Newton man takes alternative 
approach to life after Maytag

When Maytag closed its doors in Newton, many workers from the corporate offices to the assembly lines had to go through a professional reinvention. Former Maytager and union representative Dan Ingle took a different approach — he decided to relax.

“I knew Maytag was going to crash, and I needed a different career,” Ingle said. “I was tired of slamming steel for a living.”

In his second floor office at 314 S. Second Ave. W. in Newton, Ingle is attempting to build that new career as a certified hypnotherapist by helping others improve their lives. Ingle Inc. is still under construction. With half of his office without dry wall with exposed wooden frame, he is seeing clients with his assistant and student, Newton native Maria Sharp. Ingle focuses on supplementing traditional treatments for depression, anxiety, addictive behaviors and pain management associated with chronic and terminal illnesses.

Fred Frank, a licensed independent social worker and clinical director for Capstone Behavioral Healthcare in Newton, says the most important thing to note about a hypnotherapist is if they are certified.

“It’s probably better if someone in the medical field is performing the hypnosis as far as a supplement to psychotherapy,” said Frank. “But if it’s used to stop smoking or for relaxation it’s fine, as long as they are certified and don’t go outside their area of certification.”

Frank said hypnosis “took a hit” several years ago when people in the field claimed the practice could be used to reawaken repressed memories, but the majority of the medical community considers it a useful tool in treating conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Ingle took an interest in hypnotherapy in 2004 before the plant’s closure. He believes that hypnosis could help a town that has high anxiety from economic woes.

“How could it help Newton? Well stress reduction alone,” said Ingle.

He decided to begin commuting to Minnesota Institute of Advanced Communications for a non-medical program every week for three years to be certified in a type of hypnotherapy called Neural Linguistic Psychology (NLP). Ingle says he practices “conversational hypnosis.”

According to Ingle, his title is Certified Hypnotherapist - Certified Instructor (CHT.CI). Not a licensed psychiatrist, he has taken his career interest to the Internet, networking with other hypnotherapists worldwide via Skype. A 50-inch plasma television is the centerpiece of his office, where Ingle says he conducts training sessions with others he’s met on Facebook and the internet aspiring to learn the relaxation techniques he as studied.

From March 28 to April 6, Ingle hosted Christine Sheppard a Registered Nurse, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master Teacher, which covers spiritual energy training, from Newcastle, Australia.

“I was interested in learning NLP and I wanted some specific advanced techniques, which are usually offered by most American trainers,” said Sheppard. “Not all Australian trainers offer them, and I wanted distance education, and I wanted it done properly. I didn’t want a lot did I?”

Ingle worked with Sheppard on a hypnosis training including a technique called a “Rapid Induction,” which involves soothing verbal prompts to relax the body area by area.

Her first visit to Iowa, Sheppard said she enjoyed her experience in Newton and being from the subtropics, saw snowfall for the first time.

“I’ve actually found myself being very comfortable in Newton. I’ve never been to the Midwest before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect,” she said. “I find the people nice, relaxed very easy to talk to. And I had a Maid Rite. We had Ice Cream the first weekend and snow. I actually saw proper snow.”

His business is in the beginning stages, but Ingle hopes to attract clients ranging from students desiring better grades to the terminally ill seeking pain management.

“We haven’t even got the sign up yet,” said Ingle. “But we’re ready.”