SWIHA Blog

Some journeys begin with a career change. Others begin with a quiet inner knowing that grows impossible to ignore.

For Amanda Keller-Cross, her path to healing started long before she enrolled at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). It began with a personal search for deeper understanding—of herself, her family, and the stories carried through generations.

Now, as she prepares to graduate from SWIHA's Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) diploma program with a specialization in Advanced Hypnotherapy, Amanda is transforming that personal journey into a meaningful career dedicated to helping others reconnect with the wisdom already within them.

Following the Call to Heal

Before arriving at SWIHA, Amanda was already immersed in her own healing process.

She had spent years exploring the relationship between the mind, body, spirit, and the experiences passed down through family lineage. Genealogy became more than a hobby—it became a doorway into understanding herself through the lives of her ancestors.

That exploration naturally led her to hypnotherapy.

"I was drawn to Hypnotherapy because it allowed me to explore and experience the subconscious mind. I am passionate about this modality because it creates space for ancestral healing beneath the surface, where old patterns, familial beliefs, emotions, and stored experiences can be witnessed and transformed."

For Amanda, healing isn't about fixing something that's broken. It's about uncovering what has always been there.

When the Pieces Finally Fit Together

Every student has a moment when they realize they're exactly where they're meant to be.

For Amanda, that realization came as everything she was learning at SWIHA began connecting with the work she had already been doing in her own life.

"I knew I was on the right path when the work I was studying at SWIHA started to connect with everything I already felt called to do... ancestral healing, nervous system awareness, self-compassion, spiritual connection, and helping people understand themselves more deeply. It felt like the pieces of my life were finally coming together."

Rather than feeling like she was learning something entirely new, Amanda found herself discovering language, techniques, and ethical practices that strengthened a calling she had already begun to answer.

Learning to Trust the Process

One of the greatest transformations Amanda experienced at SWIHA wasn't simply mastering new skills—it was learning to trust herself.

Through her coursework, she developed greater confidence in her intuition, her communication, and her ability to hold space for others.

She also discovered a new way of relating to herself.

"Instead of viewing symptoms, emotions, and patterns as something to fight against, I now see them as messages, invitations, and opportunities for deeper awareness."

This shift changed how she approaches healing personally, and how she hopes to support future clients with compassion rather than judgment.

Building a Practice Rooted in Compassion

As graduation approaches, Amanda is already laying the foundation for her practice, Innate Dimensions: The Copper Collective.

Inspired by her passion for genealogy, spirituality, nervous system support, and subconscious healing, Amanda envisions a space where people—especially women—can reconnect with themselves, their lineage, and their purpose.

Her offerings will include:

• - Hypnosis for positive change
• - Spiritual hypnosis
• - Past life regression and soul exploration
• - Ancestral healing sessions
• - Nervous system support
• - Mind-body wellness practices
• - Handcrafted wellness products, including teas, spiritual cleansing tools, copper jewelry, and protective pieces

The name itself reflects her philosophy.

To Amanda, healing is layered and multidimensional—and like copper, it serves as a conduit for connection, energy, protection, and transformation.

The SWIHA Difference

Amanda credits SWIHA with helping her become a stronger practitioner, as well as a more intentional one.

She explains:

"The skills I am learning at SWIHA support my work by helping me create a safe, intentional, client-centered session. I am learning how to listen more deeply, guide clients with care, use language intentionally, and support transformation in a grounded and ethical way."

Beyond technical skills, Amanda says one of her greatest lessons has been understanding that healing cannot be rushed.

"Healing does not have to be forced. It can unfold through awareness, compassion, and trust."

She also emphasizes the importance of integrity and presence, recognizing that the energy practitioners bring into a session is just as meaningful as the techniques they use.

Teachers Who Made a Lasting Impact

Throughout her education, Amanda found inspiration in several instructors who helped shape her experience.

She expresses deep gratitude for Linda Bennett, Elmas Vincent, Sherry Gilbert, and Gisele Marasca, whose guidance and expertise made a lasting impression during her time at SWIHA.

She especially enjoyed classes focused on:

• - The subconscious mind
• - Energy work
• - Holistic entrepreneurship

Together, these subjects helped her bridge the gap between personal healing and professional practice.

Words of Encouragement for Future Students

Amanda understands that stepping onto a healing path often comes with self-doubt.

Her advice to future SWIHA students is both compassionate and empowering.

"Trust the process and never give up, even when you hear those thoughts, 'What do you think you are doing? Who do you think you are?' Keep going with the answer—that you are doing exactly what you want to do and YOU are exactly who YOU think YOU ARE."

She encourages students to remain curious, practice consistently, and remember that growth doesn't happen all at once.

"Sometimes the path reveals itself as you keep showing up."

Healing Begins Within

At the heart of Amanda's work is a simple yet powerful belief:

People already possess the capacity to heal.

Rather than looking outside themselves for answers, she hopes to help others reconnect with the wisdom carried within their own bodies, emotions, stories, and experiences.

"I want to help people understand that they are not broken. I want to show people that they don't need external sources to heal themselves—it's all within them."

Her journey is a beautiful reminder that healing often begins with curiosity, grows through courage, and blossoms when we learn to trust ourselves.

Ready to Begin Your Own Healing Journey?

Whether you're passionate about hypnotherapy, holistic wellness, spiritual growth, or helping others create meaningful change, SWIHA offers programs designed to support both your personal transformation and professional goals.

If you're ready to explore where your own calling could lead, learn more about the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) diploma program and discover how SWIHA can help you turn your passion into purpose.