SWIHA Blog

At the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we believe that the soul speaks loudest when life grows quiet—and often, it’s in the stillness of our struggles that we hear the sacred call to awaken. For Anne Harney, that call came during a season of deep emotional exhaustion, standing at the edge of burnout after years of selfless service in special education. What felt like a breaking point became a breakthrough—a divine invitation to return to her true self. Guided by intuition and the desire to live with greater alignment, Anne stepped onto the path of holistic healing, where purpose and passion are no longer just dreams; they become daily practices.

Sometimes, the path to purpose is born from the deepest uncertainty. For Sherronda Davis, it began with a bold, life-altering choice—to leave behind the familiar, move into her car, and search for something more meaningful. In the midst of emotional and physical transition, she found the courage to rediscover herself. What started as a quest for personal healing soon unfolded into a powerful journey of transformation, leading her toward a life of purpose as a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach.

The Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program at SWIHA offers an online option for those who are passionate about healing and empowering others through spiritual practices, energy work, and holistic modalities. Within this program, students have the opportunity to choose one of three transformative paths: Advanced Professional Hypnotherapy & Life Coaching, Spiritual Coach & Healing Botanicals & Earth Ceremonies, and Spiritual Coach & End of Life Doula. Each of these paths provides students with valuable tools to build a meaningful business that aligns with their unique passions. Let’s explore these modalities and how they can be applied to a thriving business after graduation.

Before discovering Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Katie Carl was already practicing as a massage therapist—doing meaningful work, yet sensing there was something deeper calling to her. She felt the limitations of focusing solely on the physical body and knew true healing required more than just technique; it needed heart, intuition, and a space where the emotional and spiritual could be held just as tenderly as the physical. Drawn to SWIHA’s soul-honoring, holistic approach, Katie found not only a school - she found a sacred catalyst for transformation. What began as a desire to deepen her Massage practice became a powerful journey of purpose, authenticity, and the creation of a healing space where softness meets shadow. Her story is one of courage, clarity, and calling—read on to see how Katie is redefining what it means to be a healer.

Amanda Herring always knew she was meant to help people — it wasn’t until she blended her medical expertise with holistic healing that she truly discovered her purpose. As an ER nurse, she spent over a decade on the front lines of emergency medicine, tending to crises and comforting those in their most vulnerable moments. Yet amidst the chaos and heartbreak of the ER, Amanda began to notice a recurring pattern — many of the emergencies she treated could have been prevented with better self-care, healthier habits, and more education on wellness.

That realization sparked a fire in her: there had to be a better way.

In today’s fast-paced world, many people are seeking more than just physical rest—they’re craving deep emotional, mental, and spiritual restoration. Enter Yoga Nidra, a powerful practice of conscious relaxation that guides the body into deep rest while keeping the mind aware and receptive. Often called “yogic sleep,” Yoga Nidra is far more than a nap—it’s a doorway to healing, insight, and expanded awareness.

When Adriana Mosqueda walked into the hypnotherapy clinic at SWIHA, she was a mother navigating the uncertainty of a paused nursing career, feeling lost in the aftermath of the pandemic. What she didn’t know was that her first hypnotherapy session would unlock a floodgate of healing, purpose, and transformation. That moment sparked a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening that ultimately led her to the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts—and to a calling that now allows her to help others release their own inner blocks. From client to now graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner Diploma Program, Adriana’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the path we didn’t plan leads us exactly where we’re meant to be.

Meet Shannon Hogan, a proud graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). Once feeling lost and disconnected, Shannon found her true calling through holistic healing and the power of integrative wellness. A single transformative session with a client confirmed she was on the right path—and she hasn’t looked back since. Now ordained and running her own healing practice, Shannon blends Reiki, sound therapy, and aromatherapy to help others find balance, purpose, and peace. Her journey is one of passion, growth, and the profound impact of following your heart.

In today’s fast-paced, high-stress world, something is shifting. More and more people are waking up to the reality that true wellness goes far beyond prescriptions and symptom management. They're seeking deeper healing—healing that touches the body, mind, and spirit. That’s where holistic practitioners come in. And the truth is: we need them now more than ever.

Whether it’s the rise in chronic illness, the growing awareness around mental health, or a collective desire to return to ancient, earth-centered practices, the call for holistic healers is getting louder—and more urgent.

At the heart of every healer is a calling—a gentle nudge, a sudden synchronicity, or a deep inner knowing that there’s more to life than what we can see with our eyes. For Nicole Santoro, that calling was never a singular, dramatic event. Instead, it was a series of divine nudges—a trail of synchronicities marked by resonant goosebumps, repeating numbers, and perfectly-timed encounters that let her know she was exactly where she was meant to be.