SWIHA Blog

“Effective life coaching provides relief, restores hope and offers ease so that life feels manageable and meaningful,” says Suzanne Wigginton, “The work helps to clear the way, connect the dots and align clients with healing pathways and perspectives.”

Suzanne served as a Massage Therapist for many years after getting her education at Southwest Institute of Healings Arts. Before her venture into the healing arts, she worked as a paralegal and knew that she was destined for more.

“There are a lot of different types of coaches out there and a lot that spent more time learning marketing than how to be a strong coach,” Tami Sharp, creator of The F You Point, tells us, “For me, life coaching is like hiring a personal trainer for your soul. Sure, if you want to get in shape you can do it on your own. However, if you want to expedite the experience, have deeper and more noticeable results in less time, you hire someone that's been trained to help you push past your limits and holds you accountable for achieving your goals.”

“Life Coaching is a way for others to have someone to be a sounding board, to have someone ask simple questions that trigger a positive plan of action without telling the client what to do and to have them explore outside of their comfort zone,” Reilynn Sarmiento, a Massage Therapy graduate of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts explains, “We guide by allowing them to explore their own horizons and have them set goals for themselves.”

“Life coaching is a one-on-one conversation between a practitioner and a client, in which the practitioner asks very direct questions to withdraw the client's soul desires and answers to help enable the client to reach their goals through positive life changing tasks,” explains Cherie Lee, a Mind-Body Wellness Practitioner graduate, author, non-denominational minister and business owner.

“Life Coaching, to me, begins with helping someone clarify what they really want to be doing with their lives and helping them map out a plan to get there via a series of specific,attainable goals,” says Dr. Alisa Cooper, “It requires holding them accountable for taking action steps to get there. It also involves recognizing and overcoming the limiting beliefs that can lead to self sabotage and stagnation.”

“Health and Nutrition Coaching is a type of life coaching focused on moving the client forward on the path of health. One foundational pillar of this coaching is that of ‘bio-individuality’; the idea that each person is unique in their biology and will therefore will need to discover what works for their own, unique experience,” Alex Kurth, a SWIHA graduate, tells us, ”The client must do the work, however the coach is their biggest fan and is always cheering them on and rooting for a win.”

Before becoming a Wellness Coach through her business, A Kurth Life, Alex Kurth was facilitating the Memory Care Program at an assisted living facility for seniors who had Alzheimer's and Dementia.

“Life coaching, to me, is helping people move toward the life they long for in their potential futures,” explains Rachel Horton White, founder of Soulful Work Intuitive Consulting, “It is listening with an open heart to the client's needs and desires, and gently nudging them along to take risks and move out of their comfort zone to becoming the highest and best version of who they really are. It is also about giving the powerful tools to help them get ‘unstuck’ in their lives.”

“Life Coaching is uncovering client's raw talents, passions, and deepest desires and using motivation and other tools to make all their dreams come true, while tapping into that pure potential we all have inside of us!” says Autumn Blackwood, founder of The Untamed Priestess.

Autumn was a grocery store cashier when she began to seek out an education in the Wellness industry. She discovered SWIHA after much research, and ultimately graduated from the Holistic Wellness Practitioner program. Through The Untamed Priestess, Autumn now offers Reiki, spiritual coaching and tarot reading, as well as facilitates women’s circles.

“Life coaching is the art of creating a space where people can clearly define where they currently are in life, where they want to go, and the steps it will take to get there,” John Eli, Virtual Mindset Coach, tells us.

John works in higher education and made the decision to pursue SWIHA’s Life Coaching program when he discovered his desire to meet and network with like-minded individuals. His education ultimately became a business that also fulfills this need for him!

“After having a hypnotherapy session from a student in the clinic, I knew that SWIHA was the place for me,” Kaye Bahr tells us, “After my session, I felt such a great relief from the stress and anxiety I was experiencing and I wanted to provide a similar experience for others. My very first session put me on a path to a new career.” 

Kaye made a brave leap from her fifteen-year role as an elementary school teacher to enroll in the Mind-Body Wellness Practitioner program and pursue a path as a  Clinical Hypnotherapist. She began her business Aspect Wellness, where she is a Performance Coach who works mainly with female business owners looking to grow their businesses, and yet finding that there is something holding them back.