Sometimes, the path forward begins when life changes in ways we never expected.
For Dodielynn Huckaby, becoming a student at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) came during one of the most difficult chapters of her life. A newly grieving widow and mother of nine, Dodielynn found herself facing a future very different from the one she had imagined with her husband. In the midst of grief, she knew she needed a new direction—to help herself heal and to discover how she could eventually help others navigate their own difficult seasons.
Her search led her to SWIHA, where she began studying in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program, while also pursuing coursework in End-of-Life Doula and Modern Spirituality Celebrant.
What began as a search for healing has become a journey of purpose, self-discovery, and service.
Finding SWIHA During a Season of Grief
Before SWIHA, Dodielynn describes herself as a newly grieving widow who was trying to find her footing as a mother of nine.
“My plans for a future with my husband had unexpectedly changed, and I felt lost,” she shared.
She was struggling with grief and knew she needed to find something that could help her cope while also giving her a sense of direction. Then, one morning while scrolling through Facebook, Dodielynn saw an advertisement for SWIHA.
For years, she had thought about returning to school to study spirituality. She had also wanted to pursue education as a death doula. When she explored SWIHA's programs and discovered the variety of courses available, something clicked.
“I knew this was the college for me!”
She chose the Healing Arts Practitioner program along with Modern Spirituality Celebrant and End-of-Life Doula studies—areas that connected deeply with interests she had carried throughout her life.
Honoring Her Intuitive Gifts
Dodielynn has always considered herself an intuitive person. As she grew older, she began recognizing and exploring those intuitive gifts more intentionally.
For years, she read books, practiced meditation, and spent time listening to what she describes as guidance from God, her Angels, and her Ancestors. Her SWIHA education gave her an opportunity to explore those interests in a structured educational environment while developing tools she could eventually use to support others. As she began her coursework, Dodielynn quickly felt that she was exactly where she needed to be.
“I felt an inner excitement every day while working on my coursework,” she said.
She began noticing thoughts, signs, and themes that would appear in her own journaling and then emerge again in her coursework.
“To me, it was proving that the Universe was guiding me on this path.”
Learning to Live With Grief—and Support Others Through It
Dodielynn's SWIHA journey has been about much more than professional preparation. It has also changed the way she understands grief, loss, and unexpected life transitions. After losing her husband, she suddenly found herself navigating life as a solo parent while helping nine children process their own grief.
“I didn't know how to be a solo parent or how to help my children through their grief, yet I knew I wanted to be present for them and guide them the best way I could.”
Through her education, Dodielynn learned tools that helped her become more present—for herself, her family, and others. SWIHA gave her a space to explore her own healing while developing skills related to holding space, supporting others, and navigating grief. She says her entire family has benefited from the knowledge and tools she gained through her programs.
“SWIHA supported me through such a painfully difficult season in my life, and also taught me how to manage my grief by giving me the tools I needed to be present for others.”
Turning Personal Experience Into a Calling
Today, Dodielynn is already putting her education into practice.
She has begun building her Healing Arts Practitioner business and has started working with clients, many of whom have volunteered to help her gain experience and confidence as she develops her practice.
Her future offerings are expected to include:
- - End-of-life doula services
- - Grief support
- - Energy healing
- - Toe readings
- - Life celebrations
Rather than feeling pressure to have everything figured out immediately, Dodielynn is giving herself the opportunity to explore the modalities she has learned and determine which ones align most closely with her vision.
“In the months following graduation, I will be spending time going over all of the modalities I have learned. This will allow me to refine my business plans and choose what modalities fit me the best.”
It's an approach that reflects an important part of the healing arts journey: growth doesn't always happen all at once.
Sometimes, discovering your path means giving yourself permission to explore.
The Joy of Helping Others
Working with clients has already given Dodielynn glimpses of the practitioner she is becoming.
She describes feeling elevated and filled with inner excitement after working with clients, especially when they share how her support has positively affected their well-being. Those moments have helped reinforce why she began this journey in the first place. For someone whose own healing journey began in grief, being able to provide support and compassionate presence to others has become deeply meaningful.
“I owe all of this to SWIHA!”
The Importance of Self-Care in the Healing Arts
One of the greatest lessons Dodielynn has taken from SWIHA is one that can be easy to overlook when you're focused on helping others: you have to care for yourself, too.
“The greatest lessons that I have learned at SWIHA are that we need to take time for ourselves. Self-care is the most important part of our business and journey.”
For future healing practitioners, this is a particularly powerful lesson.
When your work centers on supporting other people, boundaries, restoration, reflection, and self-care are essential. Dodielynn has learned that caring for herself isn't separate from her ability to serve others—it is part of it.
“Without it, we cannot care for others the way we want to.”
Her perspective has also transformed the way she views life's difficult experiences.
“Life is a beautiful gift. All the experiences we endure in our life, good and bad, bring opportunity for growth.”
A Community That Helped Her Keep Going
Dodielynn is grateful for every teacher who supported her during her time at SWIHA. She says each instructor contributed to her learning experience by offering guidance, encouragement, and support. Even on days when grief felt particularly heavy, her coursework gave her another reason to show up for herself.
“I fully enjoyed them all! They gave me another reason to show up for myself every day. Even on the days that grief felt unbearable and heavy.”
While she found the business courses more challenging than some of her other coursework, she pushed through and continued giving her best. That determination is part of her story, too.
Her education wasn't always easy—yet she continued moving forward.
Her Message to Future SWIHA Students: Go for It
If Dodielynn could offer one piece of advice to someone considering a SWIHA education, it would be simple:
“Go for it!”
She encourages future students not to let uncertainty keep them from pursuing something meaningful.
“The only regret you will have is not going for it!”
For Dodielynn, enrolling at SWIHA didn't simply help her discover a professional niche. It gave her an opportunity to explore who she was becoming while healing from a life-changing loss. She discovered new ways to support others—as well as new ways to support herself.
Discovering Who She Is Meant to Be
Dodielynn's journey is still unfolding.
As she continues building her Healing Arts Practitioner business, exploring her modalities, and preparing for the next chapter of her professional life, she carries with her the lessons that came from both her personal experiences and her education. She came to SWIHA during a season when she felt lost. She is now creating a future centered on healing, compassion, spirituality, and service.
“I am so grateful to SWIHA for giving me this opportunity to discover who I am, who I aim to be, and how to be the best me possible.”
And perhaps the most beautiful message she hopes to share with others is one of love:
“I am love, and love can change the world!”
Dodielynn's story is a reminder that healing isn't always about returning to the life we had before. Sometimes, healing means discovering a new path—one that honors what we've experienced, embraces who we are becoming, and allows our experiences to become a source of compassion for others.
SWIHA celebrates Dodielynn Huckaby and her ongoing journey of healing, growth, and purpose.
