At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, we often say that healing is not a destination—it’s a journey. For recent Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner graduate Anna Laniewski, that journey has been nothing short of life-changing.
Before enrolling at SWIHA, Anna knew one thing for certain: she wanted her life to mean something.
“I have long wanted to do something meaningful with my life. This would have to involve using my past traumas to help others.”
Like many who feel the call to healing work, Anna didn’t have a perfectly mapped-out plan. Instead, she followed an inner pull.
“I am not sure what led me to SWIHA, other than the Source itself.”
What she discovered was far more than an academic program. What she stepped into was a transformation.
“When beginning this program at SWIHA, I had no idea that I was in for 14 months of the most intense therapy I have ever experienced.”
The Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program is designed to cultivate both professional skill and personal growth. For Anna, that meant confronting old narratives, rebuilding confidence, and integrating tools in real time.
“There have been so many aha moments, yet my favorite part of the whole program is how thoughtfully the courses are designed to complement each other. So many times, some of the coursework derailed me and tore me apart, while the accompanying course, at the same time, provided me with tools to cope and integrate.”
This intentional structure—where challenge is met with support—became a defining feature of her experience. It wasn’t just about learning modalities. It was about becoming whole.
When asked if her life has significantly changed, Anna doesn’t hesitate.
“I feel like I am a different person. I have always known who I want to be, because my moral core is so strong; however, a lifetime of distorted mirrors and filters has destroyed my confidence. This program has given me a clear roadmap to becoming the person I want to be, and re-awakened my sense of wonder and whimsy.”
Through dedicated study, reflection, and practice, Anna rebuilt something foundational: trust in herself. The “distorted mirrors” that once clouded her confidence were replaced with clarity, tools, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Professionally, Anna continues to run her long-standing Administrative Consulting and Business Development practice, serving remote clients with a wide spectrum of administrative services.
At the same time, she is intentionally building her healing practice, Blessed Divine, from the ground up.
“I am in the process of building my healing practice in all the preparatory aspects: website, social media presence, artwork, merchandise, and designing curated client experiences.”
Her SWIHA training has supported her as a healer and as a businesswoman.
“My program at SWIHA has helped me with time management, project completion, professional self-esteem, stress management, communication skills, and a general overall better quality of personal and professional life.”
These skills—often overlooked in healing professions—are essential for sustainable impact. Anna is weaving together her administrative expertise and her healing education to create a practice that is grounded, thoughtful, and client-centered.
When reflecting on her biggest takeaway from the program, Anna shares a powerful insight:
“That I am here to bear witness to the lives of other individuals, that I should have no attachment to their choices, and that I am here to be of loving service, whenever and wherever I can make a positive impact.”
This understanding embodies the heart of integrative healing work: presence without control, compassion without agenda, and service rooted in love.
Anna also expresses deep gratitude for her instructors and peers.
“I have been absolutely inspired and impacted by all my instructors and fellow students. Each and every class has contributed to the gifts I am being given and the fabric of all that I have learned. During this turbulent time, I cannot be more grateful to be made aware of such a thoughtful and amazing community of healers.”
For those considering the journey, Anna offers one word in all caps:
“GRIT… take notes and just keep going. If you don't connect with something, just keep an open mind and give it a try. It all goes to broadening horizons, stretching boundaries, and building new neuro-pathways.”
She recognizes that what is learned in the classroom is only the beginning.
“I know that much of what we learned here is simply an outline, and the real deep learning is yet to come from applying the knowledge to practical application.”
“That is what it is… a journey. SWIHA got me out the door and guided me lovingly, showing me how to work with clients. I always knew that I could translate a lifetime of trauma into powerful healing, yet it was SWIHA that showed me how to do it.”
Today, Anna stands in the best place she has ever been—still human, still navigating occasional difficult days, yet fully equipped to cope and to serve.
Her story is a testament to what’s possible when courage meets community, when trauma becomes wisdom, and when purpose is finally given structure.
At SWIHA, we are honored to have been part of Anna Laniewski’s journey—and we can’t wait to see the powerful healing she brings into the world next.