SWIHA Blog

At the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), students come from diverse walks of life, each on a unique path of healing and transformation. Among them is Jaylin Fisher, a recent graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program. Jaylin’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and a commitment to empowering women during one of life’s most transformative moments: childbirth.

Life is a journey; for Bri Senter, it has been a profound tapestry of challenges, triumphs, and transformation. As a recent graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Bri’s story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of holistic coaching.

Meet Kayla O’Connell, founder of Mazy’s Garden, a business rooted in spiritual counseling, coaching, and metaphysical products. Kayla’s passion lies in guiding individuals through transformative journeys, helping them heal their minds, bodies, and souls as one. Her path to becoming an Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner and coach is as inspiring as the work she does every day.

Amber Gomez, the founder of Cerebral Awakening, is a proud graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program. Her journey into the world of coaching is as inspiring as her approach to helping clients rediscover their inner light.

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

Before SWIHA, my life was marked by a journey of self-discovery and healing, particularly following an extensive series of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments. I was on a quest to find out who I truly was and what I was meant to do in life. Despite working in retail, which I found to be unstimulating and unchallenging, I knew I was capable of so much more. My desire to challenge myself and to avoid being stuck in a position that didn’t fulfill my potential led me to seek out a career where I could genuinely help others. A close friend introduced me to SWIHA, and together, we embarked on this journey to acquire hypnotherapy skills to offer as a service in our envisioned New Age store and community garden. My friend, a passionate herbalist and tarot reader, inspired me to explore a path where I could channel my natural leadership abilities and pursue my calling to help others. After leaving a toxic relationship, I knew it was time to follow my passion and become my own boss. So, I enrolled in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner Diploma program, specializing in Hypnotherapy.

If you have been on your spiritual journey for your whole life or you just started wanting to live a more spiritual life and you want to incorporate the benefits of crystals; you are in the right place! 

You can use the crystals in your spiritual practice in just about every aspect. I know I do and so did our ancestors.  Crystals (rocks, gems, tektites, fossils, minerals) have been a resource in ancient times for many benefits and uses in all cultures. From body and beauty care to community harmony and ritual, to energy work, to meditations, to tools and modalities. Just as our ancestors in ancient times used crystals for their healing benefits, so can you in your spiritual practice.

"Meditation is not reserved for saints and sages; it is a practice for everyday people seeking peace and clarity in their lives." - Ram Dass

Have you ever felt like meditation is this elusive secret club reserved for the Zen masters of the world? You're not alone. The idea of sitting in silence, attempting to silence the endless chatter of the mind, can feel daunting, if not downright impossible. What if I told you that meditation isn't about achieving perfection or silencing your thoughts completely? What if I told you that you, yes you, can meditate too? Let's dive into this transformative practice together and discover its myriad benefits, debunking myths along the way.

Our dreams hold so much information and healing…if we take the time to listen to them. Listen to them? I barely remember them. How am I supposed to listen to my dreams if I can barely remember my dreams? We remember our dreams by becoming active participants in our dreams.

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?

Prior to SWIHA, I was a career tattoo artist, a single mother of two, and a laundry list of health issues that were lessening my quality of life until November of 2021. In November of 2021, I suffered a series of seizures while in the shower with multiple falls. I could not walk, talk, eat, or breathe without assistance. 90 days after that fateful evening, I was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called Functional Neurologic Disorder with Extreme Autonomic Systems Dysfunction. In layman’s terms, the right and left hemispheres of my brain were no longer communicating properly, and my brain was no longer communicating with my body. A body designed to be automatic, I would have to learn to operate manually (consciously).

In the realm of holistic healing practices, hypnotherapy shines as a beacon of hope, providing a gateway to the subconscious mind and fostering deep healing across various levels. It is vital to stress the significance of finding a qualified hypnotherapy practitioner to ensure a safe and effective therapeutic journey. Despite being often misconstrued in popular culture, hypnotherapy offers a secure and impactful means to explore the depths of the mind, address underlying issues, and catalyze positive and enduring transformations. I am dedicated to unraveling some of the mysteries surrounding hypnotherapy, highlighting its benefits, dispelling myths, and showcasing its potential for personal growth.