“I used to say I was a jack of all trades and a master of none, and now I say I’m a master of to many,” laughs Dr. Janet Hall.
It’s not hard to see why, the illustrious professional speaker is a clinical psychologist, hypnotherapist, motivational speaker and sex therapist – often consulted by media outlets on an array of topics.
Focusing currently on sex therapy; “the sexuality topic just seemed to me such an inspiring road to take,” Hall is currently looking to implement an online course for ‘healthy sex’ – the basis of her talk at Melbourne’s Sexpo later this month.
“The whole world has really opened up to being able to study what I call ‘healthy sex,’ which is spirit, mind, heart and body,” she says. “I think it’s really only burgeoned in the last five years, up until about five years ago ‘tantra’ was a word that most people said ‘what?’”
Recent times show the topic of sex and sexuality is at the forefront of society. From Globalisation by the internet, the western world has found itself saturated by the topic- with accessibility for most people at the touch of a finger. Yet, there’s still a lot of stigmatisation and anxiety surrounding sex and sexuality – one that Hall finds herself often working against.
“I invite people to think of a metaphor of a table with four legs. Each one of those is worth 25%. So if you cut off or ignore or make sexuality wrong, you’re actually walking around on three legs and sooner or later you’re going to fall over. It’s not healthy.”
It’s what motivated Hall to agree to be involved with Sexpo.
“Even though there is a lot of raunchy promotions of sexuality, they’re very much now encouraging sex education so they have this shared environment in which I’m going to be speaking and my daughter – who is a tantric expert, Pamella, is going to be speaking too.”
It’s not her first time attending the expo however, having been to about seven or eight in the past.
“So many people who go to Sexpo are going for a visual experience, or even certainly to be titillated and stimulated and go home with a gleam in their eye. Which, I say there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s a fantastic idea. But it’s more fantastic now that they’re inviting speakers to inspire people to want to be like spirit, heart, mind, body, healthy sex and respectful sex and all the other wonderful aspects of sex which we’re just not taught about.”
Another aspect to Halls ‘healthy loving,’ is how couples can implement certain practices to result in a fulfilling sex life.
“I talk about using your five senses- so it’s making your bedroom more visual, because about 40% of people are more visual anyway, so you know is your bedroom sensuous? Is it set up so that when you walk in what you see makes you feel good?
“I’ll also talk about your signature scent, finding a signature scent…What is the signature scent that most turns you both on?” she says.
“The promise is you don’t wear it any other time. You certainly don’t go to a party where you might be flirting with other women, wearing your signature scent. It’s something we don’t share. Isn’t that just a lovely, lovely ritual and habit to get into?”
Another major tip is implementing a sex schedule. For those who feel that it takes the spontaneity out of sex, Dr. Hall says “You have scheduled sex and you can also have spontaneous sex. You don’t have one or the other… because then if you have them both you have them all.”
Dr. Hall and her daughter Pamella will both have a stall to answer your questions and offer free advice.
“My daughter has acknowledged so many times how much I’ve inspired her to honour and respect her sacred sexuality and that’s what’s now inspired her to become my other half. As far as we know we’re the only mother daughter in the world so I’m doing the mind, body connection and she’s doing the mind, body and spirit connection.”
For those who are anxious about visiting a sex therapist, Hall says “It’s a matter of- if you’re in dire need, you will ask for help. And more and more people are in dire need for sex education and encouragement, inspiration and step by steps. And to make it fun and pleasurable.”
When and Where: Melbourne Sexpo, Friday November 25 and Saturday November 26, ‘Great Sex in a Loving Relationship,’ 8pm
Written by Caitlin Haddad
