SWIHA Blog

For many healers, the path to purpose isn’t linear—it’s forged through deep self-inquiry, courage, and a willingness to honor authenticity above all else. For Valarie Hopkins, a graduate of SWIHA’s Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program with a focus in Hypnotherapy, that journey has been nothing short of transformational.

“I have always loved the various Healing Arts,” Valarie shares. From early on, she felt a calling to support others in moving through internal blocks and reclaiming their joy. “My main goal is to assist others in moving past obstacles that are in the way of following their bliss, and Hypnotherapy is a great resource for that.”

Before discovering Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Diana Arredondo’s life looked stable from the outside—yet internally, something was missing.

“Before coming to SWIHA, my life felt busy and unfulfilled,” Diana shares. Like many people on the brink of transformation, she was working in a corporate job that provided security yet left her feeling disconnected from her deeper purpose. Although she had long been drawn to holistic health and personal growth, she didn’t yet see a clear path forward.

Over time, the disconnect began to show up physically and emotionally. Stress and burnout took a toll, signaling that something needed to change. What began as a personal healing journey soon became a calling.

I created my business, The Adora Method, to guide women of color in healing the subconscious roots of fear, shame, and self-sabotage so they can end painful repeating cycles and create success and relationships that truly last. It is my honor to walk beside them on their path of healing and spiritual awakening.

From the moment she first walked through the doors of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Candy Albalos carried with her a quiet hope—a hope that her life could become something more grounded, purposeful, and aligned with the inner calling she had felt for years. Before SWIHA, Candy described her life simply: “Without purpose.” Yet even during those uncertain years, something deep within was nudging her forward, whispering that she was meant to help others, meant to heal, meant to rise.

Today, as a proud graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program, Candy stands as a testament to what happens when someone chooses to acknowledge their own divine light—and then follows it courageously.

Before discovering Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Nika Shelton’s life was defined by uncertainty. A traumatic car accident left her in a wheelchair for months, forcing her to confront physical challenges and deep mental and emotional struggles. The journey to regain mobility was grueling, yet it revealed a resilience and inner strength that Nika had not fully recognized in herself. This experience, coupled with her lifelong desire to help others, ultimately led her to SWIHA and the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program—a path that would transform her life in ways she could have never imagined.

Before enrolling at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tegan Catalano describes her life as being on “autopilot”—moving through each day with a deep longing for something more. Her body ached, her spirit felt disconnected, and she wondered if she would ever find a path that truly fulfilled her. What she didn’t realize then was that the answers she sought were already within her; she simply needed the right tools to access them.

Every healing journey has a beginning—and for Linda Abramov, that journey truly came into focus at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. As she completes the final class of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program, Linda reflects on a path shaped by resilience, intuition, entrepreneurship, and a deep desire to help others heal from the inside out.

When life asks you to rebuild, it also gives you the chance to rediscover who you truly are. For Sarah Hanlon, a recent graduate of the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program, her journey has been one of courage, renewal, and transformation.

Before enrolling at SWIHA, Sarah was a dedicated massage therapist and mother living in Massachusetts. She was also in the process of healing from a painful chapter in her life — a toxic relationship she had left behind. “I wanted to help others in ways that I wanted to be helped as I was getting out of a toxic relationship,” she shares. “I wanted to be that hand that helps guide people through the tunnel to the other side of the hurt that allows them to build their lives for themselves.”

When life delivers unexpected challenges, some people lose their way — and others, like Nika Shelton, find their purpose.

Before enrolling in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Nika’s life was filled with uncertainty. A traumatic car accident left her in a wheelchair for months, forcing her to fight both physically and mentally to recover.

Supporting someone through their final transition is one of the most sacred and meaningful callings a person can answer. End-of-Life Doulas—sometimes called Death Doulas or Transition Guides—hold space for individuals and families during one of life’s most profound passages. These compassionate caregivers provide emotional, spiritual, and practical support to those nearing the end of life, helping them find peace, dignity, and closure.

If you feel called to this work, it’s important to take time for deep reflection and preparation. Here are five important things to consider before becoming an End-of-Life Doula.