

When we embark on our healing journey, we can experience a plethora of shifts and personal milestones that affirm our forward progression. But as we face our trauma and reach a deeper level of self-awareness, there comes a point in our journey where our momentum seems to be halted by a brick wall that we can’t seem to maneuver.
We feel stuck in a loop, lessons keep repeating, and elements from our past show up as roadblocks that hinder us from moving forward. Whether it’s a lack of confidence, self-sabotage, crippling anxiety, or an unhealthy addiction, overcoming these blockages may take more than traditional therapy to resolve. Fortunately, there’s an alternative approach to consider that can put your healing and personal growth on an accelerated path — that’s truly mind over matter.
"Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that works on the subconscious mind,” Keylee Miracle, Master Hypnotherapist and creator of The Neurointuitive Method™, tells xoNecole. “Through inducing deep relaxation, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system to access beliefs, decisions, and feelings below our conscious awareness.”
Keylee's signature process, The Neurointuitive Method™, takes a loving and strategic approach to growth that's rooted in neuropsychology, hypnosis, and intuitive practices. She applies her expert knowledge of the psyche to translate into a human mindmap tailored to fit her client's best learning style (visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic). "Hypnotherapy is highly effective and can be employed in cases of treatment resistance in traditional behavioral (talk) therapy," she says. "It is my favorite therapeutic method for overthinkers because it's inherently somatic."
While traditional talk therapy is beneficial in providing individuals with the space to express their feelings and emotions to spark self-reflection, hypnotherapy differs in its ability to induce positive changes in behavior and thought patterns through subconscious exploration. "With prolonged talk therapy, a person can mistake conscious understanding with progress," Keylee explains. "Talk therapy is very helpful for clarification and conscious reordering of thoughts; however, something may feel like it's missing on a deeper level. Hypnotherapy can help someone find that 'something.'"
If you've ever seen reenactments of hypnosis on television or in movies, you may be surprised to learn how similar a hypnotherapy session is to its on-screen portrayals. Many refer to the experience as being a deep, trance-like sensation of relaxation with an unexplainable return to your body. "I really don't want to refer to Get Out, but I really felt myself sinking into it…" recalls YouTuber Trinity Faith during an episode of her Without Guidance podcast. "I was pressing against the couch. Not falling back into it, but settling deep into it, and it did feel pretty nice."
Results from hypnotherapy can be felt in just one session, with the relief being almost immediate. While the number of sessions necessary is dependent upon the client's needs, Keylee notes that it usually takes a minimum of six weeks to cement new neural connections. "You can come to resolve a particular issue or overhaul your subconscious entirely," she says.
While some may come into the hypnotherapy experience spectacle of its effectiveness, it is important to note that a person's suspension of disbelief and suggestiveness can affect their ability to be hypnotized. "People often worry that hypnotherapy will not work on them or that they will be under someone else's control. Everyone has a parasympathetic nervous system, so if someone is open to the experience, it will work," Keylee assures.
She shares that hypnotherapists or hypnotists can be looked to as "tour guides" that help us explore the depths of our subconscious and uncover the truths we need to see. Because of their familiarity with the human psyche, they're able to identify common obstacles and help us to navigate them. "You may consciously have an idea of where your obstacles lie, but the roots may be obscured," she says. "As a hypnotherapist, I am there to guide you through those dark spots while you remain in control of your experience." Thus, remaining open is key to having an optimal experience.
One of the most common hurdles that her clients face is stagnation. When we feel stagnate, there can be a disconnect between us, our purpose, and our output to contribute to the world around us. However, Keylee's "neurointuitive" approach to hypnotherapy helps to rewire her client's brains to not deny their reality but help shift it in a productive direction.
"Reality is all about perception, and our perception is colored by our beliefs, decisions, and feelings. Our perception forms in response to our experiences; we develop our own strategies to move through the world. Hypnotherapy can be really useful for intentionally adjusting our perception, which translates into shifting our lives."
With the depths of trauma that we've experienced on a personal and intergenerational level, hypnotherapy can serve as a useful tool to uncover the underlying factors behind our traumas and point us toward their roots.
Because we've all formed coping mechanisms to protect ourselves and manage painful or difficult emotions, hypnotherapy helps by bypassing the conscious mind to remove resistance to healing. "We can also access different points in time which is helpful in resolving intergenerational trauma," she says. "This is hugely impactful for those who find themselves running into repeated obstacles of the same nature. Sometimes things begin before us."
While hypnotherapy may be deemed a non-traditional approach to healing, setting aside one's uncertainties aside to explore alternative methods to personal growth can prove to be beneficial in the long run especially if you want to see who you could become if self-sabotage and the effects of our traumas were finally confronted head-on.
"It's really important to change the beliefs we hold about ourselves and deal with the aftermath of traumatic experiences. If there's even a slight conflict in our self-perception, we can act in ways that are incongruent," Keylee says.
"This incongruence often comes out as self-sabotage. Self-sabotage is an ineffective strategy employed for safety. Hypnotherapy can help someone who has experienced trauma examine their experience from a place of true safety to resolve inner conflict."
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Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Feature image screenshot/ xoNecole YouTube
Egypt Sherrod & Mike Jackson On Love, Business, And Financial Transparency On The First Date
Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson have captivated us on their HGTV show, Married to Real Estate, and podcast Marriage and Money.
Now, they have teamed up with TurboTax to assist small business owners with tax and financial support. The couple met while working in radio, and now they own multiple businesses together. While working with your spouse can have its ups and downs, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Besides the fact that I get to work with the person I love doing what I love to do, right? There's the aspect of our daughters, seeing us work together as a unit and actually doing it successful,” Mike tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview
“So they get to grow up and experience what it is to be entrepreneurs from ground level, right? Because Mom and Dad did it, and they did it in such a way that I want to emulate, even if they don't decide to do exactly what we do, but they get to see it. That, to me, means a lot.”
But owning a business, whether separate or together, comes with a lot of responsibility and mistakes can often happen, especially for novice entrepreneurs. Egypt opens up about mistakes her and Mike experienced working in real estate.
“On our journey of entrepreneurship, we made a lot of mistakes. We spent money, we did things backwards, we learned the hard way through the school of hard knocks. There was no road map for us,” she says.
“So our goal by partnering with TurboTax is to really open the eyes of fellow entrepreneurs, to show them that, especially when it comes to your finances, your taxes, and getting that right, there is a faster, more cost effective, more accurate way of getting the support that you need.”
“On our journey of entrepreneurship, we made a lot of mistakes. We spent money, we did things backwards, we learned the hard way through the school of hard knocks. There was no road map for us."
Being tax compliant is among small business owners’ top concerns, but it's often time-consuming and research-intensive to figure out taxes on your own. TurboTax Business provides small business owners and solopreneurs access to unlimited live expert help to get your taxes prepared and filed.
When it comes to their marriage, the money conversation never goes away. The couple owns six businesses together, multiple properties, and are parents to three daughters. So when it comes down to finances, they believe in transparency, even dating back to their first date 21 years ago.
“Our first conversation about money was that, ‘hey, I don't have no money.’ Okay?,” Mike says. “Because there's been past relationships that are no longer existing. There's been things going on that I had to take care of and get through. So you're meeting a man that is pretty much starting from scratch again. How do you feel about it?”
At the time, Mike was newly divorced and had a small child. Egypt says she found his honesty “refreshing” and was looking for someone to build with, so his finances weren’t a problem for her. “If you're building anything, and that's like, first, second, third date, and you feel like, okay, this is someone I can be invested with, even beyond money, you have to just be honest about your circumstances,” Egypt shares.
“Our first conversation about money was that, ‘hey, I don't have no money.’ Okay?. Because there's been past relationships that are no longer existing. There's been things going on that I had to take care of and get through. So you're meeting a man that is pretty much starting from scratch again. How do you feel about it?”
“Otherwise you're building a house of cards that can fall at any minute, but I think money is one of the things. Finances are one of the things that even when people are in love, they still can't make it work and it breaks up marriages. It breaks up relationships because it's a stressor.
“So, yeah it is something that you want to ask about up front. What's your credit? How much do you earn? You don't have to be rich, but I just need to know if if the math is mathing.”
While they don’t believe you should have the money conversation on the first date, they do believe you should have it early to avoid any misunderstandings down the line.
To hear more about their story, check out their podcast, Marriage and Money and watch the new season of Married to Real Estate on HGTV.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
“So they get to grow up and experience what it is to be entrepreneurs from ground level, right? Because Mom and Dad did it, and they did it in such a way that I want to emulate, even if they don't decide to do exactly what we do, but they get to see it. That, to me, means a lot.”
But owning a business, whether separate or together, comes with a lot of responsibility and mistakes can often happen, especially for novice entrepreneurs. Egypt opens up about mistakes her and Mike experienced working in real estate.
“On our journey of entrepreneurship, we made a lot of mistakes. We spent money, we did things backwards, we learned the hard way through the school of hard knocks. There was no road map for us,” she says.
“So our goal by partnering with TurboTax is to really open the eyes of fellow entrepreneurs, to show them that, especially when it comes to your finances, your taxes, and getting that right, there is a faster, more cost effective, more accurate way of getting the support that you need.”
“On our journey of entrepreneurship, we made a lot of mistakes. We spent money, we did things backwards, we learned the hard way through the school of hard knocks. There was no road map for us."
Being tax compliant is among small business owners’ top concerns, but it's often time-consuming and research-intensive to figure out taxes on your own. TurboTax Business provides small business owners and solopreneurs access to unlimited live expert help to get your taxes prepared and filed.
When it comes to their marriage, the money conversation never goes away. The couple owns six businesses together, multiple properties, and are parents to three daughters. So when it comes down to finances, they believe in transparency, even dating back to their first date 21 years ago.
“Our first conversation about money was that, ‘hey, I don't have no money.’ Okay?,” Mike says. “Because there's been past relationships that are no longer existing. There's been things going on that I had to take care of and get through. So you're meeting a man that is pretty much starting from scratch again. How do you feel about it?”
At the time, Mike was newly divorced and had a small child. Egypt says she found his honesty “refreshing” and was looking for someone to build with, so his finances weren’t a problem for her. “If you're building anything, and that's like, first, second, third date, and you feel like, okay, this is someone I can be invested with, even beyond money, you have to just be honest about your circumstances,” Egypt shares.
“Our first conversation about money was that, ‘hey, I don't have no money.’ Okay?. Because there's been past relationships that are no longer existing. There's been things going on that I had to take care of and get through. So you're meeting a man that is pretty much starting from scratch again. How do you feel about it?”
“Otherwise you're building a house of cards that can fall at any minute, but I think money is one of the things. Finances are one of the things that even when people are in love, they still can't make it work and it breaks up marriages. It breaks up relationships because it's a stressor.
“So, yeah it is something that you want to ask about up front. What's your credit? How much do you earn? You don't have to be rich, but I just need to know if if the math is mathing.”
While they don’t believe you should have the money conversation on the first date, they do believe you should have it early to avoid any misunderstandings down the line.
To hear more about their story, check out their podcast, Marriage and Money and watch the new season of Married to Real Estate on HGTV.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy