Events organiser Emma Clements had a similar relationship with cigarettes, repeatedly giving up smoking – on one occasion for nine months – only to succumb to temptation and start lighting up again.

Both women have been helped in their quest for a healthier lifestyle by Celia Hogan, of Brighouse, a hypnotherapist and life coach, who uses the power of positive thinking to help her clients get rid of unwanted habits and feel better about themselves.

A notice on the wall of Celia's office at Owler Ings Road states: "The mind is like a parachute . . it only works when it's open" – and that is very much her philosophy, using the power of the mind to help people make changes for the better in their lives. The techniques she uses include hypnotherapy and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) which can be used to tackle fears and phobias, build confidence and improve relationships.

"Top athletes use it to help them focus on their sport but it can assist in many situations," said Celia who changed her own life when she found that the stress of a job as a sales rep with a huge 'patch' covering the north of England was getting her down and re-trained as a life coach.

"Hypnotherapy is nothing like stage hypnosis. It's not about getting people to do things they don't want to do. I work with the client to help them get completely relaxed and then the mind is open to positive suggestions. Usually two or three sessions are enough and the techniques are reinforced with a relaxation CD."

For 46-year-old Mandy, Celia's assistance has been invaluable in helping her go down two dress sizes in eight weeks.

Mandy, who works in Brighouse, said: "I've lost 1 stone 5lb and gone down to a size 16. I'd tried numerous diets and even joined a gym but I was a chocoholic and had a really sweet tooth and I just couldn't sustain it. I knew all about healthy eating in theory but couldn't stick to it. I have a bad knee and I was getting worried about my health so I knew I had to do something.

"I've had three sessions with Celia and I feel really positive about myself. I'm going to carry on eating healthily until I get to a size 14. These days I'm much more likely to reach for an apple instead of a bar of chocolate. My cravings for sweet things have vanished."

For 29-year-old Emma, of Liversedge, it is the yearning for her next cigarette that has vanished. "My boyfriend hated me smoking and I'd have to hide how much I smoked from him. I'd tried many times to stop but I just didn't have the willpower. I was smoking about 10 cigarettes a day and up to 20 or more a day at weekends or when I went out. Financially and from the point of view of my health I knew smoking was no good for me.

"After just one session with Celia and a follow-up session I had lost the desire to smoke."
http://celiacanchangeyou.com/page/home

(Full story and case studies in the Brighouse Echo 4/9/2008)