SWIHA Blog

When Shakeela Smith graduated from the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), with specialties in Healing Botanicals and Earth Ceremonies, it was more than a diploma—it was the embodiment of a journey that had been quietly unfolding for years.

Her path was not linear. It was layered, intuitive, and Divinely timed.

For many students, the path to SWIHA begins in a moment of deep inner questioning. For Shanda Mack, that moment was marked by what she lovingly describes as a time of spiritual limbo—a powerful in-between space where clarity had not yet arrived; however, the calling was undeniable.

Before enrolling at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Shanda found herself standing at a crossroads. She knew she was meant to spiritually inspire others, yet she was still discerning how to align that calling with a sustainable, prosperous career. The desire to create meaningful impact—while honoring both her spiritual gifts and her professional goals—ultimately led her to the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program.

For Michelle Rodriguez, healing has never been just a job—it has been a calling. With over 22 years in the healthcare field and nine years as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, Michelle has walked alongside countless individuals and families during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Yet, despite her deep dedication to nursing, something within her began to shift.

“I have held the view that each individual’s situation should be approached holistically, honoring the triune beings—body, mind, and soul—that each person is,” Michelle shares. “I especially believe this when it comes to those who are in the transition of death.”

That belief became the compass guiding her toward a new path—one rooted in care and reverence.

For many, life doesn’t follow a straight path, and for Alissa Germond, that winding journey led her to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). Now a student in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program, Alissa is on track to graduate in February 2026 with a diploma, along with certificates in Spiritual Coaching, End of Life Doula work, and Yoga Nidra. She has also enriched her studies with Holistic Entrepreneur and Business Development classes—each step shaping the foundation for her transformative work with others.

For recent Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) graduate Courtney Easterling, the path to SWIHA was guided by a lifelong love of natural living, holistic wellness, and earth-based practices. What began as a desire to learn more about the healing arts ultimately became a deeply personal journey of growth, grounding, and purpose.

“I came to SWIHA because I was interested in the healing arts,” Courtney shares. “I’ve always loved natural practices and agriculture. I love holistic nutrition, chakras, and yoga.” Drawn to these interconnected modalities, she found SWIHA to be the place where her values and passions could come together in a meaningful, professional way.

Life has a way of guiding us exactly where we need to be—sometimes through gentle nudges, and other times through moments that make us pause entirely. For Maggie Coe, her journey into the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) was a combination of both.

Before enrolling at SWIHA, Maggie’s life revolved around her family, her pottery business, and deepening her relationship with her partner. In 2024, a significant accident forced her to slow down, listen to her body, and reflect on what truly mattered. “I became more intentional with my life, listening to what I was being called to do,” Maggie shares. That reflection led her to SWIHA, and she immediately felt that this was the path she was meant to follow. “This is how I could show up for others and also for myself,” she explains.

Sometimes the most transformative journeys begin not with certainty, instead emerging from a quiet sense that something more is waiting. For Seyoni Smith, that inner knowing surfaced during a season of transition—one that ultimately led her to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) and the completion of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner Program.

Before SWIHA, Seyoni was working a traditional 9–5 job after taking a gap year from college—one she never returned from because full-time work became a necessity. During that period, she found herself navigating her own spiritual awakening alongside mental health challenges. While she was doing what was expected, fulfillment remained out of reach. She recalls knowing, deep down, that “there was something more waiting for me, both spiritually and physically.”

Before enrolling at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Felicia Williams Brown was already deeply committed to service. Her work within the autism community was meaningful and impactful, yet something within her continued to call for more.

She describes that time simply: she “enjoyed the work,” yet always felt “a calling to serve on a deeper level.” That inner pull eventually led her to SWIHA—an experience she now describes as nothing short of transformational. SWIHA, she shares, “has been my saving grace,” and through the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program, she finally feels that she is “walking in my purpose.”

For Bella Alaniz Badillo, the path to healing work began early—with curiosity, intuition, and a deep calling toward the integrative arts. What started as a gap year after high school soon became a life-defining journey into self-discovery, resilience, and professional purpose through Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA).

Bella enrolled in SWIHA’s Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program with a specialty in Advanced Hypnotherapy, beginning her studies in February 2024. As she completes her final classes and steps into graduation, she reflects on a journey that has transformed every aspect of her life.

“I always wanted to be a therapist, and as I read SWIHA’s Integrative Arts program, I knew it was the perfect place for me.”

Sometimes healing begins not with a plan, rather with survival. For Chasity Updike, her journey to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) arrived during one of the most painful seasons of her life—and became the turning point that helped her reclaim purpose, voice, and self-trust.

Before enrolling at SWIHA, Chasity was navigating overwhelming loss and responsibility. “There was a lot of heavy grief in my life from losing my soulmate shortly before,” she shares. At the same time, she was caring for her father full-time as his health declined. “I was also taking care of my dad 24/7 as he was slowly dying too from an evil heart.”

Living with multiple autoimmune diseases added another layer of exhaustion and despair. “I had given up and was barely making it through the days,” she says. What she needed most was not a career path—instead, a way to heal herself.