We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Bilinovich recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

A defining moment in the trajectory of my career and personal growth was when I began studying at the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies with Duey Freeman and Kimberly Rose. At this training, I learned to work with people and the natural world in a profoundly meaningful way. For me, there has been a remembering of what it means to be human through contact and relationship— relationship not only with humans, but with the larger ecosystem to which we all belong.

My journey into becoming a psychotherapist began when I was applying to graduate school during the midst of a significant career change. I spent the previous seven years as a flight attendant for a major airline and felt like something central to my existence was missing, both personally and professionally. Relating to the natural world has always been an essential part of my life, and I wanted to incorporate my love for nature and animals into my work in some capacity. How could I simultaneously advocate for the natural world and help heal humans along the way? That was a tough question to sit with on those long-haul flights across the world.

I found my way to Colorado for a master’s program that incorporated animals and the environment with clinical mental health. This was a step in the right direction for me; I began working with horses therapeutically and experiencing the powerful presence of these beautiful beings. Through my second-year internship with Rebecca Winn, I was introduced to the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies (GEIR). Throughout my time at GEIR, I have developed into a more capable and connected therapist and person. I have rediscovered the interconnectedness we share with all living beings and how our relationship to land, plants, and animals can ultimately heal us (and our planet). I have not only found a way of working, but a way of being that aligns with my heart and soul, and I am forever grateful to my GEIR teachers for that.

Sarah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a psychotherapist partnering with nature and horses.

Growing up in Northeast Ohio, I spent most of my time exploring in the woods, playing sports, and connecting with animals. My curiosity about the human psyche led me to study psychology at Ohio University. After graduation, I was unsure of my professional path, but knew I wanted to travel. I found a way to do this as a flight attendant, where I explored diverse cultures and learned more about myself along the way. Ultimately, I have returned to what feels true to me – being with the natural world, advocating for our planet, and supporting others on their healing journeys. I currently reside in Colorado with my partner and two dogs.

I offer a range of psychotherapy and wellness services to adults, including individual therapy, couple’s intensives, group therapy, and workshops. Many of my sessions take place outdoors at a ranch or a local natural area. I also provide in-office and online sessions.

From my perspective, our deepest wounds stem from attachment (or lack of) and the stresses of living in our disconnected, modern society. Healing and growth happen in relationship – relationship not only to other humans, but to land, plants, animals, and self. I’m passionate about guiding people to live more authentically through nature connection, mindfulness, somatic practices, and experiential work.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Horses have been some of my greatest teachers over the past few years. I have learned numerous lessons about trust, relationship, leadership, and interconnectedness.

While I did not grow up around horses, I was lucky enough to have an internship working with them therapeutically during graduate school. From my first day, I could feel something shift within myself – I felt both grounded and alive in the presence of these large beings. Since then, I haven’t been able to stay away! I’ve learned and unlearned so much from them, but the most profound lesson has been moving away from the belief of human supremacy.

I have always loved and admired Earth and all of her beings. Yet the cultural message I’ve received is that humans are separate and more important than all other life forms. Horses have aided me in challenging and rejecting the belief in anthropocentrism.

Horses are not immune to the control and ego-centric attitudes that humans impose on other walks of life. Horses have been abused, misused, and misunderstood by humans for centuries. I’ve witnessed some people working with horses with an “I’m the boss” mentality and it never worked out quite well for the human. Most horses are forgiving and tolerant of humans (lucky us), but observing this sort of dynamic really opened my eyes to the power struggles many people impose on other beings. Through learning from a relational horsemanship perspective, I’ve been able to form a partnership with horses. And it feels truly rewarding to connect with a being instead of objectifying or controlling them.

We are nature, too. Horses have shown me how some humans regard nature as a disposable asset. Humans are not “above” the trees, the birds, or the soil, which we often view through a lens of profitability and power over. We can do much better, and I’m grateful to my equine partners for their wisdom and gentleness as I navigate my way through life.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I believe that in order to be an influential therapist, it is essential to do our own personal growth and healing work.

Clients come to me for guidance, and without having a deep understanding of myself, I might miss them. What I mean by this is – I am teaching clients how to be in contact and as their therapist, I need to be able to make contact with my clients. Duey Freeman and Kimberly Rose define contact as, “a present, attuned moment of time where our emotional, physical, energetic, and/or spiritual boundaries touch another’s”. Contact is the building block of all relationship, and we must be able to make contact with ourselves and others to be in healthy relationship. If I have “unfinished business” that shows up in the room, contact is broken, and the client is missed. It is important for me to have solid self-awareness and self-responsibility so that I can discern what belongs to the client and what belongs to me during the therapeutic process.

Through my own work, I have gotten to know my nervous system, attachment, and development really well and, subsequently, I am in tune with my instincts and intuition. My belief is that we all have work to do, but having the personal awareness of what is happening in the here and now is a crucial step towards showing up for others in a powerful way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahbilinovich.com