Elevate Your Motherhood with Hypnotherapy and the Motherwell App

In this episode of Motherhood Intended, Jacqueline welcomes on Angela Howard, a certified hypnotherapist and creator of the Motherwell app. Angela shares her journey into hypnotherapy, emphasizing its potential to help mothers overcome burnout, anxiety, and stress. She explains the science behind hypnotherapy and how it differs from common misconceptions. Angela introduces the Motherwell app, designed to provide accessible self-care tools for mothers, including daytime affirmations and sleep-focused sessions. The conversation highlights the app's goal to support mothers in finding joy, better mental health, and overall well-being. Angela also provides insights into her group programs and the importance of creating a positive environment for both mothers and their children.

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Angela Howard:

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EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

01:52 Podcast Updates and Future Plans

05:42 Angela's Background and Journey

20:46 Understanding Hypnotherapy

24:34 The Mental Load of Motherhood

25:29 The Importance of Maternal Joy

27:53 Breaking Generational Cycles

28:40 Introducing Motherwell

29:30 Hypnotherapy for Moms

32:11 The Motherwell App Features

32:46 The Power of Community

39:51 The Science Behind Hypnotherapy

44:14 Final Thoughts and Resources

Transcript

 Hey friends, it's Jacqueline. Thanks for hitting play on this podcast episode today. I'm so grateful that you took time out of your day to listen to the motherhood attended podcast. So thanks for being here. You may have noticed that there has been an accidental hiatus with the podcast. There hasn't been a new episode in almost. Four weeks now that was not intentional, but it was, it was needed. It was very much needed wanted to share a little bit about what's going on in my neck of the woods. So on the personal front, Truly just was in the winter blues. I mean, Luckily,  this week, you know, it's spring, it's now raining, instead of being cold and snowy. But it was in a little bit of a slump there, coming out of that last tail end of winter, which pretty much happens every year here in Chicagoland.

It gets hard in March. So, truthfully, my family and I decided to take a last minute trip to Florida, spent a week there, unplug, recharge give myself some space to just think and plan for the podcast and the future of my business and enjoy time with my family. It was really nice, you guys.

And then of course, we've had a lot of birthdays in the family. My oldest son turned seven. My daughter is going to be one next month and planning her birthday party. And I'm just in denial that all of these like milestones are happening to be completely honest. And then of course over the last month Lorelei has had a sleep regression with her naps as well.

So that definitely puts a hinder on my timeframe of when I can work. So the last few weeks have really just been like trying to wake up early, stay up late because my day is really taken up by driving. Three kids around taking care of Lorelei, trying to put her down for naps, trying to make sure she gets time to play and eat and try new foods.

And, and you know, if you're a mom, you know that it can be all consuming. So I'm happy to report that we're back on track. I feel refreshed after a week long vacation in the sun and warmth. And there are so many things coming up in the podcast, so make sure that you are following along wherever, wherever's best for you.

You can find me on Instagram at motherhood underscore intended. You can join us in the Facebook group. It's the motherhood intended community. Follow the podcast of course, because then you'll know when new episodes are out. And you won't have to guess or check your app or whatnot. It'll just pop right up in your queue, but there are a lot of changes coming ahead.

So be sure you're following along somewhere but yeah, I highly recommend if you are feeling like you are in a slump or just like on the hamster wheel of life, you know, especially if you are in the thick of like trying to conceive, whether that's on your own or with reproductive assistance.  It can get a little, ugh, you know, month after month not just the physical toll of it all, but the emotional toll.

When every month that you are getting that negative test, it can be a lot. And that's on top of like the rest of your life, right? Work, family, whatever you've got going on. So if you're feeling like I was just really, like I was just chugging away, but not feeling fulfilled, not happy, and just kind of like stuck in this groundhog day, I challenge you to just I'm not saying everyone has to go on vacation.

I'm just saying that like, take some time, take some time to just like, get outside, feel the sun on your face, take a pause from it all. And don't be afraid to do this because I've said this before, but there is power in the pause. You know, I just sometimes will find myself just keep chugging away at my work and putting out podcast episodes and podcast episodes.

And then I'll realize, you know, maybe I'm not booking the guests that I want or covering the topics I want, or supporting our community like I want. And it's really important sometimes to just kind of like, stop, stop what's going on in life and refocus and see how you could come at this better.

So you can really be at your best mental state and. Feel happy and fulfilled in your life and your work and everything you've got going on. So, highly recommend. But we're back and I have so many guests in store for you over the next month or two. I'm keeping it loosey goosey with when we're gonna wrap up this season of the podcast because normally I take a break for The summer.

But I kind of took this like unexpected month long break and now I have all these amazing guests that I'm recording with and I can't wait to share them with you. Plus I'm hiring an editor, so that will speed things up as well. So stay tuned. Once I figure out when a good break will be to prepare for the next season, I will let you know. So you will know how many episodes are left.    

In today's episode, you'll hear my conversation with Angela Howard. She is a certified hypnotherapist and the creator of the Motherwell app, the self care prescription for all seasons of motherhood, whether you need a microdose of calm or to get heavily meditated for a deep, full body reset. Motherwell delivers neuroscience backed brain rewiring remedies so you can feel better anytime, anywhere.

I'm telling you, I've downloaded this app, used it while I was on my own pause, and Wow. You guys just, wow. I mean, through subconscious healing, nervous system regulation and sleep optimization, Angela's helping moms break free from anxiety, stress, and burnout, getting them back to their most radiant, joyful, and well rested selves and get this in as little as 10 minutes a day.

I'm so excited for you to meet Angela and hear all about the work she's doing with Mother Well. Take a listen. 

  Hi, Angela. Thank you for joining me on the podcast today. 

Thank you so much for having me, Jacqueline. I'm really excited to have this conversation and to meet you and share with your listeners. 

Me too. I'm so excited to get to know you more and have this conversation because I think our listeners are really gonna resonate with this discussion today. Tell me a little bit more about yourself. You created an app called the Motherwell app. You are a hypnotherapist.  I mean, so many things and so many questions to follow, but yeah, tell me a little bit about you. 

Yeah, we will dive into all the things because I feel like as soon as you throw that word hypnotherapy or hypnosis out there, people are like, what?  So yeah, definitely explain. I will share more and you can ask all of your questions, but yes, I am a certified hypnotherapist  and I've really been working in like a therapeutic supportive role like,  oh, for Most of my life, from the time I was 15, I've worked in healthcare, and so just in that space, like, I've always just been helping people in their healing, and I have also been mothering people for much longer than before I became an actual mother.

So the journey to arriving at hypnotherapy, let me just start at the beginning, where I  was mothering all the people and nurturing all the people before I was really nurturing myself and led to this burnout.  My parents were, this is just like a nice little story, and it will be helpful later when I share more, but my parents started dating when they were  My mom was 17.

My dad was 19 and they were together for two weeks and, you know, falling madly in love with each other in those two weeks as teenagers do. And they were in a car accident that left my mother paralyzed from the waist down. So she is a paraplegic and my dad and her were You know, again, they were in love and this relationship was blossoming and they've been together now for 38 years, had  my sister and I,  yeah, it's really like such a special love story.

Yeah. And  also I then witnessed a mom who was disabled, really navigating her life, navigating motherhood. And I was Also in like a caretaking role when she would let us because she was very independent and stubborn, but  that's, that's how I grew up. So that's important as we lead into the story.

But I knew as from a little girl that I wanted to help people in their healing, whether that was physically, mentally, emotionally, I was always holding that space. And so I went on  to go to school to be in healthcare. And the last position I had before I went off on my own and became a certified hypnotherapist was in occupational therapy.

And I witnessed in that role, people healing themselves using their mind, like the miracles that come from just the belief that you can make something happen. Those patients always had the best outcomes when they fully bought in to the belief that they could heal. Right.  And so  I had been, you know, burning myself out along the way in healthcare, you know, lost the passion for it because of the demands that are like, Yeah.

And I decided to, right, I decided to step out on my own and pursue  a business in helping women heal themselves. My first business was called soulful of yourself. So it was all about like being like that. Yeah. Yeah. A little play on words being, you know, just self love getting connected to yourself.

And I was very much still in that. space holding role, nurturing role mothering role. And I really got to a place of like, of burning out before I even had kids. And so by the time I arrived at having children, had my first son, I was totally depleted and I feel a lot of moms can just relate to this like before you even get to motherhood because nobody shares this with us beforehand.

It's just like, this is going to be great. Right. This is my dream since I was a child and of course I can mother like this is what I love being a nurturer caretaker.  And by the time I had my first son, I was so burnt out that I don't even remember most of like my postpartum experience and being. With him like holding those memories  and motherhood just cracked me wide open it just revealed all of the woundings that I've had and that I repressed and didn't want to deal with. 

And by the time I had my second son, this is sort of like where the match was lit on the dumpster fire that had already been brewing through my whole life. I was let go from a position that was really secure financially for us at seven weeks postpartum.  And it rocked my world as you could imagine.  And I just felt like every cell in my body just like going even deeper into their survival mode that I had already been in.

Yeah, and really, right, like I'm holding my baby and being like, let go from this job. And I'm like, you're already feel like the uneasy on your feet, you know, trying to figure out postpartum and like with your new baby and everything. And then to have a toddler on top of it. And just like, Whoa, yeah, so that really, yeah.

Rocked my world. And that's, that's where the, the burnout and the depletion and just like the  complete dissociation, depression, like all the things  really fell in. Like I went in full survival mode,  and talk about not even remembering portions of my first son's postpartum. My second, I'm like, what, what happened? When? Where? Cause I was so not present. To it.  

This is so relatable. I just as you're saying that sounds like I definitely experienced for different reasons But the exact same thing and no one really talks about this,  like you said, it's just like okay. This is the dream I wanted to have a baby and here we are but  there is something that does like crack open inside of you and Everything just comes pouring out for me It was like  all the years leading up with infertility and loss and then I had my first son very premature, you know, spent four months in the NICU, and I was like, that was a blur, and then, you know, when he was a year old, we, got pregnant again, and then had two under two, and then the pandemic hit, and I'm like, I don't even know what happened, and yes, depleted is like, not, Even a good enough word like how I can imagine you were feeling too at this point  it's just like you're not you can't just give give give it's  so much Right, and and when you've been giving for as long as most mothers have like we are a natural Nurturers and mother and we've been mothering everybody for so long before we even have kids, whether it's like your partner or perhaps your parents, like whatever your childhood looks like, your siblings, like you are mothering, you're already emptying that cup before you even arrive in motherhood.

And so yes, just, just like you said, like it cracks you wide open and that is meant to be. A beautiful opportunity for us to heal, but instead what happens and what I witness so much is that moms don't know what to do with all the stuff that comes up and, you know, like this hot mess motherhood becomes this movement and we don't even know what's normal and what's self neglect, right?

And all the relatable stuff, I love it, I laugh at it, I enjoy it, but it's also, if that's what's filling your mind, your environment, all of the time, that becomes your reality as well. It's like, oh, yeah, this is meant to be hard. It's supposed to be hard. It's all hard, when really and truly, it doesn't need to be.

Right. And, and when you keep just plugging through thinking like, I don't know, this is the season I'm in. This is motherhood. This is, I'm just doing it. It's like, you'll look back and I know for me, like my oldest is seven and even in seven years, I'm like, what? Whoa. This is not like, I'm finally at a point now that like we're done having children. Our family's complete where I'm. Really paying more attention to myself, and I'm like, I don't think that had to be that hard, it actually makes me sad when I look back, and I'm like, those were the memories I, like, waited for, the experiences I waited for, and I felt so,  overwhelmed, and just, like, All the things, and I look back and I'm like, I don't know if it had to be that way, you know?

Right, like not, you're not able to be fully present for it. So many of us are stuck with nervous systems that don't even know how to slow down enough to be present, to rest. Like, we want this soft life, we want this slow life, but we cannot even sit down for three minutes without feeling restless or guilty about it.

And that's why, like, we don't have a safety in our system that is even  Like available to that rest to that slowness and we miss so much because of that because we're stuck in survival mode and I'm just like for what, for who, like what expectations for who are we doing this for? Right. A system that's like created this that like societally right the conditioning that we have what we grew up with the women in our life that we witnessed our mother figures right like we learn how to do do do do do and not to be right and then even our own systems the spaces that we're creating and curating we're  surrounding ourselves like you know misery loves company we're surrounding ourselves with this repetitive, like, yes, it's hard.

This is the season you're in. It's hard. It's hard. It's hard. It's hard. It's hard. And of course, that's all that we're going to continue to feel because that's what's being fed to us over and over and over again. Like, this is just the way it is. Yeah. Buckle up. It's just the way it is. Exactly. Right. Yes.

Right. Are you loving it yet? You prayed for this. You should be happy. Don't miss a moment. You know? Yes. Don't miss all the phrases.  Right. Or the, you're going to miss this and people are like, are you kidding me? Like, I'm going to miss this. This is like the worst time in my life right now. Yeah. I haven't felt like myself in years.

I know. I'm not going to miss this. Like, yeah. Toddler's literally kicking me in the face right now while I'm getting him into the car seat. But yeah, you're right. You're right. I'm gonna miss this. And we will. We know we will. Yeah. But it's just, we're lost. We're like, not present to what we really want to be present for because we've made our, our bodies, our minds so used to feeling the feelings of, you know, like, I never want to say something's bad or good, but more negative feelings like the anxiety, the overwhelm, the overstimulation, you know, the depletion, the disconnection.

We're feeling so much more of that that we don't even have the capacity then for the joy, the presence. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's a total survival mode for a while and like all the narratives that you were just saying that, that doesn't help cause it just kind of feeds into  your energy and  what your expectations are.

And there needs to be more conversations about you know, you should feel joy. You should have aspirations outside of motherhood. You should, you know, all these different things that will bring you back to yourself a lot quicker. You know, we talk about postpartum and  you hear about the fourth trimester and things like that, but it's mostly like your physical health.

No one's talking about like  not losing yourself in motherhood, you know, they're just talking about like recovery. Exactly. Or like your mental and emotional well being. And I want to stay here on this where what you're saying, like we, what we've been talking about with like how our environments and the things that we're feeding ourselves are really contributing to the way that we're feeling and what our reality is.

And that's where. Hypnotherapy really comes in and some of this brain and body retraining to rewire your nervous system. Because what happens truly, this is the way that the brain is operating. You have what's called a reticular activating system, we could call it RAS.  And this is filtering out information that your brain has decided is relevant or important to you.

And so if you are constantly being flooded with challenge, obstacle, this sucks, this is hard, it is going to feed you more of those things to affirm that story that you've bought into. And so you're going to feel more of that because that's what's being presented to you. Like, yup, you're right, it's hard.

Yup, you're right, this sucks. It's like when you, when you buy a new car, you never saw that car on the road before until you buy it and then you see it all the time because now it's relevant. Now your brain has decided that's important information. And so in the same way it's been trained over time from the time that you were a child through your experience in motherhood up until this point, what's empowering about that is that you can retrain it, you can rewire it, and it starts by adding in more positive experiences, speaking to yourself with kindness, that's as much of self care as a bubble bath is like being compassionate, giving yourself love, nourishing your mind is so important because your thoughts create feelings.

And so this is really the bulk of the work that I do is really helping people, mothers really see that they hold that power. Yeah. In themselves. Like, they can, they can flip the script at any time that they want. They can change the story. They can rewrite it. They can reclaim themselves in motherhood the way that it was always intended to be.

Like motherhood is an invitation into your deepest, most profound healing. Not  Yeah. That's amazing. Like, what an empowering feeling, knowing that you can change the way your brain works and like the way you think. And how powerful that can be. I mean, you've always heard how powerful words are and what you think is what you believe.

But to know that you can change the trajectory of that in motherhood, when you might be at like a really low point That's really uplifting to know, especially when you're in the thick of it. Exactly. It's so, so empowering. Like, your, your brain, the way that it operates, like, you have what's called neural pathways.

And like, I will just have you think of it as like a trail system, right? Like if you're going on a walking trail system, the paths that you're walking most frequently with the words that you're saying over and over again, or the stories that you're being told or whatever's. Weighing you down, like whatever your current reality is, your thought system, those trails are obviously pretty worn, which means they're easy.

They're habitual. They're just happening automatically without you even having to think about it.  But you can.  You can actually rewire your brain to create new neural pathways by thinking positive thoughts, by feeding your mind with things that are uplifting you, by changing your environment to also then meet that, which is going to happen naturally anyway, again, because you can rewire that part of your brain that's showing you what you want to see, what's important, right?

And the more that you do this, the more you walk those trails. The more natural and habitual that is going to be and then those other trails sort of get overgrown. They're like forgotten. They're not really a strong part of the system anymore. And that's how Neuroplasticity is which is just a fancy way of saying that you can change your brain.

That's so interesting. So when you are working with, a client or someone who's coming in for  hypnotherapy. Yes. What does that, what does that look like? You know, because I'm thinking, and the word in my head, I'm like, I'm just thinking someone laying on a couch and like, I don't know what I'm thinking, but yes, yes, you're going to make me clack like a duck or like, yeah, whatever, because what you're saying, I'm like, that sounds Amazing.

But like, when someone walks in, for your help, what does that look like? Yeah, totally. Let me just first just talk about hypnosis because that really gets such a bad rep and,  and for, you know, I get it because stage hypnosis and the entertainment industry has really painted such an awful picture.

Like half the time I'm helping people unlearn what that means. Yeah. And it is a natural state. Like we have different brain waves, beta, alpha, theta, delta. beta is like you and I right now talking alpha a bit lower than that when you're getting a little drowsy sleepy theta is when you're in that deep kind of daydreaming state and then delta you're you're sleeping so hypnosis is in that theta brainwave.

And it's something that you actually weave in and out of all day long. It's very natural. If you've ever heard of like highway hypnosis, you know, you're driving from point A to point B, a familiar route, and you get there and you kind of arrive and you're like, how did I? Yeah. Yeah. Right. I know that. Yep.

Yes. You don't remember, but you did it. You're like, but I did, but I'm here. Yeah. That's a little scary. Yeah. That was hypnosis. Your subconscious mind kicks in. It takes over. It's your unconscious. That is the state of hypnosis. When you're daydreaming, watching a movie, you're focused on something. You're in that flow state.

That is hypnosis. So it's very natural and it's self guided. Like I always say that all hypnosis is self hypnosis. It's not, there's no like truth serum, I'm not getting all your secrets, like it's nothing like that. It's so gentle and healing and very simplified. We are just Allowing the conscious, over analytical thinking mind to slow down, to calm down, and getting to the root.

What really matters is the unconscious, because that is what is the operating system of who you are. Your identity, your habits, your behaviors, everything is stored there. Your memories, your experiences, who you are. And it's your, it's your body. Your subconscious is your body. It's what's moving you through your life.

So we just quiet that  thinking brain. We tell it to chill out so we can have a conversation with the unconscious part. So if you've ever meditated before, it's like meditation, but with a specific goal that you're focusing on, an outcome that you're desiring. And so I will. lead you into that meditative state.

And then we're having a therapeutic conversation back and forth to actually uncover what the root of the issue is. Because it's not that you can't control yourself and you don't have enough willpower and you're an angry mom and you're rageful and you're out of control and overstimulated. There is something or anxious, right?

Anxiety is a big one. There is something that is triggering that response. in your system, and it is happening at the unconscious level. So once we figure out what that is and why, then we do the therapeutic work there to really reframe it, to choose a different way of being. and feeling in your life. 

Okay. That's so interesting. That makes a lot of sense. Not what I not what I imagined. So I'm really glad that you explained that because it sounds amazing. I mean, especially today and like such a busy, you know, overstimulated world.  I feel like the moments where I am in that state of like, oh, I drove, yeah, down the highway and I don't remember, like,  it's not often that I, you're in that state of mind, you know?

And as a mom,  I think I can speak for most people when like your brain is already going in a million directions, you know, like your to do list, your fears, your anxieties about not just yourself, but like your kids, you've got like 20 different tabs open in your head. And it's like,  wow, that, that seems powerful to just  get to that place to even like start to unpack things.

Yes. Yeah. Right. And figure out what the truth really is, because again, there is something like from the time, especially when we're like, you know, between birth and seven years old, we're like little sponges, like the subconscious is you're basically in a hypnotic state for all those early years. Those are really transformative years, as they say.

And that's why, not to lay more pressure on mothers, but if you can't, you know, if you can't talk yourself into caring for yourself and your mental and emotional wellness for you, then trick your brain into doing it for your children, because that truly is who you're doing it for. Like they, moms obsess over what they say and how they act, but they don't, they forget about the fact that your children Feel who you are like your energetic and emotional state is more important truly than anything else when it comes to their development and their own ability to thrive like there was a study that said something about the the number one indicator of a child's potential to thrive is a mother's quality of joy, of happiness.

Wow. That's how important this is. Yes. And like the ripple and the impact of that is so much deeper than you just practicing self care or, you know, nourishing your, like, it's so much bigger than that. And that's I hope everybody really listened to that because your joy. Here it again, your joy is the most important,  part of your child's, development and success.

And that is unreal, because, like you were just saying, I mean, I'm always thinking about like, ooh, I should have said that differently, or I need to make sure that I'm, you know, teaching them this, this way, and this. And it's like, I'm on. like anxiety ridden mess right now. How are they going to learn anything from me or feel happy and confident if I'm not feeling happy and confident, you know?

And tricking yourself as a mom that you're like doing it for the kid. I feel like that's what usually comes up for me. Like I'm going to make a move to better my mental health or something about myself. Because I can feel it affecting my kids. Like, if it's just affecting me, like, you know, I'll push it down and like, wait on it.

But if it's for the kids, then I'm like, I really need to get this in check. Right. I need to get my shit together because it's, it's my children, right? Like, and I always say to, and I'm sure that you've heard this, like, it not only is it their childhood, this is your motherhood. So yes, it is about you. And I want you to feel like I'm doing this for myself.

And the more that you do it, the better you feel. And the better you feel, the more you'll do it. So it's just. Getting yourself over that, like your mom guilt is an absolute scam and that's something like I really am always uplifting my, my people, my clients into is like, this is so vitally important, like for not just you, you are the emotional backbone of your family, like everything who you are is, is so, so what?

impactful to your children. And just that, that study alone was like, Oh, really lands. Yeah. That's eyeopening for sure. And I think too, it's like,  it's such a generational shift because, you know, us as moms, we're learning a lot more about mental health and putting ourselves first and all of this. And think about what we can do for the next generation.

And, you know, if our kids, if we're learning to find joy and can, you know,  learn about our emotions and talk about them and figure out how to be rested and joyful and all the things that really matter. I mean, our kids are going to be so much better off because they're going to have these skills as well and know how to keep that at the front focus.

So it's really just, we're all shifting in this generation to, to better ourselves mentally, for sure. Right. And it's, I know that it can feel like a lot, like people are like, Oh, I got to break the cycle. I got to break the cycle. And like, how am I doing this? And it's like, it doesn't have to be so complicated either.

And that's, you know, that's why I created Motherwell, which I know we'll talk about more later. But that's, that's why I wanted moms to feel empowered to like have these tools in their pocket, literally, that they can just tap into, you know, any time to find their center, to regulate themselves, to get reconnected to who they are, you know, like use motherhood again for the opportunity that it was giving you to really  tend to yourself, to your needs, to the things that really need healing so that your children don't then have to heal all the All the shit that you did not right, right.

Yeah. Yeah, that's that's amazing. And yeah, I do want to hear more about your app because I'm sorry. Now I'm just like in my own head. I'm like, I need this. This is great. This is good stuff. This would help me. As you know, a hypnotherapist, what kind of clients? Is it mostly mothers that are coming to you and what are they like showing up with?

Because I feel like I have like all these different things and I,  I wouldn't know where to start or what to do. Like how do I sleep better or how do I, I'm not happy. How do I find, like, is this, are they coming to you at all different angles or what is that?  Oh my gosh, all different angles. And yes, I do mostly work with moms, but I also work with men.

Like I currently have a 14 year old client who, you know, so it's really, it's beneficial for anyone and anything, which is hard to like, you know, niche down, but truly, because we're working with the mind because we're working with the body, just like you would be going to see a traditional talk therapist, anything that is.

Feeling like a challenge to you can be something overcome and moved through and healed using hypnotherapy. So from biting your nails to anxiety, to mom rage, to mom guilt, all of it is, you know, you can bring that into a session. I'd say a majority of my, of my clients are those that really feel like they're in survival mode or they're just constantly overwhelmed and overstimulated and feeling like  disconnected, dissatisfied, like just, is this it?

Like, like we've been saying this whole time, like, this is what I prayed for. Like, whoa, like, where's the, where is the joy? Like, why am I feeling so numb to this? So it's, it's really. very holistic in the way that I approach things like it's mind, it's body, it's spirit. And we're just, we're just going wherever you need.

And yeah, outside of like doing  one on one hypnotherapy, I also have a program by the same name of mother well, where we are gathered together as a group of women and moving through the process and the method that I created for this approach, like using again, It's not just hypnosis and hypnotherapy, but also somatic experiencing and being in your body.

And so it's really, really, again, very holistic and reconnecting to you, the woman outside of motherhood. So  it's sleep. It's all the things that sleep is always like, just like the bonus benefit from any of the work that we do is like you're creating safety in the body to rest. And so that's what's first and foremost, most important because I will never tell a mother just to get more sleep.

It's laughable. You know, I'm a co sleeping mom. Like, you know, if you're a breastfeeding mom, you're literally like, shut up. Like, that's just not, not  helpful sleep advice. Like, oh, you need more of it. No, no, it's not.  Right. Exactly. So forget me. So inside of the app. I have an entire program called sleep like a mother, which trains your brain to get more restorative rest.

So no matter what your sleep currently looks like, you can get better, more restorative sleep in whatever sleep you are getting. So again, my breastfeeding moms, my co sleeping moms, like, if you still have toddlers waking you up in the night, or you're just. Staying up, doomscrolling until whatever time we can get your brain really trained to drop into that deep, full place of rest, even if you're not getting a whole bunch of it. 

That's amazing. Yeah. And I love that program that you have with other moms. It's so nice to come together with other people just to like not feel alone in all of this and kind of learn from each other and, and watch each other blossom and change. That's so cool. It is the most beautiful experience.

Like I also host women's circles. So this is like a women's circle virtually. And because we're moving through a process together, that collective energy, again, what you are surrounding yourself with is really who you become and how you feel. So it is gets amplified. Like  You know, times a hundred when you're in a group of other women who are also looking to really heal and better themselves in a way that's, you know, really deep and not just like superficial.

So the relationships that are built in that, the connections, like it is, it's so beautiful. It's one of my absolute favorite things. Yeah. And I think that was key  it's like  healing from a deep place. It's not like the superficial stuff, like you said, because I've been in other groups, you know, throughout like my infertility journey and things like that, where sometimes you come across people and it is very like misery loves company doom and gloom.

And I'm like, okay, are we complaining or are we supporting here? What's going on? So there is a difference, but when you find those people and you're in a room like that It can be life changing, which is pretty cool. Yeah, even that in and of itself is life changing, like, without even all of the other things that we move through and how we really, like, that in and of itself.

And the way that the space is held, there is no, there's no, like, there's no feedback. So you just get the, the time that's given to you, and I keep track of, like, timing for everybody. But you get to just be seen, be held, be heard. You're the hero of your own story. Like, there is no unsolicited advice or feedback unless it's asked for.

And that is so freeing. And what a gift being a mom and to get like that minute for yourself. Yes. Where everyone's listening. Oh, that sounds amazing. It's really, really so, so special. Yeah. I love it. So did you start the groups first and then develop mother well, the app or how did that all come about? And I know why you started it because you're like.

Obviously, everyone should have this in their pocket, which thank you for creating this. But when, when did you launch the app and what does that look like? And tell me a little bit more about the app specifically. I would love to. I am, I'm just so proud of it and so happy that it's out there and accessible for, that's the biggest thing, the accessibility.

So I know not everybody can join a group program. I know not everybody can be part of even just like one on one hypnotherapy, right? And I wanted to find a way to give the benefit and have you be empowered and in your own journey with this healing right in your pocket, right? So the way that this came about was I created for every, you know, part of my Motherwell program and the method we moved through, there were certain meditations  that I was doing.

There were certain practices that I was doing and all the women in there, obviously, had access to those. And I was like, You know, I want all of this in one place and I want everybody to have this, right? And so it just grew from there. And I built out this entire app and the way that it is laid out now, which it's first of all, just so beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.

So I love that, I love that, right? Which is just like, I'm a visual person. So it  makes me want to open it. And the way that I have it, because I just love a little wordplay and it's cutesy, it's the medicine for motherhood. So it's like your self care prescription. You log into the app. You can choose from a menu, which is like, I want to feel calm.

I want more sleep, like whatever it is that you're moving through. And then you can also just explore all the remedies I call them, which there are micro doses that you can just do during the day, which are subliminal affirmation audios that you can press play on while you're driving, while you're doing the dishes, while you're folding laundry.

So you don't have to be getting into that deep meditative state and the moms. Love these because they're just anytime any time of day you can I was just thinking not only with the obvious accessible Like it's just on an app but the fact that like literally you can just kind of tap into that on the go like you don't have to Overthink it like it's this whole big thing just like get in there.

Like what do you need right now? What can boost you a little bit exactly and even though I love to drop an F bomb probably too much. I don't swear on this app. So a lot of moms listen when they're with their kids. Yeah. And that is so beautiful. Like I'm thinking about putting kids audios in there because they're listening to these affirmations.

So they're not only are you supporting yourself, they're part of that experience with you. If you're in the car, if you're driving, whatever, they're listening and their brains are also getting filled with all of that goodness. Even if you're not fully paying attention, trust that your subconscious, your inner mind is always listening.

So it's, again, retraining that reticular activating system we talked about to soak in more of the positive, more of the good, those reminders that we all need. So there's from everything, like we've been talking about anxiety, mom guilt. Even I have audios in there for like preparing to be with your mother in law or your mother.

Yes. Whatever you need to get like into a good regulated reset place, you can just. Press play on any of those microdose daytime doses and then of course we have the hypnosis meditations in there that'll get you into that deepened state and I always recommend they're made to do to go to sleep at night.

Okay. And they will even if you fall asleep within the first Like two minutes, which a lot of moms do, it like gets them dropped in quick. Your mind is still receiving the benefits, the healing benefits of those audios while you sleep, because the two most crucial times of your day to really like  change your brain is first thing in the morning, 30 minutes after you wake up.

And as you're drifting to sleep at night, that's when you're naturally in that hypnotic state. So you're very suggestible.  So it's kind of, I've kind of created the app to really like. Help you in those moments most yeah, I love that. I need to get on the app. That's yes I need to start incorporating this this sounds just perfect  Cuz yeah instead of like right before bed freaking out like think about all these to do lists and things I didn't accomplish for the day  I would much rather  do this and go to bed feeling like like I'm, I'm okay. 

Right, right. And not only like, is that just you want to feel good, it's super important because if you are going to bed already spiraling and how all the things you didn't get done today, you're literally setting yourself up tomorrow to get. Less things done like your brain is just hearing that it doesn't know the difference between what's imagined and what is real, which is why this is so powerful, but also it is powerful.

So when you are just imagining things that could also go wrong or things that you didn't do right or that that that like your brain is just. It's it's holding that information. It's like, oh, this is what we want more of. This is what we want more of, which is why like even saying, I am anxious, you're claiming an identity to it and your brain just hears like anxiety.

It's, you want to switch it and be like, I want to feel more calm. You want the desire to be the thing that you're comfortable with. So just a helpful tip there too. Yeah. That is helpful. I love all the science, you know, behind everything. Like that's what makes this so interesting because it's like, this isn't just some woo woo thing we're doing, like literally this is how your brain works and functions and can change.

And that is, that's what I think is so interesting. Like I don't think many women understand that. So learning all the science behind it is pretty cool. Yeah, it's, it's all, it's all rooted in neuroscience, backed by science and just not even just anecdotal evidence from all the people who have had their lives changed through this work, like myself included, how I even found hypnotherapy.

I had a binge eating disorder and I overcame that binge eating disorder in one session. Wow. So that is how impactful and powerful.  can be when we are going to the root of the issue, because it was never the food, it was never actually my body, it was something totally different. And once we get there,  that's it.

Like, it's just, it's really incredible. Yeah, that's powerful. Wow. Yes. Oh my goodness. I feel like I could ask you questions about the details of this like all day. It's so fun. And it's really just like, yeah, it's, I feel like I'm like, a self help junkie of sorts at times. But it's really easy to get distracted on like Instagram and stuff with all the, all the different things and Tik Toks.

And so these are the conversations I like having. Cause I'm like,  I understand this. This makes sense to me. This feels real. And there's an easy way that I can dive into this. It's not just like, you know, drink less coffee and get more sleety protein. Like this is real and it's deep. And this is what moms need.

To feel better, to feel joyful  in a time like we said, like motherhood is such a gift and it does. It makes me sad when like people are so overwhelmed by it. Cause it's like this, you know, this is a special time in your life and it doesn't last forever, you know, in this capacity. So  I feel good. I mean, speaking of Tik I scrolled and I saw videos like, you know, You're, you're like wishing away the hard mornings and the times and like one day you're going to turn around and there's going to be no car seats in the back of your car and like you're going to wish for it back and what are we going to look back on?

Like I already look back on my postpartum experiences with my, my babies and I grieve it. Because I wasn't there. I was so burnt out. I couldn't be present. I didn't get to experience it the way that I wanted to. And I want to save as many mothers as possible from that experience. I wholeheartedly believe that these tools having the accessibility to it, there's.

Everything from if you're pregnant postpartum to preparing for birth, motherhood, like everything is in there to support you and just having more feel good experiences, better experiences, so you can enjoy your motherhood, which is your life, this is a part of your life, and it is, it's, it's really It's something I'm just so passionate about and I want as many mothers as possible to just feel good in motherhood and beyond, you know?

Yes, well thank you for putting all this out into the world because every mom deserves to feel good and there is something about looking back and I'm the same way, you know, I was It's my younger son, it was five years I've been, since I was postpartum and I already look back and I'm like,  yeah, same. I don't remember that time.

And it wasn't until so our third my daughter was carried by a surrogate and it wasn't until we realized that it wasn't going to be safe for me to be pregnant again, that  it really hit me. And I like looked back and I was like, wow, like.  I know I'm not going to be like physically postpartum or anything this time around, but I want to enjoy this newborn phase.

You know, we worked really hard to get here. We know it's our last baby, you know, I just really, I'm trying to like soak it all up because it is scary when you look back and you're like, wow, I felt so not myself back then. And I was just so stuck. I wish I would have had this because this information, the Motherwell app, all of this is just so So powerful.

So thank you for doing all of this. It's amazing. Thank you so much for letting me share it. I really, truly, I just want mothers to start mothering themselves, you know? Yes. And be the example of that, especially if you have daughters. Like, let your kids witness you taking good care and they're part of it.

Like, I could share so many testimonials of like when moms really stepped into this for themselves. the results that they also seen in their children. I'm sure. Yeah. From the impact of that, you know, it's really incredible. Yeah. Thank you so much for letting me share. Yeah, of course. So for listeners, where can they find you, get in contact with you, download the app, all the things.

I'm sure they're going to be looking for that after hearing all about it. Absolutely. So on Instagram, I'm at the subconscious mom. You can also find mother well app on Instagram, but to download the app. app. Just go to  motherwell. app and I actually have a special code for your listeners. So perhaps you could drop that in.

Intended 25 will get you 7 days for free plus 50 percent off of your monthly subscription for 3 months. Oh cool. So 6 a month. Again, very accessible. Yeah. So that'll be there for you guys. Perfect. Yeah. I will add all of this in the show notes so everyone can easily just click the link and do that. That's awesome.

And I cannot wait to hear your positive results. Come tell them. Yeah. For sure. I will circle back. I'm excited. Well, Angela, thank you so much for joining me today. This was such an enlightening conversation and I'm excited to dive in further, truthfully. Thank you so much for having me, Jacqueline.

I am really, really grateful to get this out into the world and have as many mothers as possible feeling like they're mothering well.  

Thanks again for joining me for today's episode. I hope you found value in it. I learned so much from Angela and I just absolutely love the Motherwell app that she created. I think everybody can really use these kind of tools to really just feel our best selves in motherhood. And the best part is Angela has an exclusive code for the motherhood intended listeners. And this code gets you a seven day free trial of the app and then 50 percent off for three months. So I'll include this in the show notes,  I also have linked to her Instagram and a link to the app.

So check it out, give it a try, do your free trial. I mean, I'm telling you, I've really enjoyed it. It's so nice to have in your back pocket to just pull out, like she said, ten minutes a day and just really refocus, breathe, meditate, whatever you need to do to sleep well and to feel better.  I mean, motherhood is a lot, you guys, so take it all in.

Utilize this mother well app. I'm telling you, it's a game changer. 

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to write a review on Apple podcasts or hit the fifth star on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. I really appreciate it. It gives so much visibility to the podcast and it's just a helpful tool for new people to find the show and see what it's all about and see what people are liking about it.

So if you found this helpful, please do me a favor and write a review. 

That's all I have for you today. I hope you have a great rest of your week, and I will talk to you again next time. Bye for now.