Established in 2004, the Rhode Island Holistic Healing Association (RIHHA) has grown into an astonishing community of healers of all kinds that network and share their modalities as well as business ideas. Managing Director Vanda Pitke has brought many changes to RIHHA, motivated by her desire to “take holistic modalities to the root level in the community, to the people who really need it, connecting them with different practitioners and experts.”

To that end, she has opened membership to the general public so they can take advantage of the various benefits that come along with it. Membership provides discounts at participating stores and discounts on RIHHA’s special events, consultations with participating practitioners and on workshops with participating practitioners.

RIHHA practitioner member Linda Boutilier, a licensed independent clinical social worker trained in alternative/integrative treatment modalities, has joined a people-led movement that is working to create a new global health care paradigm. This movement encourages communities to set up local hubs filled with knowledgeable practitioners that offer a range of individualized health services, both allopathic and holistic, that are affordable to all.

“We see the need to unify and connect with like-minded people and organizations who understand the importance of a people-led approach; one that puts the people first and whose practitioners have a genuine desire to help,” she says.

As practitioners who bridge holistic and traditional practices with evidence-based established care, Pitke and Boutlier consider themselves responsible for uplifting the broken—those that suffer the most, the hopeless, the misinformed and the ones caught in fear. “We are working to bring them rays of light, hope, health and happiness,” they say.