SWIHA Blog

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.

My journey with Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) started as a licensed nurse who was on the verge of burnout. At the time in 2009, I was working full-time and did not have the ability to go part-time. I was looking for a more holistic way to assist people on their healing journey. To assist people in a deeper way towards real healing, to be a part of something I could feel good about within my heart and soul.

“Before SWIHA I was going through a spiritual awakening that was very unorganized, uncomfortable, and scary. My gifts were all over the place. I knew that I wanted to help others who were also going through it, as I was all alone. I was randomly led to one of SWIHA's mailers. That was the answer to organizing my gifts and making my awakening more comfortable. I am passionate about all things spiritual. These healing modalities saved my life. I aim to help others feel the same way.”

“I felt most aligned with the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner with a concentration in the Advanced Hypnotherapy Diploma Program and I am SOul grateful that I followed my heart because prior to this entire experience, I have had a history of allowing my head to talk my heart out of following itself. I graduated in February 2023 and since then I feel even more confident in my decision to choose SWIHA to further my education and help me develop my gifts.”

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?

My life before SWIHA, when it came to professional work, was working 12-hour shifts at a local Level 1 Trauma Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. All my life since I was young, I had this desire to help people so I decided to go into the medical field. I worked alongside great people and carers for 13 years. Working in the hospital, I had this innate feeling that I would one day be working on my own, I would say "One day, I'll have my own business, I'm going to be my 'own boss', just you watch". That was my favorite line to say to people when someone asked me how I wanted to "grow" in the company. I didn't envision myself retiring as a healthcare worker.

“My life was very depressing, painful, and boring before SWIHA. After being discouraged by doctors and being told that there was nothing they could do for me outside of praying, I got fed up and felt I needed to take matters into my own hands. I scrolled on Facebook, saw the SWIHA ad, and did some research! Shortly after, I decided to switch schools and majors. I started going to school for business and management yet I wasn't happy - I just felt I needed it. So after signing up for SWIHA, I had in my mind that I would use what I was being taught to heal myself. However, as I progressed throughout my studies, I began to get all types of ideas on ways I could help others heal.”

Most of us who work in the healing arts have had an experience of spiritual insight or a spiritual crisis, and we are drawn to assist others in navigating the uncertain and whimsical mystery of the healing journey of awakening to the question, “Who am I really and why am I here?”. Some people have awakened to the healer within them when faced with a health challenge or in the adversity of loss and physical or mental trauma. The awakening of the healer within us all is non-linear in timing, and it is an unfolding that is explored and integrated over and over again, as a practice in life of mindfulness and being in the present moment. There are many pathways to strengthen the connection to the healer within, and comparing ourselves to another on their path, will only be a distraction and prevent progress or a deeper connection to self-awareness.

“Before SWIHA, I had been studying psychology and sociology and had been looking at a career in clinical psychology. At the same time, I started going through a spiritual, awakening and Covid all at the same time and realized that I did not want to deliver traditional clinical psychology. I wanted to work more with people, mind, body, and spirit, and help them live fulfilling wonderful lives.”

They say that destiny has a way of orchestrating the most unexpected reunions, and the story of Saul and Angie is living proof of this cosmic force. Saul and Angie, whose paths first crossed in middle school, experienced a connection that defied explanation. Yet, the currents of life pulled them apart toward the end of those early years. Fate, however, had other plans, and years later, they found themselves drawn back together. Their journey took them from the uncertainty of youth to a shared destiny of love, purpose, and the remarkable power of healing.