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?
In 2022, I faced a pivotal moment: I was denied a promotion. A day before the interview, I was told to withdraw my application because, in their words, “You don’t have the skills I’m looking for.” This rejection shook me to my core. I spiraled into depression, sought counseling, and felt utterly alone, disconnected from the life I thought I had built. The old beliefs I had buried came rushing to the surface, leaving me speaking in a self-defeating and critical manner that pulled me even further down.
I prayed for guidance, for a way to break free from the self-destructive patterns that had defined my life for so long. I felt like I was watching life through a glass window—always on the outside, yearning for the joy, connection, and love that seemed to slip through my fingers. A life of family unity and happiness that felt forever out of reach. I wondered—was it something I lacked? Was I born undeserving? Are others simply more fortunate than me?
Perhaps it was rooted in the violence and turmoil of my upbringing—the harsh realities of poverty, war, and a household where others’ opinions were elevated above my own worth. In my family, secrets festered. Abuse, violence, forced labor, and a silence so deep it shielded the abusers while shaming the wounded. I moved from one form of abuse to another, each one more devastating than the last, as if survival—not growth or safety—was the only path available to me.
Is there a “defining moment” you’d like to speak about? When did you know that you were on the right path?
I began searching for a higher purpose. I journaled, kept a gratitude list, and set intentions, and goals—yet nothing seemed to fill the void. Then, in December, my supervisor left, and I received a diagnosis: thyroid cancer. After a seven-hour surgery, I woke up to the comforting presence of my deceased aunt and grandmother at the foot of my bed. In that silent moment, they reassured me that I would be fine and that they would support me in continuing to work with survivors of abuse and in speaking out about it.
Has your life significantly changed? If so, how?
Months later, in May 2023, as I was recovering and still feeling depleted, I had no idea how I would continue. Then, one fateful afternoon, I saw an infomercial about hypnosis and its profound positive effects on people. I remembered I had tried hypnosis before and found it helpful, although I hadn’t thought about it in years. Suddenly, I knew with every fiber of my being that hypnotherapy was calling me.
The path was clear: I began searching for schools. Thousands of programs were out there, each unique, yet I promised myself I would find the best one. Then, videos of Linda Bennett and KC Miller from the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) began appearing. I finally reached out, and after a conversation with an admissions advisor, I leaped into the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program, focusing on Hypnotherapy.
Now, let me tell you more about myself: I’m a first-generation immigrant from El Salvador with an accent. Before SWIHA, I enrolled in college multiple times and dropped out just as often, except for my paralegal studies. To commit to a year-and-a-half-long program seemed unimaginable. However, deep in my heart, I knew SWIHA was my future home, and this program would lead me to my life’s purpose.
From the very first class, I began to transform. I learned about emotional intelligence, resilience, and how to view my life experiences as gifts, rather than burdens. Coming from a poor, war-torn background, this language of healing was foreign to me. SWIHA taught me how to use my life’s hardships as tools for growth, inspiring others and guiding them toward healing.
There were moments I thought I wouldn’t make it—times I felt failure was inevitable. However, that feeling of impending failure became a sign of my transformation. The foundation classes prepared me for those moments of doubt, and I persevered. To this day, I have never failed a class, and I carry a 3.85 GPA—a personal achievement I never imagined possible.
What are you up to now—professionally and personally?
The Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner Program at SWIHA didn’t just teach me healing modalities such as aromatherapy, chakra balancing, and hypnotherapy—it taught me how to heal myself. Through this program, I learned the importance of grit, perseverance, and becoming an entrepreneur. We are taught that all healing is self-healing, and indeed it is. However, without SWIHA, I wouldn’t have known where to begin.
Driven by this newfound hope, I pressed forward. In 2024, after months of hard work and applying these modalities to my life, I received the greatest gift: I was cleared of thyroid cancer and went into remission. My relationship with my children and my family has flourished, my health has improved, and I began reconnecting with life in ways I had never thought possible.
At work, I finally received the promotion I had longed for. I became a Senior Immigration Paralegal, and I was natural, authentic, and confident in the interview. My agency has even nominated me for the Lega Aid Association of California Awards of Merit, honoring my contributions to the legal services community.
What was the greatest lesson(s) you learned while at SWIHA?
My program didn’t just give me the tools to help others—it gave me the power to heal my own deep-rooted wounds. Through hypnotherapy, I found a way to reconnect with myself, rewrite my life’s narrative, and reclaim my worth.
Today, I stand not as someone who merely survived, I stand as the protagonist of my own journey. I’ve walked through the fires of trauma, illness, and despair, and I’ve emerged stronger and wiser. Now, I help others do the same. Having completed my program recently, I am working on starting my business ‘Valor Hypnosis’, and I will dedicate my time to helping others.
Who were your most impactful teachers while you studied at SWIHA? What were your favorite classes?
All of my teachers are phenomenal and stand out. Sherry Gilbert, Stevie Miller, Jodi Johnson, Elmas Vincent, Sandy Collins, Debbie Noah, Linda Bennett, Sherry Fragosa, Gisele Marasca, and Michael Dye were all amazing!
If you could give advice to future SWIHA students, what would it be?
If you find yourself feeling trapped, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, know that you have the power to change your story. You will find a community that supports your growth, career goals, and life purpose. I invite you to take action today—reach out and connect with an admissions advisor, and start the process of reclaiming your life. You deserve joy, connection, and fulfillment; it all starts with believing you are worthy. Come to SWIHA!