This week Britain's public places became smoke-free zones.

Some smokers will continue to puff along, but for others the ban has signalled the time to quit.

Hypnotherapist Sue Holland has already had inquiries from smokers keen to quit. She says you have to be 100 per cent committed to quitting, and those stopping due to pressure from others won't necessarily succeed.

While patches and gum tend to be popular choices for those intent on stubbing out the evil weed', smokers often turn to alternative therapies such as hypnotherapy.

"One of the biggest things is not being able to smoke in pubs. A lot of restaurants already had a smoking ban," says Sue. "I think now people won't be able to smoke in social places it will give them the incentive to stop. If they don't stop it will help them to cut down.

"But I think the people who go for hypnotherapy are those who have already tried other avenues like patches and gum and it probably hasn't worked. People will now want to try something they feel is really going to work."

Those seeking to stop have to do it for themselves, says Sue. "You can't do it because of anyone else. It has to be because you want to do it without any other outside influence, whether a doctor or partner."

Sue's introduction to hypnotherapy came following a trip to a fortune teller. She was working as a fraud investigator and fancied a career change.

"She said I would change direction and do something I was interested in as a child," recalls Sue.

The only thing she could bring to mind was hypnotising people with a watch! She decided to go ahead with her dream of becoming a hypnotist. "Because I'd been thinking about a change anyway I thought why not!"

Sue undertook eight months' training at Leeds General Infirmary. Since then she's helped mainly friends and colleagues with issues such as smoking cessation. "And I've had a lot of success," she says.

She also uses her skills of tapping into the subconscious to help with phobias and other addictions.

One client had a fear of worms after his brother put some down his back as a joke when they were children.

Sue says he was so terrified of them he couldn't eat vegetables he grew in his garden. After a session with Sue, he was able to pick a worm up from his vegetable patch.

Sue, 60, from Menston, has also helped people deal with bereavement. She hopes to help many more people and, following this week's smoking ban, she's confident she'll be able to help smokers quit.

She appreciates some people's misconceptions about hypnotherapy. Some people, she says, believe it's the same as the kind of hypnosis practised for entertainment in theatres, where people are put into a trance to give the audience a laugh.

"Therapeutic hypnosis is purely for the client. Stage hypnosis is for a laugh," explains Sue. "Hypnosis is an altered state of mind. It's called a trance state but you are conscious and hear everything going on around you, if a car is travelling down the road you'll hear it."

Sue asks the client to concentrate on her voice. "When I'm doing therapy my voice probably drops an octave. It's very calm and gentle. I ask them to concentrate on my voice and to breathe deeply."

At this stage the client becomes very relaxed. To induce a deeper hypnotic state Sue asks them to visualise scenarios such as holding a sturdy handrail while walking down a staircase. The third stage is using direct suggestion; she encourages smokers to quit by telling them they have made the life-changing decision to do so. "You use direct suggestion, telling them it was their decision and motivation to become a non-smoker and that they will have a new way of life without the need for cigarettes," she says.

Some smokers substitute their habit for snacking, so to avoid a situation where they end up fighting the flab instead, Sue introduces motivation and confidence-building within the therapy.

"I'm not saying it won't be hard but because of what is implanted in the subconscious they will think they will not want a cigarette because they're not a smoker any more," explains Sue, who stopped smoking 40 years ago. "Think about how much it costs to smoke - one pack a day costs £2,000 a year. People need to look at that as well. I think the no smoking ban and the health issues will help a lot of people give up."

Acupuncture is another alternative therapy smokers turn to. John Landale isn't a traditional acupuncturist but through his studies as a doctor of medicine through the World Health Organisation, he discovered a surgical technique which has helped several thousand smokers kick the habit.

His tried-and-tested method, used at the Morningside Clinic in Hebden Bridge, has also helped slimmers to lose weight. It involves a simple stitch placed in the ear. Dr Landale says every ear is different and the location of the stitch is imperative to its success. Stroking the stitch surpasses the urge.

Dr Landale smoked as a teenager but says it never became a habit. "I never bought any cigarettes, I smoked other people's and just stopped when I couldn't afford to buy any!" he laughs.

He appreciates from dealing with smokers how the addiction can take hold but he's confident his surgical technique can help. One client who smoked 100 cigarettes a day was so impressed with the stitch he took along some workmates for the treatment!

Dr Landale says while he believes the ban will make a difference he can't say whether it will impact on his clinic. "It'll be difficult to judge because we are always busy. This morning there's been quite a lot of people, there may be more today than average but there will be some people who say the ban won't stop them smoking."

Marcia McGrail gave up smoking 17 years ago after landing a job as a practice nurse.

Willpower was the way to give up in those days, before the arrival of patches and other aids assisting smokers to quit.

She is now encouraging others to kick the habit in her current role as senior Stop Smoking Specialist with Bradford and Airedale Primary Care Trust.

She and her team provide help, support and advice to smokers who are assessed on an individual basis.

Where necessary, nicotine replacement products are provided, including patches, nasal sprays and the new Champix tablet treatment, prescribed according to PCT policy.

Marcia empathises with smokers eager to stub it out and since Sunday's ban came into force, her workload looks set to expand.

"My clients in the last two to three days have said they are pleased the ban is in place," she says. "They don't feel forced into it at all and they feel it's having a positive effect on their lives."

  • For more information about stopping smoking contact hypnotherapist Sue Holland on (01943) 875081; the Bradford District Stop Smoking Service on (01274) 363559 or the Morningside Clinic on (01422) 843123.