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3 Wise Ducks
3 Wise Ducks is the podcast that says what many women are thinking but not always saying out loud. Real conversations, a proper laugh and the kind of topics that make you feel seen, understood and a little less alone.
We call out the everyday situations women deal with but rarely talk about, the moments you replay in your head and the patterns you keep noticing but cannot quite explain.
Join Jan, Joy and Nilu, along with guest voices who bring fresh insight and real perspective, as we unpack it all and try to make sense of this crazy world. Join us for the honesty. Stay for the laughs.
3 Wise Ducks
Can Hypnotherapy Really Work? Busting the Myths with Jan
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Ever wondered what hypnotherapy is really like? In this episode of 3 Wise Ducks, we sit down with Jan to separate fact from fiction and explore one of the most misunderstood therapies around.
We chat about what hypnotherapy is, what it isn't and how it can help with challenges such as anxiety, confidence, habits, fears and more. Along the way, we share plenty of laughs, ask the questions many people are thinking and uncover why hypnotherapy is often quite different from what people expect.
If you've ever been curious about hypnotherapy or wondered whether it could help you or someone you know, this conversation is a great place to start.
We release a new episode every week, so be sure to follow 3 Wise Ducks so you never miss a conversation.
We'd love to hear from you. Follow us on Instagram @3wiseducks and send us a DM with your questions, topic ideas or feedback.
Connect with the 3 Wise Ducks
Joy Ball
Founder, Blissful Connections Relationship Counselling
https://www.blissfulconnections.com.au
Jan Winslade
https://janwinslade.com
Nilu Noble
https://ivytalentco.com.au/nilunoble
Follow 3 Wise Ducks for new episodes every week.
Thanks for listening to 3 Wise Ducks.
We release a new episode every week, so be sure to follow the podcast so you never miss a conversation.
We'd love to hear from you. Follow us on Instagram @3wiseducks and send us a DM with your questions, topic ideas or feedback.
Are we really about to say this out loud? We probably shouldn't. That's never stopped us before. Fair point.
SPEAKER_03Hello and welcome to the Three Wise Duck podcast, where we call it how we see it, talk about the stuff that matters to us women, and of course, we are having a laugh along the way. And before we get into today's episode, we are actually talking with the beautiful Jan, our wellness guru, who is sitting beside me, Jan. Welcome, welcome. I'm so happy to have you sitting beside me.
SPEAKER_01Thank you, Joy.
SPEAKER_03And of course, as always, the lovely Ne Lu. Hello, hello, hello. The smiling assassin. Get her a round of applause as well. And of course me, Joy. Well, I give myself an apple. A little bit better. Yeah. I'm going to have a little bit longer than you two. Alright, before we get into today's episode with regards to Jan and hypnotherapy, because I'm absolutely thrilled. I really because I don't know very much about this, so I really want to dig into this one. We've decided to introduce a bit of a segment at the start of each of our shows, and it's duck moment of the week. And basically, it's something that has happened to one of us during the week that we're going to share with our beautiful listener, you. And these are just everyday things that happen to us women, and things that you will absolutely be able to relate to. So it's the duck moment of the week, and these are the little moments from the week that made us laugh or roll our eyes or overthink our entire existence, or think, please tell me I'm not the only one. And can I just say it's very relevant to today's duck moment of the week, which Jan is going to share with us. Please do tell us your duck moment of the week, Jan.
SPEAKER_01Oh, thank you, Joy. So, you know, like you out there listening, um, I went to a yoga class. Um, it was actually a retreat, and you know, we're in this beautiful space. We've been chanting mantra and how many people, Jan? Oh, there was about 40 in the class. 40 people, yeah, 40 people, and we're all so relaxed, and you know, we've been meditating and moving our bodies, and and then the yoga teacher said, Okay, so now just lie down on your back, and I'm thinking, oh, this is just so good, and I feel so great. And and then she said, So hands under your lower back and place your legs out in front of you and lift your leg and this and that. Well, guess what happened? What? I farted. And and I mean, not just a little one. It was enormous, and I couldn't stop laughing. I put my hands over my face and I'm going. And then the whole room, 40 women, started to laugh. Lysterically. I couldn't, you know, me, Joy, and me Lou when I start crying, oh my god, when I mum, my mama. And I could not stop. And of course, and then everyone's and anyway, the teacher was trying to start the class again, and I was cackling, like cackling nearly wetting my pants, you know what that's like as you get older. And um, and you know, I'm laughing and I'm cackling and my face is red, and I'm just I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop. And then so anyway, it became a like a laughter yoke class for a little while. And then anyway, after the class, this lady beside me came up and she said, that was the best class ever, Jen. And she goes, the funny thing is, no one knew it was you until you put your hands on the laughter because everyone knew it was you.
SPEAKER_03There's an elephant in the room with this one, Jen. Is it a smelly one?
SPEAKER_01Oh no, not that absolutely not. Come on, tell me that that hasn't happened to you, Joy or Neil in the club.
SPEAKER_00Um happened to me. But I have not put my hands on my face and my head on my numbers.
SPEAKER_03I mind it, I mind it. Oh my goodness. Oh, I think we can all relate to that channel. So even the wellness giver of itself is just human.
SPEAKER_01I just let it go. I just let go.
SPEAKER_03Literally. Oh gosh, well, thank you for sharing that with us, Jan. I appreciate it. That is fabulous. I love that story, Jan. That just gets me every time. I love it. I love the fact that um you're happy to share that sort of stuff. Everyone will think, oh great, we can all fart now.
SPEAKER_04Give you permission.
SPEAKER_03All right, now on a serious note, um, we want to talk about hypnotherapy today, and you're our woman because this is what you do. It is, yes. And I'm going to be absolutely honest with you here. I don't know about Neilou, she'll share her experience in a minute, but I really don't know very much about hypnotherapy. So I'm learning a lot today. What about you, Neilou?
SPEAKER_00I had my first hypnotherapy session with Jan, so I can absolutely be part of this conversation just in terms of my own experiences. Um, but I will share that a little later on. Yes. As Jan talks us through what it involves, what it um, how and who, and all the really intricate things that we're all wanting to know a little bit more about.
SPEAKER_03So you're in the hot seat, Janny. Yes, I know. I'm ready, I'm ready. This is great. You want to go first?
SPEAKER_00For those for those who have no idea why hypnotherapy is, Jan, how would you explain it in a really simple everyday language?
SPEAKER_01Good question. So I'm a clinical hypnotherapist, and so if you've never had hypnotherapy, it's really about coming to see me. We have a chat about, you know, why you're there, and I get you into a really relaxed state. You know, I guide you through breathing, relaxing different parts of your body, um, and there's there's like an awareness. You're awake and you're aware, but we go I get you so relaxed that that you might be thinking, gosh, you know, I I'm not I'm not under hypnot hypnotherapy at the moment, but but you're so relaxed, you can still hear me, um, and you're in control of the session, not me. I'm just gently guiding you. It's a bit Joy, it's a bit like Yoga Nidra, you know, that deep relaxation state that that I guide people through in yoga. Um, and but we go a little bit deeper than that, and and it and there's there's a whole theory behind that, you know, there's a tone of voice. Uh my voice changes very deeply and more slowly, like this, when I'm guiding you into relaxing. And so, like it's like a guided attention. You are awake and aware, um, you're aware of your surroundings, but you're very calm and deeply relaxed. And then we do a little bit of um well, I guess I I'll use the word therapy in that relaxation state.
SPEAKER_03Okay, all right. So when you say the therapy, is that when you start to guide them with the reason that they're there?
SPEAKER_01The reason that they're there, and of course we've talked about that before. Um you go into that relaxation, that hypnotherapy state. Um, it could be, you know, I want to feel more confident, I want to feel less anxious, I want to lose weight, I want to stop smoking. I there's lots of reasons why people come.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, I love that. This is really deep, so I'm gonna change the tone. Why do I get these questions? Okay, Jan, yes.
SPEAKER_01Can you make us cluck like a chicken? I can't. No. Uh that that's yes, uh some hypnotherapists can. Um, I choose not to do that. Um it's it's really yes, that people can, hypnotherapy, people can, but it's really for entertainment.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, okay, okay, yeah, okay. So I'm interested to, you know, again getting my head around, you're in this deep state. Now I love the fact that you said we're in control. Yes, absolutely. And but we're very, very, very relaxed to be able to have a clear thinking process. Yes. Uh obviously the people that do this for the entertainment to you know cluck like a chicken. Yes. Um they must do something completely and utterly different. And uh in a way is it I mean it is for again show.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_03But but is it ethical?
SPEAKER_01Good question. I enjoy throwing that one out. For me, no, that's not congruent who I am and my values. Um, but for others, yes, and some people love that entertainment. Not for me, not. Yeah, fair enough.
SPEAKER_00And just touching base on what you were saying before, getting someone to a absolute state where they feel so utterly calm and relaxed that you can tap into I don't even know the correct language, but you can tap into a part of them that probably has been suppressed. Absolutely the subconscious mind. Yes, and I remember, like it was yesterday, your words that you said to me. So, um, for context, my son was very ill for a long period of time, and every time I saw an ambulance, I would physically lose feeling of my legs. So if I'm driving and I see an ambulance, like a part of me just wanted to vomit because I couldn't feel my legs. And um, I went and saw Jan, and that wasn't that wasn't the purpose of why I saw Jan. I was having a Reiki session, and as part of that, I said to Jan, Jan, it's I'm finding this really difficult. Please can you help me? Um, and I promise on my grandma who is no longer here, after that session, I was driving home down um in Mount Martha, and an ambulance passed me. I just broke down, I started crying because I could feel my whole body. Nothing, nothing happened, and I just I couldn't believe it. It had just happened. No, I had no physical reactions. Goodness. But I went in with an open mind and an open heart, and I just needed help. Um, and I didn't know any other way because I could see the impact on my daughter as well. Because every time I'd freeze, she would, if she's sitting in the back seat, which she was because she was quite little, she would put her hand out to me where I would hold her hand for comfort. And I just couldn't believe it. I was like, holy moly, this is incredible! She's a superwoman. That's where my mind went. So I am a converted, not that I wasn't needed much converting, but um, being part of these sessions, um, it was one session to be very clear, it was so powerful for me. So maybe you can talk us through what typically hypnotherapy sessions look like from start to finish, Jan, if you wouldn't mind.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, sure, sure. Um, so when you come to see me, uh of course we have a uh get rippal, of course, and talk about why you're there. Um, it's a very safe environment. Um, like I said, I'm not in control of the session, the person is. Um, so I jot down specific words that you might say to me so that I can um speak them back to you when you're lying on the table. So you you can do um hypnotherapy sitting in a chair, you can do it over the phone, you can do it on FaceTime or I I incorporate my Reiki if people wish to have that. So if people like to do that, they lie down on their back. I get you all comfortable with a nice, you know, big blanket and beautiful music on, and um so yeah, either lying down in a chair, FaceTime over the phone, it can all work. Um and so then I get all the information from you, what it is that you'd like to be working on, clearing, letting go of. Uh then I guide you through some beautiful deep breathing practices, you know, just let go, drop your shoulders and take three deep breaths, and we're all relaxing now.
SPEAKER_00I feel hypnotized.
SPEAKER_01Hypnotized. Yeah, and that too. Yeah, well, maybe we can do a podcast one, but a very basic one. We could do that another day.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you're gonna make me cluck like a chicken. Yes, I will.
SPEAKER_01And um, and so then I get you nice and relaxed through breathing, watching the different parts of the body. Uh I usually ask you where's your happy place, you know, if it's the beach or the mountains or forest. And I I guide you into that place by just, you know, going down five steps and and then whatever it is that you wish to be letting go of, it it's like I guide you into your imagination, that unconscious, subconscious part of your brain that is that we don't I can't remember the stats, but we just don't use it enough, you know, percentage-wise. Um, and that's where all our things, all our memories, everything that we've ever experienced, good, bad, and different, are stored. So it's like an old filing system. So we go in there and we kind of take out the old files, but and then we get rid of them by you know shredding them, burning them, and then we implant positive suggestions. And of course, all those positive suggestions we've already talked about. Yeah, so they're your words. Um I'm guided by you. Um and yeah, and then I'm highly intuitive as well. So I will feel and see good things for you, so I might implant, suggest some other things while we're there as well. And then I just bring you out and guide you out. Lovely, there's beautiful music playing, and sounds amazing. And sometimes you fall asleep, you don't have to be awake um to hear everything. Um that would be me just quiet. That would be you, yes. And actually I horizontal. Horizontal, yes. And then I fall asleep if I go to a hypnotherapist as well. So and it doesn't matter because your unconscious mind hears every word that I'm saying. Wow. Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_03That's amazing. So this is an impromptu question. It's it's look, research has shown, and and there's a cycle with regards to our consistent patterns of thinking. So we have up to 60,000 thoughts each day. 50-60,000. Wow each day. And the research have done is is um 70% of those um thoughts we have each day is on repeat from the day before. Okay. And what they've also discovered is three-quarters of that 70% is negative. And so we often have a very negative repetitive cycle that happens. And I'm wondering if the hypnotherapy does that actually clear it almost like is a reset, but does that clear the negative thoughts and start fresh?
SPEAKER_01In NLP we call that a pattern interrupt. So we're we're interrupting that loop.
SPEAKER_03Yes, absolutely. Oh, fascinating stuff. Um, I I think you've pretty much answered all the questions I have in front of me here, Janet. Um, so I'm gonna ask a question again. Are women more receptive to hypnotherapy than men?
SPEAKER_01Uh it's a good question. I don't know the answer to that, but most of my clients are women. I've had a couple of men with you know stop smoking. Um but yes, I think so, because you know, I think women want to change, they want to um explore different things to feel good, to feel more confident, to to let go of their stress and anxiety. So yeah, it's mostly women, yes.
SPEAKER_03Okay, yeah. Yeah, we just we just look after ourselves probably a little bit better.
SPEAKER_01A little bit better, I think we do.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I love that. You got a question, Neil? I sure do. Um Jen, what's the difference between I guess a meditative state and a state where you are hypnotised? Are the similarities? They're so close.
SPEAKER_01They're really so close. Um for me, uh being a regular meditator and I can self-hypno hypnose, I think is that how you say it? Hypnotic help me here. You're being the wrong drum. I can hypnotise myself, thank you. So self-hypnotise. Can you? Yes, I can. So and meditation. So for me for me then Can you really? I can, yes. Don't ask me how, Joy. So um, so that you're really in that altered state, that that um unconscious state is meditation. I think that for me the difference, what I see in both, is that uh the hypotherapy You're doing the you're doing the work there. Like meditation, you're observing your body, you're observing your breath. Uh you're not I know there's guided meditation too, but it look it's really it's not going to the depth, that's what I'm hearing.
SPEAKER_03And you're there for a different reason. So you're not as open and receptive in you're there just to quite frankly go to sleep when you're doing yoga.
SPEAKER_01Yoga, let's face it, yes, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um, as opposed to hypnotherapy, you're there for a purpose, so you really are focusing on that one. You are, and you're really being guided and look at me sound like I think I know what I'm talking about. You do not what you're talking about.
SPEAKER_01I have no idea. But yes, it's it's very similar.
SPEAKER_03Yes, okay. You're explaining it beautifully, Jane, I've got to say. Have you come across somebody who Okay, this would be me, Jane. Have you come across somebody who um who really is struggling to oh absolutely? Yeah, you're struggling to actually get to that point. Because they might come with a a form of scepticism, let's just say. They do. I'm thinking of one person in particular. Um It wasn't me, people.
SPEAKER_01A beautiful listener. Because we've still got only got the one. They I've noticed it's it's that they can't let go of their control. Yeah, it was me. Um, you know, that they're and out of fear or you know, holding on or whatever's happened in their life. So uh it still works, but they will still say that they didn't feel it. Right. And that's okay because I know it still works. Yes, okay. So no judgment at all. Um, it works for everybody.
SPEAKER_03Can I just say that's very similar to counselling, and it's really important as um and I'll call a therapist to be able to acknowledge it's it's not on us, it's it's really the recipient and how they receive and how they choose to. And even with couples counselling, you often get um one or both partners in the righteous I'm right, their wrong zone. Absolutely. And what I love about that is just challenging the person in the moment, going, what if you're both right? Yes, and you know, what if you could actually still keep control by being hypnotised and in the direction that you want to take, you know. Um it's it's absolutely fascinating when it comes to the people and you know it coming in, being skeptical, going, I don't think this is going to work. I would absolutely say don't go if you're in that mindset.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because it's not absolutely. I I love love this story. I had a gentleman come and um he says, Oh, my wife sent me. And and I guess I yeah, you got that one too. And so I I said, Look, um, I can give your money back right now. You don't have to be here. Um, so your choice. Um, and then he stayed though. He just had to say because his wife sent him. Because his wife sent him, he had to be. He didn't wear it to make a point. He really wanted to do better. And I said to him, Do you want to be here? Because oh yeah, no, I really do. I just so he did stay and he had a wonderful session and and very responsive.
SPEAKER_03And um how long does the sessions go for, Jen? Uh one hour.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Yeah. So and that includes a bit of a chat. So you know, usually 45 minutes under. Do you get people that don't want to leave? Oh, always, and they and people fall asleep, so I have to guide them out. It's very important with hypnotherapy uh to make sure they're awake and aware and I make sure they're grounded before they go, have some water. Um and often I'll record um if they wish to record uh hypnotherapy so they can take it home with them, particularly if if it's for sleep or stop smoking or weight loss. And and smoking and weight loss, you you need to come at least two, three times. Yeah, that and um and sometimes sleep as well because there's multi-layers because it's we it's like we work through the layers of the mind, the body, the emotions. Um we it's like an onion, I always say. We're peeling away layers. We we've got layers of memories and things that have happened to us.
SPEAKER_03And crying along the way.
SPEAKER_01Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_03Exactly like an onion. It is being allowed to let go of all those emotions. Yeah, oh I love it. Got any qu I I've got nothing now.
SPEAKER_00Um, on a personal note, Jan, what kind of drew you to hypnotherapy? Why did you choose that path or did the path choose you?
SPEAKER_01I think it chose me. Uh it was through COVID that I I did my training. Um I I my brain loves to learn. I love learning about our brain, about our body, emotions, how it's all connected, mind-body connection, you know, being a yoga teacher. Um, and I thought, oh and also as I'm maturing in in you know, what else is it that I can do without having to be physical as well? How can I reach further afield uh with my work, um working online, working online? Um and uh so through COVID I found a trainer and yeah, for 12 months did that online. I absolutely loved it. And she said to me, Well, you know, we had to have lots of um lots and lots of uh training and and speaking and all that, and she said, Oh, you're you're a natural, you're actually already a hypnotherapist. She said, You're yoga trainer, you've got the tone, you've got this the pace, you you know, you and really it was just about the therapy underneath it that I had to learn.
SPEAKER_03Can you hypnotize somebody who's um doesn't want to be like who just with unw un knowingly or unwittingly? Can you actually No, I'd never do that. No, but can it be done? Can it be done?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. I think it happens a lot on the on the on the T V. They hypnotise us. There there's there's programming of hypnotherap um words um embedded in in ads and and it it it's everywhere. It's a form of conditioning, isn't it? Absolutely there is, yeah.
SPEAKER_03That's my belief anyway. Oh, I agree. I I let's not get started at all.
SPEAKER_00And Jan for um another question for you, please. Going into, I guess, learning to be a hypnotherapist, were there misconceptions that you had as a therapist yourself and um that you kind of as you learnt over the twelve months, you were able to give it meaning, or did you go into this fully open? Oh fully open, absolutely. Yep. Yep, fully open.
SPEAKER_03Well, it was your calling, really.
SPEAKER_01I mean Well, it is my calling. You know, I'm in the wellness industry, you know, everything about health and well-being and it was a natural progression, Joy, and I absolutely love it. I have hypnotized a few children as well, you know. Um, sleeping problems, anxiety, um stress at school, you know, or it can it's it can do it for everything in it.
SPEAKER_00And what are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about hypnotherapy, Jan, that you in your time um practicing has surfaced? To this date, no. That's great. Yeah, nothing so far. I think going back to what Joy was saying, like when people are willing and open and they come to you, they're coming with a purpose. They're halfway there. Absolutely. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And I think that could be possibly the difference between male and female, is that as women, I mean we do talk more, there's no question about that. But I think we unpack and process and and have an awareness around what our needs are, and we listen to our body and we do as we get older. I mean, in your twenties, you don't listen to your body, you're just listening to your brain, and you know. Um, but as we get older, absolutely, we're starting to listen to our body, and we want to be the best that we can be at any age, don't we?
SPEAKER_01Wouldn't you agree? Absolutely. I want to feel free, I want to feel joyful, and and if there's something in in the way, I I want to clear it. Yeah, you know.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. But I've got to say, Jan, you you are the only person who does that instinctively that I know, and that's why you are the wellness guru. Um, and that's the difference between you and me too, Jan. I just I just blurt it all out, let it all out because I've stored it in my brain for so long.
SPEAKER_00Um if someone was curious about hypnotherapy Jan, but extremely nervous, what would you say to them to reassure them?
SPEAKER_01Oh, just come. I well, I I would um just invite them in, you know. I'm happy to do a call before they come so I can answer any questions and just reassure them that it's a really safe environment. Uh you're in control of the session, not me. I'm holding like a sacred space for you to heal and transform whatever it is that you that you wish to let go of.
SPEAKER_03Do you know where hypnop hypnotherapy came from, Jane?
SPEAKER_01No, I should, but no, I don't.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah, because it's fascinating. Is it is it a Chinese philosophy? No, no, it's not. Um we'll get back to you on that one. Yeah, sorry, sorry, Jen. I I I didn't test that one. Sorry, Jen. We are three wise ducks, but not always wise. Well ducky.
SPEAKER_04I don't have all the answers. But we are three.
SPEAKER_01I don't have all the answers, and I we'll be honest.
SPEAKER_03Oh no, sorry, Jen. I just came out and I thought, oh, I wonder where it came from.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that was in my study, but I can't remember that one.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, it's it thing, you know what, and that's another woman thing too. Things stick and things don't stick.
SPEAKER_01True, true. And I think we focus on um helping people and you know and what's important. Yeah, probably that's not important for me.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yeah, it's just you you're in the moment and you're with your client. That's right. Absolutely. I understand that change.
SPEAKER_00And what's the biggest joy that you get out of these sessions for you?
SPEAKER_01Oh, just seeing the person walk out calm and relaxed, grounded, lighter, happier, fulfilled. Oh, the the biggest joy. That's why I do what I do. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03It is, you look, I can't, I agree. You know, when you see a couple that are just so receptive and open to it and they you know they can turn their relationship. Yeah, it's just beautiful. It really is. It's lovely. Oh Jane, you have been so insightful today. So we've just had a little wellness session. I love I absolutely love that. Now, if our beautiful listener, if you have any questions, like where did it come from? Yes, please. We use Google. Yes, we use Google. Oh, we could have got chat chat thing. So absolutely, please, please send us a a is it a DM or a PM? I prefer DM. DM. Thank you. I had to ask the young duck. DM us on our socials, three wise ducks, and um we hope you actually learned a little bit about hypnotherapy. What I do challenge, our beautiful viewer, is, and this is something that I'm starting to do each week, and I'll I'll say it to you girls as well, is do something out of your comfort zone on a weekly basis. Yes. I love this. Whatever that looks like. Just do whether it's in in your thought process, in your actual physical process, whatever this looks like, do challenge yourself once a week with and put yourself out of your comfort zone.
SPEAKER_01Go to a different class or even like I know I I go down the same road, I go to the same shops. You know, I think I might go home a different way today. Even that changes the neuropathways in your brain.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yeah. It's fantastic. And so we challenge our our listener, a beautiful person you are for listening. We thank you so much. That was wonderful, Jan. Thank you so much. I enjoyed it. Thanks, girls. Thank you. All right, until the next show. Take care, everybody. Bye. Bye.
