CLEAN-BREAK - an effective group stop-smoking program utilizing the power of hypnosis.

Who Will Benefit from CLEAN BREAK Training?

• Therapists who want to greatly increase their client-base and thereby receive a continual source of new referrals.
• Therapists who want to greatly increase their income, and decrease their working hours.
• Therapists who want to experience the joy of teaching people how to replace unhealthy habits with healthy choices

The Clean Break smoking cessation program is an eclectic approach to smoking cessation, including the following modalities: Cognitive Therapy, Behavior Therapy, Neurolinguistic Programming, Reality Therapy, and Hypnotherapy. The program follows the Surgeon General’s Consumer Guidelines, which are based on scientific research with the exception of the use of medication, and is offered exclusively by therapists trained and certified in Heart-Centered Therapies by The Wellness Institute.

The hypnosis included in this program acts as a reinforcement for the other modalities mentioned, by accessing the subconscious where habits are formed. Each of the four weekly sessions offers a hypnosis exercise that complements the material presented earlier in the session. The exercises are repeated on an audiotape (or CD) provided for the participant to review daily throughout the seminar, increasing the exposure to suggestions for behavior modification and cognitive restructuring.

Objectives of the CLEAN BREAK program: Participants will learn

• information about smoking which will help motivate them to quit.
• powerful mental tools to eliminate the urge to smoke.
• new skills and behaviors to use to quit smoking and remain abstinent.
• how to use techniques to prevent weight gain.
• relaxation techniques.
• a “mental aversion” technique which will make the thought of smoking unpleasant.
• to recognize their “smoking triggers” and how to avoid them.
• to identify possible obstacles to remaining nicotine-free and to develop strategies to overcome the obstacles.

CLEAN BREAK and the Surgeon General's Consumer Guide 

The following is a description of the CLEAN BREAK smoking cessation program and the Consumer Guide on quitting smoking developed by the Surgeon General. Please note that the Consumer Guide is “based on scientific research about what will give you the best chances of quitting.”

Good Reasons for Quitting:

CLEAN BREAK includes information on smoking effects and an exercise for  participants to use to identify the benefits of quitting as opposed to the effects if they continue to smoke.

Five Keys for Quitting:

1. Get Ready: Week one in CLEAN BREAK is getting ready to quit which includes the   educational information, identifying personal reasons to quit, setting a quit day, reviewing past attempts to quit, and a smoking log to keep track of smoking behavior if they continue to smoke the first week.

2. Get Support: Participants are directed to inform family members of their intentions and to make their home a smoke-free environment. Participants receive support from the group and are encouraged to identify a buddy in the group with which to exchange phone numbers. Individual counseling by the facilitator, a professional licensed therapist, is available at additional charge if needed.

3. Learn New Skills and Behaviors: During weeks two and three of the CLEAN BREAK program, participants are directed to drink water; fruit juice to reduce sugar cravings; herb tea rather than caffeine-based drinks; chew cinnamon sticks, carrot sticks, etc.; employ physical exercise; explore use of nutritional supplements; use the relaxation techniques which are provided on tapes (one for each week); write affirmations; change routines; and to develop additional behaviors and activities designed to their own personal needs and wants. They are encouraged to abstain from sugar to help prevent weight gain.

4. Medication: CLEAN BREAK does not incorporate the use of medication.

5. Be Prepared for Relapse or Difficult Situations: Participants are directed to avoid drinking alcohol and to address any possible addictions. Week 4 addresses weight gain; encourages healthy eating; assists in identifying feelings related to smoking; addresses rationalization vs. truthful thinking; and identifies possible obstacles to abstinence and develops strategies to overcome the possible obstacles.

Updated: February 15, 2006