SWIHA Blog

Understanding Women’s Experience of Trauma

Many women face trauma in their lives. Whether it’s from past experiences, relationships, or difficult situations, trauma can leave deep emotional scars. However, it’s important to know that healing is possible. By transforming pain into power, women can reclaim their lives and find joy again.

Massage therapy is a rewarding career that allows you to help others while also cultivating a meaningful and fulfilling profession. Whether you are drawn to the healing arts as a new career path or are seeking to deepen your expertise, the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) provides a comprehensive and flexible approach to massage therapy education.

How do you define abundance? Most people define abundance along the lines of “a whole lot of money.” What if I were to tell you that abundance is more than the balance in your checking account? To me, abundance is anything that causes your heart to swell with happiness. Sometimes, that is having a solid amount in your bank account; sometimes, it is the laugh of your children running through the house, and sometimes, abundance shows up in the form of feeling the sunshine on your face after sitting in a cold office all day.

What was your life like before SWIHA? What led you to SWIHA and to your particular program of study? Why are you passionate about this modality?

Before attending SWIHA, I felt like I was living in survival mode 24/7, just trying to get through each day. The difficult experiences I faced in childhood, coupled with the lingering effects they left behind, made navigating adulthood feel overwhelming and impossible. From a tough and often abusive childhood to the lifelong impact of trauma, I was constantly juggling my roles as a human being, friend, daughter, sister, mother, and community member. At the same time, I was trying to manage the internal chaos that trauma left in its wake. Most importantly, I was learning how to genuinely care for myself and how to love myself. SWIHA was one of many baby steps I started implementing into my life.

In a world that increasingly values whole-person healing, holistic wellness education is more than just a path to personal transformation—it’s an opportunity to build a fulfilling and profitable career. At the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we believe that everyone has unique gifts and graces to share with the world, and our mission is to support individuals in turning their passion for healing into a meaningful profession. Whether you’re seeking a new career, expanding your current wellness practice, or beginning your journey of personal growth, holistic wellness education opens doors you may never have imagined.

At the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we celebrate the journeys of our students and graduates—each unique, powerful, and transformative. Annmarie Lieto, a recent graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program, shares her inspiring story of self-discovery, passion, and purpose.

Healing Ourselves

We are all looking for “a quick fix,” and most of the time it doesn’t go as planned. When we seek to master our health, quick fixes rarely work. We can heal if we are willing to dig deep, hold ourselves accountable, and explore!

Humans have evolved and this progression has led us from the caves to creating exquisite communities. We are still hard-wired with primal instinct and this instinct is vital for survival. Now, we are using this same wiring for our current reality, which is working overtime. As humans progress, we no longer need our primal brain to protect us from animal predators, however, it is still in use in the modern era triggered by different stimuli. We still face the predator, yet it may be a car with an inattentive driver or someone running out before you. After severe enough events, there can be everlasting scars left.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic love—it’s the perfect time to embrace self-love and nourish your body, mind, and soul. At SWIHA, our Nutrition Program inspires a holistic approach to health, teaching students how food can nurture both physical well-being and emotional balance. So today, we’re sharing a recipe to help you celebrate love in all its forms: Strawberry Rose Bliss Bites!

A “motivator” is a charismatic person who provides encouragement and inspiration to others to take action, pursue goals, improve performance, or take on a new, more positive outlook on life. They are described as cheerleaders, coaches, caregivers, or even Firewalkers!  

Before SWIHA, Shelley had already impacted lives as an intuitive guide and yoga/meditation teacher. Despite her success, she felt something was missing. "I found that in the readings I provided clients, there was a feeling like I was left hanging," she shares. Shelley yearned to create a business rooted in integrity, where she could support clients fully and see them through their personal journeys.