Sometimes the path we're meant to follow doesn't begin where we expect.
For SWIHA graduate Kristin Atlantic, the journey toward becoming an Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner began after an already successful 23-year career as an Administrative Analyst at the University of California, San Diego. While many people might see retirement or a career change as an ending, Kristin saw it as the beginning of something much bigger—a calling to help others heal on a deeper level.
Today, she owns Phoenix Rising Holistic Therapies in Murrieta, California, where she provides medical massage therapy to veterans through the VA Community Care Network. And thanks to her education at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), she's expanding her practice beyond the physical body to support lasting transformation of the mind and spirit.
After transitioning into massage therapy, Kristin quickly realized that while bodywork was incredibly rewarding, it only addressed one part of the healing journey.
"I loved helping people through bodywork, yet I knew I wanted to expand my offerings to include the mind and spirit, not just the body."
She had been considering SWIHA for years because of its reputation for life coaching education. When she discovered the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) Program with the Advanced Professional Hypnotherapy & Life Coaching specialty, she found exactly what she had been searching for.
What she didn't anticipate was just how transformative the experience would become— professionally and personally.
"I thought I was simply learning how subconscious beliefs affect behavior, yet I quickly realized how many of my own patterns and beliefs had been shaping my life for years."
That realization ignited a passion that continues to guide her work today: helping others identify subconscious barriers so they can stop repeating old patterns and begin intentionally creating the lives they truly want.
Like many students, Kristin's educational journey wasn't always filled with certainty.
Throughout much of the program, she questioned whether she was fully understanding the material. She often felt like she was trying to piece together concepts without seeing the bigger picture.
Then came one class that changed everything.
Somatic Psychology: The Subtle Body became the turning point in her journey.
As she explored the chakra system and the relationship between emotional, energetic, and physical wellbeing, the pieces finally fell into place.
"I realized that I had been operating out of alignment in several areas of my life. Many of the concepts I had been studying throughout the program suddenly made sense."
That moment became her confirmation that she was exactly where she needed to be.
Kristin says that while her external life may not look dramatically different—yet—her inner world has changed in profound ways.
Through her studies, she became more introspective, more compassionate, and more curious about understanding both herself and others.
Instead of reacting with judgment, she now approaches people with empathy and a desire to understand what experiences and beliefs may be shaping their actions.
"The program has helped me develop greater compassion for both myself and others."
Those shifts have strengthened her personal relationships as well as the way she supports her clients.
After spending much of her career working for others, Kristin finally embraced a dream she had held for years: becoming a business owner.
She launched Phoenix Rising Holistic Therapies, where she currently specializes in medical massage therapy for veterans through the VA Community Care Network.
Helping clients reduce pain, improve function, and regain quality of life is deeply fulfilling, yet her vision doesn't stop there.
As she completes her education at SWIHA, she's integrating hypnotherapy and life coaching into her practice so she can address the whole person—not just physical symptoms.
Her long-term goal is to create meaningful, lasting transformation by helping clients heal emotionally, mentally, and physically. She also feels especially called to work with women who have spent years putting everyone else's needs before their own. Kristin hopes to help them reconnect with themselves, rediscover their voice, and intentionally build lives that feel authentic and fulfilling.
Her message is simple, yet incredibly powerful:
It's never too late to reinvent yourself.
When reflecting on her time at SWIHA, Kristin believes one lesson rises above all others:
Often, we are our own biggest obstacle.
Fear.
Self-doubt.
Limiting beliefs.
Old patterns.
These invisible barriers can prevent us from becoming who we're capable of being.
Through hypnotherapy, coaching, and personal growth work, Kristin learned that transformation isn't simply about acquiring knowledge—it's about applying it.
"You have to be willing to do the work, face uncomfortable truths, and keep moving forward even when it feels difficult."
That willingness to step into discomfort has become one of the greatest gifts she received during her education.
Kristin credits many instructors with helping shape both her education and personal growth.
She expresses deep appreciation for:
Each instructor contributed unique perspectives that helped Kristin grow into the practitioner she is becoming today.
Kristin offers thoughtful advice for anyone considering—or currently enrolled in—a SWIHA program.
For online learners especially:
"Take your time, enjoy the journey, and trust the process."
Her experience reminds students that healing work often begins with ourselves before we can effectively support others.
Kristin's story is a reminder that personal transformation rarely happens all at once. Sometimes it unfolds one class, one insight, one breakthrough, and one courageous step at a time.
Today, she continues serving veterans through massage therapy while building a holistic practice that integrates hypnotherapy and life coaching—helping others create meaningful change from the inside out. Her journey reflects what so many SWIHA students discover: when we choose to invest in our own healing and growth, we're better equipped to help others do the same.
Whether you're beginning a new career, expanding an existing practice, or simply searching for work that feels aligned with your purpose, it's never too late to answer the call.
Your next chapter may be waiting for you at SWIHA.
Ready to begin your own transformational journey? Explore SWIHA's Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner Program and discover how an education rooted in mind, body, and spirit can help you create a career that changes lives—including your own.