Episode Summary: Alexandra Janelli - The Life-Changing Power of HYPNOTHERAPY: What Celebrities and CEOs Know That You Don’t

In this compelling episode of "How I Built My Small Business," host Anne McGinty engages in an enlightening conversation with Alexandra Janelli, a renowned hypnotherapist and entrepreneur. Alexandra brings her extensive expertise from founding Modern Sanctuary, an award-winning wellness spa, and MyBurbal, a transformative guided visualization app. This episode delves deep into the nuances of hypnotherapy, its scientific foundations, practical applications, and Alexandra's entrepreneurial journey.

1. Introduction to Alexandra Janelli

The episode kicks off with Anne introducing Alexandra’s impressive credentials. Alexandra is the founder of Modern Sanctuary, an alternative beauty and wellness spa honored with Philadelphia Magazine's 2024 Best of Philly award. She also created MyBurbal, an app designed to help users manage stress, anxiety, and sleep issues through tailored guided visualizations and meditations. Alexandra’s work has attracted high-profile clients, including Academy Award-nominated actors and top CEOs, and has been featured in esteemed publications like The New York Times, Elle Magazine, and Forbes.

2. Understanding Hypnotherapy

Alexandra demystifies hypnotherapy by distinguishing it from the theatrical hypnosis often portrayed in movies and stage shows. She emphasizes that real hypnotherapy is about achieving a deep state of relaxation with focused attention, akin to the natural state between wakefulness and sleep.

Alexandra Janelli [00:00]: "Don't stress over the grades... It’s okay if you're not the best in the class... I wish I had known back then."

Alexandra explains that unlike stage hypnosis, which may involve entertaining antics like "walking around quacking like a duck," therapeutic hypnotherapy is a structured process aimed at facilitating meaningful personal transformation.

3. The Science Behind Hypnotherapy

Delving into the scientific aspects, Alexandra discusses the conscious and subconscious mind. She elucidates how the subconscious governs behaviors, reactions, and coping mechanisms, while the conscious mind handles logic and reasoning.

Alexandra Janelli [03:34]: "Hypnosis is the state between awake and sleep... If you can fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning, you actually go through the hypnotic state."

She further explains the role of brainwave states—beta, alpha, and theta waves—in facilitating different depths of hypnosis. Alexandra’s private practice, Theta Spring Hypnosis, focuses on achieving deep hypnotic states characterized by theta waves, enabling clients to access and reprogram their subconscious.

4. Use Cases and Limitations of Hypnotherapy

Alexandra outlines various applications of hypnotherapy, including:

• Anxiety and Stress Management
• Smoking Cessation
• Phobias and Fears
• Behavioral Changes (e.g., nail-biting, hair-pulling)
• Weight Management (termed as "weight release")

However, she clarifies that hypnotherapy has its limitations. It’s not a substitute for medical treatment in cases like severe depression, where collaboration with medical professionals is necessary.

Alexandra Janelli [11:23]: "I am not a licensed therapist... I really work within a scope of practice for self-improvement."

5. The Science Behind Hypnotherapy

In exploring the mechanics of hypnotherapy, Alexandra delves into how entering a hypnotic state alters brainwave patterns, enhancing the ability to make subconscious changes. She explains:

Alexandra Janelli [06:43]: "As you go from the awake conscious state down into the subconscious states, and then eventually asleep, you are moving through those different brain wavelengths."

She highlights the importance of a deep hypnotic state where the subconscious becomes more receptive to positive suggestions, facilitating behavioral shifts and emotional healing.

6. Alexandra’s Personal Journey with Hypnotherapy

Alexandra shares her transformative personal experience with hypnotherapy. Struggling with a chronic habit of finger-picking and anxiety, she turned to a hypnotherapist seeking alternatives to traditional therapy and medication.

Alexandra Janelli [16:38]: "Within one session, I stopped... It was a habit that I'd been doing my whole life."

This profound change motivated Alexandra to pursue hypnotherapy professionally, leading her to found Modern Sanctuary and later, the Burbl app.

7. Handling Skepticism and Resistance

Addressing common skepticism, Alexandra discusses strategies to make clients comfortable with hypnotherapy. She emphasizes transparency in setting expectations and educating clients about the process to alleviate fears rooted in misconceptions.

Alexandra Janelli [24:43]: "I like to set up expectations very clearly from the beginning... if you want to record the hypnosis portion, you're welcome to that."

She also describes techniques like the "lemon test" to demonstrate the subtle yet powerful effects of hypnosis, helping clients experience its benefits firsthand.

8. Entrepreneurship in Hypnotherapy

a. Modern Sanctuary

Alexandra recounts the inception of Modern Sanctuary. Starting in New York City, she transformed a leased spa space into a 5,000 square foot wellness center offering diverse holistic treatments like lymphatic drainage, infrared saunas, and crystal chakra balancing. Despite its initial success, the venture faced challenges post-COVID, leading to its closure in 2022. Nevertheless, the experience provided valuable insights into business management and adaptability.

Alexandra Janelli [33:36]: "When you have a dream and a deep desire, you can make anything happen."

b. Burbl App

Transitioning from the spa, Alexandra embarked on creating Burbl, a guided visualization app. Launched after three years of meticulous development with her team, Burbl offers a "choose your own adventure" format for personalized meditation and hypnosis sessions. This innovation aims to make hypnotherapy accessible and customizable, catering to individual needs and preferences.

Alexandra Janelli [37:59]: "We launched with a great product... Burbl is a guided visualization app that takes into account several different modalities of the subconscious mind."

9. The Future of Hypnotherapy

Alexandra envisions a future where hypnotherapy becomes mainstream, much like acupuncture. With increasing recognition in institutions like the Mayo Clinic and Children's Hospital Philadelphia, she believes that hypnotherapy will gain broader acceptance and integration into conventional healthcare.

Alexandra Janelli [41:55]: "Hospitals... have dedicated programs for hypnosis and hypnotherapy... it's normalized."

10. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Drawing from her entrepreneurial journey, Alexandra offers valuable advice to budding business owners:

• Trust Your Gut: Believe in your vision, even unconventional ideas.
• Do Your Research: Understand your market and have a robust marketing plan.
• Adapt to Change: Flexibility ensures business sustainability.
• Collaborate: Partner with individuals who bring diverse skills.
• Choose Progress Over Perfection: Launch with a minimum viable product and iterate based on feedback.
• Invest in Marketing: Effective outreach is crucial in a competitive landscape.
• Seek Growth Opportunities: Continuously learn and step outside comfort zones.

Alexandra Janelli [45:13]: "Trust your gut... have a solid marketing plan... choose progress over perfection."

11. Life Wisdom for Younger Alexandra

Reflecting on her younger years, Alexandra shares poignant advice:

Alexandra Janelli [46:42]: "Don't stress over the grades... Each of our skills come from a really different place... My superpower is I'm a creative, a solution finder."

She encourages embracing one's unique strengths and seeking mentors to navigate non-conventional paths, emphasizing that success isn't limited to traditional trajectories.

12. Key Takeaways

Anne concludes the episode by summarizing the essential lessons from Alexandra's insights:

• Tap into Your Subconscious: Harnessing the subconscious can unlock creativity, healing, and personal growth.
• Start Small, Dream Big: Begin with a clear vision and allow it to evolve.
• Adaptability is Key: Flexibility in business strategies ensures resilience.
• Effective Marketing Matters: Stand out amidst the noise with a strategic marketing approach.
• Collaborate and Learn: Engage with diverse partners and continuously seek knowledge.
• Embrace Imperfection: Prioritize progress to bring ideas to life.
• Trust Your Vision: With determination and passion, entrepreneurial dreams can become reality.

Conclusion

This episode offers a profound exploration of hypnotherapy's potential and the entrepreneurial spirit required to build successful ventures in the wellness industry. Alexandra Janelli’s journey underscores the transformative power of believing in one’s vision, adapting to challenges, and leveraging the subconscious mind for personal and professional growth.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own paths, embrace their unique strengths, and consider how hypnotherapy might aid in their personal development.

Thank you for listening to this detailed summary of Alexandra Janelli's insightful episode on "How I Built My Small Business." For more episodes and inspiring stories, be sure to subscribe and stay tuned!