For some, the call to healing arrives suddenly. For others, it unfolds over a lifetime of listening, learning, and devotion. For recent SWIHA graduate Lisa Victorson, the path has been decades in the making—and continues to deepen with every step.
“I have been a student, teacher, and mentor to many on this path,” Lisa shares. “I have been immersed in ‘Woo Woo’ for over 38 years. I will never stop going to school to learn and working with others to heal.” That lifelong commitment to growth and service is what ultimately led her to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, where she completed the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program (IHAP) with a focus on End of Life Doula studies.
This was not Lisa’s first experience with SWIHA. During COVID, she enrolled in the IHAP program, balancing her studies alongside demanding work with the Military. Although she had to step away at that time, the seed had been planted. Returning to SWIHA felt like coming home—to learning, to community, and to herself.
“I love this program and the SWIHA family,” she says simply, yet powerfully.
One of Lisa’s most defining moments came through mindfulness meditation and somatic healing. During an experience that brought up deep fear, she instinctively allowed her body to shake, releasing the stored emotion. “I knew I had made the correct choice,” she recalls. That moment of embodied wisdom affirmed her path and reinforced the power of listening to the body as a guide.
The End of Life Doula program, in particular, resonated deeply with Lisa’s heart and lived experience. As a hospice volunteer, she has sat with people at the end of life, witnessing profound moments of love, connection, and peace. “I have been with the most amazing people and been to the most amazing funerals,” she shares. “I felt joy that I was there to be a part of it.”
Through her studies and service, Lisa has experienced a noticeable shift in how she moves through the world. Now retired, she describes herself as calm and deeply peaceful—able to let go of control and trust the unfolding of life. “I now listen more closely,” she says, “to the sounds of nature—and my soul.”
During a season of profound transition, including the end of a 20-year marriage, Lisa turned to writing, laying the foundation for her book Hitting Bottom Before You Bounce. In it, she reframes “hitting bottom” as reaching a boundary—the moment something no longer aligns—reflecting the same themes she explored through mindfulness, somatic healing, and Death Doula studies at SWIHA. Her journey reminds us that healing is about remembering who we are and what we are capable of becoming.
While Lisa has not yet opened a formal business, she leaves SWIHA with the knowledge, tools, and a business plan already in place. She credits SWIHA with helping her grow as an entrepreneur and build confidence around social media and future offerings. Her vision includes land in southern Colorado—mountains, space for family, a healing destination center, and a small animal rescue. It is a dream rooted in care, community, and connection.
When reflecting on her greatest lessons at SWIHA, Lisa names three that echo through every part of her journey: love of self, releasing the need to control outcomes, and loving people as they leave the earth.
She also speaks with deep gratitude about the instructors and staff who supported her along the way, emphasizing that SWIHA is more than a school. “SWIHA is a community of people who love, heal, and WANT to see others succeed,” she says. “Who does not want to be a part of that?”
For future students, Lisa’s advice is heartfelt and clear: “Immerse yourself in everything. Connect. If you need help, reach out. All of us are on this path at the same time. That’s divine design.”
Lisa Victorson’s journey is a testament to what becomes possible when we honor the calling of the soul, stay curious, and allow ourselves to be supported along the way. Her path reminds us that healing is not a destination—it is a lifelong relationship with presence, compassion, and love.
Interested in beginning or deepening your own healing journey?
Explore the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts and discover a supportive, heart-centered community dedicated to personal transformation, professional growth, and service to others.
