "I am going to mak… more »