SWIHA Blog

As with many souls who are drawn to SWIHA, Brigette Cross found herself at a crossroads in her former field of work. During her time as an account, she describes the feeling that she had something more to contribute: “I was in search of my own spirituality. I wanted more knowledge to enhance my gift so I could share it with the world,” she recalls.

Brigette enrolled in the Mind Body Wellness Practitioner program where she developed her coaching practice, Be-Smiley. Her business’ tagline is: “Life is too precious to live unhappy!” which perfectly encapsulates the goal of Life Coaching.

“Life coaching is a powerful way to develop new ways of thinking and discover the mental and emotional roadblocks that prevent us from achieving our life's goals,” explains Michael Cavalier, a Mind Body Transformational Psychology graduate, “With this newfound awareness, tools to empower us, and an system of accountability there is no limit to the world opening up to us and to the personal and professional growth we're seeking.”

“To be a good coach, your clients want to know your experience,” says Trina Scott, a graduate of the Transformational Life Coaching program at SWIHA, “Oftentimes, it's hard for someone to trust you if you haven't experienced something similar. You want them to feel safe opening up to you.”

Experience is something that Trina has plenty of. She shares with us: “My life was a struggle for me because I had lost my husband. He was a police officer killed in the line of duty. I was searching for my purpose as I was trying to raise four daughters alone.

“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.”