About Us

The highly skilled and experienced faculty and staff of Appalachian Institute of Healing Arts strive to provide an excellent educational experience while preparing you for a successful career in massage therapy.

Our low student-teacher ratio and carefully designed curriculum ensure your education at AIHA will be an informative, meaningful and life changing experience.

We endeavor to instill in each student an excitement for the profession and desire for a lifetime of continued learning, while offering a wide base of knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology, and Massage Theory and Technique.

Faculty and Staff

KIM WELLS, N.D., LPC, LCMT, Founder/Owner
Kim founded Appalachian Institute of Healing Arts in 2004 in Clintwood, Virginia before moving the school to its present location in Abingdon. A graduate of the Holston Institute of Healing Arts, Kim is a nationally certified massage therapist, as well as licensed in the state of Tennessee and certified in the state of Virginia to practice massage therapy. She has a Doctorate in Naturopathy, a Master’s Degree in counseling, and is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Tennessee. Kim teaches many of the core courses in our program and will make your massage therapy training an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Joy Behymer RN LMT, Senior Instructor and Director
Joy is a Nationally Certified massage therapist who graduated from Reflections of Health School of massage in Johnson City, Tn. Joy has earned continuing education in Lymph Drainage Massage and is a certified Aromatherapy Massage Therapist. She also has been a registered nurse for 10 years with experience in Surgery, Dialysis, medical/surgical, Emergency Room, Critical Care and orthopedics. Joy is the current owner of Massage Essentials in Bristol Va since 2005. She is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She also serves as Vice Chair for SCORE to mentor individuals in Small Business.

Guest speakers and instructors presenting on special topics will be added at appropriate times throughout the program.

Appalachian Institute of Healing Arts, Inc.

The Healing Arts Center

Appalachian Institute of Healing Arts, Inc.



The highly skilled and experienced faculty and staff of Appalachian Institute of Healing Arts strive to provide an excellent educational experience while preparing you for a successful career in massage therapy. Our low student-teacher ratio and carefully designed curriculum ensure your education at AIHA will be an informative, meaningful and life changing experience. We endeavor to instill in each student an excitement for the profession and desire for a lifetime of continued learning, while offering a wide base of knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology, and Massage Theory and Technique. Faculty and Staff KIM WELLS, N.D., LPC, LCMT, Founder/Owner Kim founded Appalachian Institute of Healing Arts in 2004 in Clintwood, Virginia before moving the school to its present location in Abingdon. A graduate of the Holston Institute of Healing Arts, Kim is a nationally certified massage therapist, as well as licensed in the state of Tennessee and certified in the state of Virginia to practice massage therapy. She has a Doctorate in Naturopathy, a Master’s Degree in counseling, and is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Tennessee. Kim teaches many of the core courses in our program and will make your massage therapy training an enjoyable and memorable experience. Joy Behymer RN LMT, Senior Instructor and Director Joy is a Nationally Certified massage therapist who graduated from Reflections of Health School of massage in Johnson City, Tn. Joy has earned continuing education in Lymph Drainage Massage and is a certified Aromatherapy Massage Therapist. She also has been a registered nurse for 10 years with experience in Surgery, Dialysis, medical/surgical, Emergency Room, Critical Care and orthopedics. Joy is the current owner of Massage Essentials in Bristol Va since 2005. She is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She also serves as Vice Chair for SCORE to mentor individuals in Small Business. Guest speakers and instructors presenting on special topics will be added at appropriate times throughout the program. Appalachian Institute of Healing Arts, Inc. The Healing Arts Center
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