Call Now! 579-5297 The Only Comprehensive Physician/Change Management Designed Smoking Cessation Program in the Province Q: Dr. Hyland, I understand you have the only comprehensive Physician/Change Management designed and implemented smoking cessation program in the province. By comprehensive, I mean you address the physical, psychological and social aspects of nicotine addiction, and in addition, you offer all known methods of dealing with physical withdrawal symptoms, not just laser, thus giving you a range of services beyond what any of the non-medical businesses can offer. Dr. H: Yes, we can augment the laser treatment with Chinese auricular acupuncture, hypnosis, or pharmacology if necessary. Most people choose Laser, but clients have the option of choosing from every known effective intervention. Q: Can they just take the laser part without the "Change Management" intervention? Dr. H: We only offer the FULL program. Study after study after study has shown that without the behavioural component long term effectiveness is compromised. We have a program that is getting remarkable results; we will not dilute it by removing one of its essential components. What is it that Keeps People Hooked? Q: Given what we now know about the damage smoking does, what is it that keeps people hooked? I’m sure everybody out there is aware of the increased risks for cancer, stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and multi-organ damage not to mention its aging effects on the skin. Also, it’s no longer considered socially acceptable. So what is it that makes it so hard for people to give it up? Steve Jackman: Quitting smoking is a complex process that involves dealing with changes in brain chemistry, psychological and emotional dependency, self-concept, self-esteem, moving outside of established comfort zones, coping with stress, social and psychological triggers, engrained routine habits, and peer pressure in addition to the physical withdrawal symptoms. We go in depth to help clients understand how the tobacco industry has found a way to entwine smoking into their everyday activities, and what they need to be aware of in order to untangle themselves. Dr. H: In essence there are a multitude of physical, psychological, and social factors that have to be addressed, and any program that promises an over simplistic solution ("Just take a pill and add water," or "Just sit in the chair and get zapped,") is not going to have long term effectiveness. Q: That sounds like a complex process that’s a lot more involved than getting a "patch" or getting "zapped," but what about people who just quit on their own? Dr. H: Whether or not they can quit on their own depends at what stage they are at in the "change process" and what kinds of insights and support they have. That would be the logical first step, a firm resolution to quit. If they can do it, great! However, if that proves to be too difficult, or they keep relapsing, they need professional help. Specialized Therapy Q: So I take it at this stage they would need to see more than a technician? Dr. H: Yes, if they want long-term results they will need specialized therapy to deal with the many facets of change they are going through. Steve: At the Lazer Room we use Lewin’s Change Model as the basis for our Quit program. This is a scientific model based on sound empirical research, unsurpassed in its ability to facilitate personal and organizational change. It was developed by Kurt Lewin, the father of social psychology, and refined by Prof. Edgar Schein, distinguished professor emeritus at the MIT Sloan School of Management, who used this model when rehabilitating Vietnam veterans who had been brainwashed. Dr. H: Steve is our change management therapist; he has a graduate degree with honours from The American University in Washington D.C., and has trained with NTL, the prestigious organization founded on the work of Kurt Lewin. Steve has personally met Prof. Schein, and discussed with him the use of this change model in our program. What to Expect in a Typical Session Q: Dr. Hyland, perhaps you could just walk us through a typical session, so people would know what to expect when they come in for a treatment. Dr. H: During the first session they will meet with me for a brief targeted medical assessment, designed to detect any early warning signs of respiratory, circulatory or other physical concerns directly related to their years of smoking. In addition to the obvious cardiac and respiratory side effects of smoking, we will also discuss the lesser known risks of smoking - for women, these include accelerated wrinkling and aging of the skin; early menopause; higher risk of osteoporosis; increased risks associated with pregnancy; higher risk of cervical cancer; etc. If there any specific concerns that arise out of their medical assessment, we will forward (with the patient’s permission) a report to their family doctor of issues that need to be followed up. We will also discuss the mechanism behind addiction to nicotine, and what methods are available to deal with withdrawal symptoms - ranging from pharmacology - nicotine replacement, Zyban, Champix, to alternative therapies including Classical Chinese Acupuncture, Low Level Laser therapy, Hypnotherapy and NLP, and the benefits/side-effects of each approach. We will review the therapeutic modalities they have tried in the past, and decide on the most suitable method, or combination of methods, to use in their particular situation; and for those who need it, we will look at strategies to avoid weight gain. In addition, they will be seen by our Behavioural Change Management Specialist, Steve Jackman, B.A. (Psy.), MBTI cert., MSHRD., who will guide them through the Quit Program, which we have specially designed to help them understand their unconscious motivations for smoking, and uncover any resistance to changing the habit/psychological dependency on smoking. He uses an "action-research" approach, and will explain the strategies used by the Tobacco Industry to get people hooked, uncover their unconscious motivations for smoking, give them the tools to deal effectively with cravings, manage stress, avoid self sabotage and cope with peer pressures, and help them make the "paradigm shift" which allows them to see themselves as non-smokers and to move from a position of weakness to personal power. He will be available for additional supportive sessions, over the first month, should they be required. Multiple medical studies have shown that without this type of counselling, a significant number of smokers who quit eventually drift back to smoking - months, or even years after quitting - not because of physical withdrawal symptoms, but because they have not developed strategies to deal with situations such as stress, or do not understand their unconscious motivations, and hence their weak points, which are likely to lead to relapse. We make sure they have the insights, skills and tools to prevent this from occurring. During the first session, patients will also receive their first laser treatment. We recommend a second session a week later... most people will do well with 2 sessions; a third session is available as a "safety net" up to three months later - if required. For those who need it, we will add a back-up treatment - acupuncture, pharmacotherapy, hypnotherapy or neurolinguistic programming (NLP) - so there is no reason, if they are truly motivated to quit, that they will not succeed. Costs Less Than a Month’s Worth of Cigarettes Q: Obviously this is a very comprehensive program how much does it cost? Dr. H: The cost for the program is only $250 plus tax, and includes as many visits as you may need over a 3 month period. I would also like to mention that because of the amount of one-on-one clinic time (2 ½ - 3 hours) that is required for the first appointment a $100.00 deposit is required; this deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE unless we receive a notice of cancellation at least 48 hours in advance of the appointment. This program is meant for people who are very serious about quitting; if they are ready to quit permanently, we are ready to help them. Q: I can see how this treatment would be in big demand, it must tie up a lot of professional resources. For those who really want to quit and take your program, they are certainly getting good value. Dr. H: When they leave, they will have all the tools and insights they need to become a non-smoker; even if they have a relapse they will know how to fix it. Clearly This is the Place to go for Anyone Serious about Quitting Smoking Q: With such an elaborate approach, and the professional qualifications of your team, clearly this is the place to go for anyone serious about quitting smoking. Dr. H: We would be glad to help them; all they need to do is call 579-5297 to set up an appointment. Call Now! 579-5297 Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life; Make it Smoke Free! Call Now! 579-5297 The Quit Team Dr. Denise Hyland A family physician with 24 years’ experience who has practiced in Ireland, Australia and throughout Newfoundland. She has a keen interest in holistic and preventative medicine, trained with the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada, and was one of the early GPs in the province to integrate acupuncture into her practice. In her current practice of Cosmetic and Anti-Aging Medicine, she identifies smoking as one of the key accelerants of the aging process. Steve Jackman, B.A. (Psy.); MBTI cert; MSHRD. An Honours Graduate of the AU/NTL Master’s Program at The American University, Washington, D.C., Steve is a seasoned change management consultant with more than 30 years’ experience in consulting, designing and implementing change management programs in Canada, the USA, and Ireland. Steve is a member of the AU/NTL Association in Washington D.C., and is a Senior Process Consultant with Smart Seminars International. Call Now! 579-5297
|
