At the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we often witness students walk through our doors carrying dreams that seem distant, even impossible. Gabriela Milan was once one of those dreamers. Today, she’s a vibrant example of what happens when you follow your heart, trust your calling, and allow healing to begin from within.
Before she became a beacon of healing and transformation, Gabriela was clocking 50-hour workweeks as a server at Olive Garden. Deep down, though, she carried a powerful desire: to become a mental health therapist. Yet something about the traditional route didn’t sit right with her. She craved something more soul-connected—something heart-led.
That search for meaning led her to discover Clinical Hypnotherapy and Life Coaching, and ultimately, to SWIHA. The moment she found these healing modalities, everything shifted. “It offered a way to work with clients on a deeper, more meaningful level—a true soul-to-soul approach to healing,” Gabriela shares. “I knew it was exactly what I had been looking for.”
A Spiritual Awakening Along the Oregon Coast
It wasn’t just a change in career Gabriela was seeking—it was a transformation of her entire life. That transformation began during a solo trip along the rugged Oregon coast. Standing at the edge of the ocean, she experienced a profound spiritual moment that changed everything. “I realized my true purpose in life: to hold space for others and support them on their healing journeys.”
That realization set her on a path that not only changed her life but would go on to change the lives of thousands of others.
Building a Healing Empire—From One Office to Fifty
After graduating from SWIHA, Gabriela started small—just a single shared office. However, fueled by passion and the foundational tools she gained through her studies, her dream began to expand rapidly. By 2018, she opened OM Wellness Utah, a center for holistic healing that today houses 50 offices, a yoga studio, and a family of 55 incredible practitioners offering everything from massage therapy and naturopathic medicine to hypnotherapy and coaching.
And Gabriela didn’t stop there.
In 2024, she began organizing spiritual retreats across the country. Just over a year later, she’s hosted 12 transformational retreats—safe, sacred spaces for healing, connection, and deep inner work. “Witnessing the growth and joy these retreats bring to others fills my heart in ways I can’t fully describe,” she says.
Healing as a Way of Life
Gabriela’s work today blends clinical expertise with soulful intuition. She offers soul-to-soul coaching, higher self hypnotherapy, past life regressions, Reiki sessions, and monthly Reiki classes. She’s not just guiding others—she’s co-creating sacred space, walking alongside her clients in mutual transformation.
“My greatest passion is creating a space where people feel seen, valued, and safe in my presence,” she says. “I believe everyone deserves to recognize their true self and embrace their inner divinity.”
From running her private practice to co-hosting retreats and creating wellness spaces, Gabriela’s life is a beautiful tapestry of healing, creativity, and purpose. Her days are filled with heart-centered work, sacred travel, and the joy of watching others awaken to their own power.
Wisdom from the Journey
When asked what advice she would give to future SWIHA students, Gabriela’s answer is simple and profound:
“Stay in your heart.”
She believes our deepest desires are not random—they are messages from our future selves, revealing what is already possible. “Whatever vision you hold for yourself as you embark on this journey at SWIHA, know that it can and will become your reality.”
And as for the most important lesson she learned during her time at SWIHA?
“The power of our subconscious mind is truly incredible,” she says. “It shapes our thoughts, influences our actions, and drives many of our decisions—often without us even realizing it.”
It’s this understanding that guides her unique and impactful work every day.
A Life Once Heavy, Now Radiant
Gabriela’s story is more than a career transformation—it’s a soul awakening. From struggling with depression as a sensitive young adult to embracing life with open arms and a full heart, she’s proof that healing is always possible.
“I love life. I love this planet—though it hasn’t always been this way. I’ve learned that there is always hope for a brighter, more beautiful future.”
Gabriela Milan is a shining example of what’s possible when we align with our purpose, trust the healing process, and walk the path of service. We are beyond proud to call her a SWIHA graduate—and to witness the ripple effect of her light in the world.
Inspired by Gabriela’s story?
Follow your calling. Enroll in a program that changes lives—starting with your own.
