Before finding Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Elliott Warner (they/them) was in a place of deep uncertainty. “In my life before SWIHA, I was facing many challenges,” Elliott recalls. “I was struggling to make sense of my life, and being a professional of any kind seemed impossible.”
It was during a hospital stay—when Elliott was searching online for affordable hypnosis training—that their life took a powerful turn. “Even a single class was around $500,” they share. “This was significantly out of my budget. So, I logged on to the SWIHA website I had encountered years before to look into Yoga training… I found that financial aid was available for my program of study, and it was more than I could have dreamed.”
That discovery marked the beginning of Elliott’s path into the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program with a focus in Hypnotherapy, where they began to uncover both personal healing and a profound sense of purpose.
For Elliott, the defining moment in their journey came when they created their own website—a space to share their vision and healing offerings with the world. “I knew that this is what I wanted to give the world through my practice,” Elliott says. “A gentle expansion into understanding the world, spirituality, and consciousness as it unfolds for every unique individual on their own journey.”
Through their studies, Elliott began to develop the courage to bring their dreams to life. They describe how SWIHA’s culture of compassion helped them grow through challenges that once felt insurmountable. “My life has changed significantly, yes,” they explain. “Now I feel well-equipped with the tools, resources, and support I need to overcome and integrate wellbeing into action. There is also the experience of a school that genuinely cares for you and your success. I had never had that before.”
Elliott adds that the consistent support of advisors and instructors transformed their mindset completely. “My gut reaction is no longer to give up. It is a gentle push through challenge into choice. That has made everything possible—it is lifesaving.”
Today, Elliott owns a small business as a Hypnotherapist, offering specialized hypnosis sessions for clients exploring spirituality, dreams, and consciousness. Their practice provides a safe, accepting environment for individuals processing extraordinary experiences such as near-death encounters, out-of-body experiences, and even extraterrestrial contact.
“I was inspired to start my own business because the access to the kind of hypnosis I offer is limited,” Elliott shares. “I want to offer a safe space for both queer people and people who have had these extraordinary experiences, such as myself.”
Recognizing the stigma surrounding such topics, Elliott strives to create spaces of understanding and validation. “I believe that expressing and understanding these experiences in a way that makes sense for you is essential,” they say. “Until there is wider acceptance, it’s even more essential to have the support of someone who understands.”
Their long-term goal is to make their practice mobile, bringing healing to those with limited access to transportation or quiet, safe spaces. “I want my offerings to be accessible to those who might otherwise have none,” Elliott explains.
When reflecting on their time at SWIHA, Elliott shares that their greatest lesson was learning to embrace authenticity. “The greatest lesson I learned at SWIHA is to be true to myself,” they say. “I truly felt that there was a push to make my business my own by offering a service that might seem a little strange to some, yet it truly was calling to me. I wake up wanting to share this with others and find myself naturally thinking of more ways I can expand this joy.”
They express deep gratitude for their instructors—Sherry Fragosa, Gisele Marasca, and Sherry Gilbert—who inspired them with their wisdom and compassion. Elliott especially cherished the Past Life Regression Hypnotherapy course, which deepened their understanding of consciousness and transformation.
Elliott encourages current and future students to stay connected and communicate openly. “Talk openly with your advisor and instructors and ask for what you need,” they advise. “Every time that voice snuck in telling me, ‘you didn’t graduate high school, you ran away from home as a teenager, you can never finish anything,’ I would email my advisor and she would give me my options. Sometimes that was just enough to put things in perspective.”
As a queer and trans person, Elliott also emphasizes the importance of safe, inclusive spaces in both education and healing. “I feel like this school facilitated safe spaces for me, and in turn gave me the tools to facilitate that for others within the scope of my practice.”
From self-doubt to self-empowerment, Elliott’s story embodies the heart of SWIHA’s mission: to help individuals discover their gifts and use them to heal the world. Through their courage, authenticity, and compassion, Elliott is creating new pathways of understanding and acceptance within the healing arts.
If you feel called to explore your own healing path or to serve others through holistic wellness, discover the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program at SWIHA. Our programs are designed to support your personal growth and professional success—wherever your journey begins.
At SWIHA, transformation isn’t just something we teach—it’s something we live, together.