SWIHA Blog

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.

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?

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.

Before Beth Stratton discovered Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), she was on a quest for purpose. With a business degree and entrepreneurial experience behind her, life took an unexpected turn when she had to close her business. Feeling lost and uncertain, she enrolled in an accelerated nursing program—driven by her deep desire to help others—yet her plans shifted again when she became pregnant. Life, as it often does, paused one dream to make space for another. Beth devoted the next several years to raising her children and embracing the journey of full-time motherhood.

For two decades, Sarah Bundy worked as a dental assistant—committed to the job, yet deeply aware that something was missing. Each day, she felt the toll of showing up to a career that no longer resonated with her. The stress followed her home, impacting her children and dimming the joy in her daily life. Beneath the surface, Sarah knew she was meant for something more—something aligned with healing, growth, and the soul’s deeper purpose.

At some point in life, many of us feel a deep inner calling—a whisper that says, “There’s more for you out there.” For Paulette Brown, a retired police officer with a lifelong passion for helping others, that call came with a desire for a new beginning. She knew she wanted to live a more meaningful life, one aligned with spiritual purpose and healing service. That calling led her straight to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), where she enrolled in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program with the dream of becoming a Spiritual Life Coach.

When Taryn Ravi Sadesh first stepped onto the campus of the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) in 2011, she was a recent high school graduate with a vision — one rooted in healing, service, and deep spiritual connection. Today, Taryn is a thriving holistic wellness practitioner and founder of Holistic Wellness Sedona, guiding others through transformative journeys with the wisdom, tools, and heart-centered leadership she has cultivated over the past decade.

Meet Shannon Hogan, a proud graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). Once feeling lost and disconnected, Shannon found her true calling through holistic healing and the power of integrative wellness. A single transformative session with a client confirmed she was on the right path—and she hasn’t looked back since. Now ordained and running her own healing practice, Shannon blends Reiki, sound therapy, and aromatherapy to help others find balance, purpose, and peace. Her journey is one of passion, growth, and the profound impact of following your heart.

In today’s fast-paced, high-stress world, something is shifting. More and more people are waking up to the reality that true wellness goes far beyond prescriptions and symptom management. They're seeking deeper healing—healing that touches the body, mind, and spirit. That’s where holistic practitioners come in. And the truth is: we need them now more than ever.

Whether it’s the rise in chronic illness, the growing awareness around mental health, or a collective desire to return to ancient, earth-centered practices, the call for holistic healers is getting louder—and more urgent.

Have you ever felt called to help others heal? Do you sense that wellness goes deeper than what’s on the surface? If you're wondering whether a career in holistic health is your soul’s path, you're not alone.

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we believe that everyone has a unique gift to share. Our programs are designed to teach techniques and awaken purpose. If you’ve been curious about turning your passion for wellness into a profession, these five questions can help you assess if a holistic health career is right for you.