SWIHA Blog

Before Stephanie Allen found Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), her life had taken a painful and unexpected turn. Having recently left a career in law enforcement after surviving an assault, Stephanie was left navigating the emotional aftermath—confused, alone, and unsure of how to move forward. While she had a desire to help others, particularly survivors of sexual assault, she quickly realized that true healing begins from within.

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.

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we often say that every student carries a spark—a calling that draws them to healing work not just for others—for themselves too. For recent graduate Isea Natalie Reid, that spark has become a radiant flame. A proud Jamaican mother, healer, entrepreneur, and survivor, Isea’s journey through SWIHA’s Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program with a concentration in Spiritual Coaching and Earth Ceremonies has been one of profound transformation, both inside and out.

Life gets crazy. There are distractions, obligations, people relying on you, and priorities that always seem to be shifting. With everything going on in your world, it can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters.

We often make decisions based on what we’re used to, what’s expected of us, or what we think is expected of us—from years of conditioning. This can leave us feeling disconnected, like we’ve lost our sense of self or like we’re chasing a life we can never quite catch.

Before discovering Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Marleigh Brown had already embarked on a deep personal healing journey—yet something was missing. She had gained insights and clarity on her own, however, she found herself craving structure, community, and a deeper sense of direction. “I knew I wanted to create space for others to feel safe, seen, and supported in their own healing journeys,” she reflects. That longing led her to SWIHA’s Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program, with specializations in Advanced Professional Hypnotherapy and Life Coaching.

Before Tammy Barnett found SWIHA, she was navigating a path of uncertainty and deep searching. Having endured a life-altering illness that left her disabled, Tammy found herself lost—physically and spiritually. Her body may have been in recovery, yet her soul was yearning for clarity and purpose. That illness became a turning point, prompting her to ask life’s biggest questions: Who am I really, and what am I meant to do with this life?

Before stepping into her healing journey, Scherrie Blake found herself navigating a season of loss—romantic breakups, family fractures, and friendship fallouts. “I was desperate for answers,” she recalls. “I needed to understand why I had to experience so much pain, even though I was a good person.” That search for meaning led her to shadow work—and eventually to the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA).

Tiffany Grant always felt a deep calling to help others; early on in her spiritual journey, she wasn’t sure how to turn that inner knowing into a tangible path. “I knew I had a calling to help others,” Tiffany shares, “yet I wasn't sure how to move forward.” That all changed when a friend—who happened to be a SWIHA graduate—told her about the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) Online Program.

For Sheila Checots, life before SWIHA was a season of transformation. Amidst the unknowns and personal transitions, she found herself drawn to a deeper understanding of how our beliefs shape the way we engage with the world. It was in this pivotal moment—right as she was awakening to the power of perspective—that she stumbled upon an ad for Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). Following a strong intuitive nudge, she enrolled in the Hypnotherapy program, recognizing it as a powerful tool to help others move beyond their inner limitations and create lives filled with intention and joy.

When Grace Warren enrolled in SWIHA’s Holistic Health and Wellness Coaching program, she was stepping onto a path shaped by purpose, healing, and an unwavering commitment to support women in their most vulnerable moments. As a recent graduate, Grace is already preparing to launch a coaching business grounded in holistic living and dedicated to women’s health—specifically fertility, pregnancy, postpartum care, and hormone balance.

Grace’s passion for this path didn’t arise from textbooks or trends—it was born from her own story.