Before enrolling at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Felicia Williams Brown was already deeply committed to service. Her work within the autism community was meaningful and impactful, yet something within her continued to call for more.
She describes that time simply: she “enjoyed the work,” yet always felt “a calling to serve on a deeper level.” That inner pull eventually led her to SWIHA—an experience she now describes as nothing short of transformational. SWIHA, she shares, “has been my saving grace,” and through the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program, she finally feels that she is “walking in my purpose.”
From the moment Felicia learned about what SWIHA offered, the alignment was immediate. Hearing about the opportunities for growth and learning felt like confirmation—a sign, as she puts it, “to finally embrace my calling and expand on this new journey.” What followed exceeded her expectations. Every experience along the way seemed to build upon the last, as “every step, every interaction, every class, every project, every experience has poured into me.”
Rather than feeling like work, the learning process became something far more nourishing. Felicia knew she was on the right path because the experience itself felt expansive and creative. This journey, she says, “has not been work for me. It has been a creative outlet.”
As her studies deepened, so did her confidence. Felicia reflects that her life has “significantly changed because of the growth.” Through exploring a wide range of healing modalities, she gained trust in both her abilities and her voice. Today, she carries confidence in her work “because of the education I am receiving,” a foundation that continues to support her professional evolution.
Felicia now balances multiple avenues of service. She continues providing support for the Autism Society of North Carolina while also growing her own business, Pioneering Change Consulting. Under its Earth & Essence Healing Arts branch, she offers work rooted in spiritual connection and personal transformation. Earth & Essence, she explains, “offers various pathways to support the spiritual journey and the personal transformation of others.”
Her services are intentionally expansive and deeply personalized, ranging from intuitive coaching that honors each client’s lived reality to custom ceremonies such as uncoupling rituals, house blessings, weddings, and name ceremonies. She also offers end-of-life planning and death doula services, as well as digital resources designed to provide sacred support beyond one-on-one sessions. Each offering reflects what she learned at SWIHA—how to meet people where they are and how to truly honor others in their healing. As Felicia shares, “everything in the Integrative Healing Arts Program has educated me on the various modalities of healing and ways to honor others in their healing.”
Some lessons from SWIHA left a particularly lasting imprint. One course discussion centered on the book The Upside of Stress, a moment Felicia recalls as pivotal. That single lesson, she says, “changed my life,” reshaping how she approaches challenges, growth, and transformation.
When it comes to her instructors, Felicia speaks with deep appreciation for the collective support she received. While she doesn’t single out a favorite teacher, she fondly recalls enjoying her business classes and Intuitive Coaching, noting that each course added value in its own way.
Looking back, Felicia describes SWIHA as a space where curiosity, vulnerability, and growth are not only allowed—they are encouraged. Her advice to future students reflects that truth: “This is a safe space for exploration and growth. Always lean into your instructors and your classmates. They are a huge asset to your experience.”
Now, as she looks ahead to the next chapter, Felicia holds her journey with deep appreciation. She is “full of gratitude for the growth” she has gained and is excited to continue refining her work, including plans to relaunch her business with renewed clarity and support.
Felicia’s story is a powerful reminder that healing paths often begin long before formal training—and that when purpose meets education, transformation naturally follows.
Want to connect with Felicia?
Website: https://eehealingarts.com/
Instagram: @pion.eeringchange
Facebook: Pioneering Change Consulting, LLC
