After years of trying, Kirstin Watson finally kicked the habit in just one hour

I've always been called one of those 'lucky' smokers who can go for weeks without a cigarette, then just pick up a packet when I'm in the pub.

But, despite kidding myself that I was in control of the fags, they were really in control of me. I'd tried many times in the past to stop and, as long as I didn't drink, I was often temporarily successful. But then I would make the age-old mistake of congratulating myself by smoking!

But with another New Year looming and a 34th birthday around the corner, I decided it was time to get a grip.

The session

That's why I decided to visit Elaine Gold, who, along with her partner, Dave Trevena, runs the Hertford Stop Smoking Centre. Through hypnotherapy, they promise they'll stop you smoking in just one hour, and give you free back-up support for life if you don't.

Elaine started the session by explaining how our minds work; talking about my specific smoking triggers and explaining that they (Elaine and Dave) do not believe nicotine is addictive.

'We believe it is an emotional and psychological habit. Most people's experience of giving up smoking is that it's a battle. The reason for that is that it is a battle between the conscious and the unconscious mind. Your conscious, logical mind knows that smoking is a stupid habit and will harm you in the long run, but the unconscious mind still thinks that it makes you feel good and relaxed. These are false beliefs, but they're still the beliefs that your unconscious mind holds onto.' She explains.

'The thing is, the conscious mind makes up only ten per cent of your mind, so the stronger, unconscious mind is always going to win.

'Hypnotherapy gets into the unconscious mind, when it is in a relaxed and receptive state, and changes those deeply held beliefs.' Elaine adds. Many people have since asked me what it was like to be hypnotised. I sat in a huge comfy chair with my eyes closed, while Elaine talked me into a relaxed state. Throughout the therapy, I was totally aware of everything that was happening; in fact, I spent most of it 'worrying' that I wasn't really under (or so I thought).

Over 35 minutes, Elaine made new suggestions to my unconscious mind, reaffirming to it that I was no longer a smoker and would not feel the desire to smoke again. She told me that I wouldn't crave cigarettes or be bothered if another smoker blew smoke in my face. She made me mentally visualise myself feeling happy and healthy, and told me that when I woke up it would be as though I had never been a smoker at all. I suddenly felt as though my lungs were cleaner, and I imagined myself taking huge gulps of fresh air.

However, when I left the centre I didn't really feel any different. I didn't suddenly feel like a non- smoker or that I would never smoke again, and I felt a bit disappointed about that.

Back to the pub

However over the next few days, thoughts such as, 'I am a non-smoker', would suddenly pop into my mind. Driving home one night in the dark I looked at the sea of red tail lights ahead of me and suddenly remembered that Elaine had told me that every time I saw the colour red, my desire and determination to remain a non-smoker would grow stronger.

It was that 'red' affirmation that proved my greatest crutch when I made my 'virgin' visit to a pub as a non-smoker. Sharing that experience with three smokers probably wasn't the wisest decision, or maybe it was. It turned out one friend had a red scarf with him and when the going got tough his girlfriend draped it over my shoulder to help me.

I'm not saying I wasn't tempted, but when I imagined myself actually reaching for the packet, I could almost feel a physical barrier holding me back. Above all else, I knew that I couldn?t let myself down.

For more information about the Hertford Stop Smoking Centre or to find a similar centre near you call 0800 093 9714 during office hours.

It has now been six weeks since Kirstin last touched a cigarette.