Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cathy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Cathy, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
After years of putting off my therapy licensure, I finally completed my clinical hours, passed the licensing exam, and instead of stepping into a more traditional next chapter, I gave myself permission take a nonlinear path. I put my belongings in storage, placed my home Pilates and Reiki business on hold, and booked a one-way ticket to Nepal. After a year of sitting with the idea, I decided to travel throughout Asia while gradually building my private therapy practice remotely.
Leaving behind stability, both professionally and geographically, was scary. I wasn’t sure if clients would continue working with me virtually. I didn’t know how I’d navigate time zones, or how it would feel to be so far from family and friends. But my adventurous part was calling. In the work I do, I often encourage clients to follow their intuition. This felt like one of those moments where I had to take my own advice.
The risk is becoming one of the most interesting chapters of my life. I continue to work part-time with a group practice for stability, while growing my own offerings in a way that feels expansive and aligned. I’ve launched a women’s mindfulness group I love and feel more connected to my purpose than ever before.
The risk was leaving the known. The reward has been discovering what’s possible when you listen to your inner voice and follow your heart even if it doesn’t follow a conventional script.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My love for helping others started with Pilates. For many years, I was a Pilates instructor, and it was during sessions while helping clients strengthen their core on the reformer, that I noticed something happening. People would open up to me. We’d have heart-to-hearts between reps or clients would stay after sessions talking about life, grief, relationships, and transitions. I started to realize I wasn’t just interested in supporting people physically. I wanted to support them emotionally and spiritually, too.
My inner voice led me to dive deeper into the world of Reiki, something I was introduced to growing up, and eventually into earning a degree in counseling. Since then, I’ve explored altered states of consciousness and completed certifications in psychedelic-assisted therapy through Naropa University. The practice I’ve built is based in all of these threads: body-based, relational, intuitive, and trauma-informed.
Today, I work virtually with individuals and couples navigating grief, anxiety, relationship challenges, life transitions, and psychedelic integration. I also facilitate women’s mindfulness groups, grief groups, and am expanding into retreats and community-based healing spaces. At the heart of my work is a belief that we are wired for connection and that healing happens in relationship, whether with ourselves, with others, or with something greater.
Clients often tell me they appreciate the balance I bring: part grounded, part woo, always real. My sessions blend Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, visualization, and reflective dialogue, creating space for both emotional depth and practical tools. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I meet each client with curiosity and care, trusting their heart to lead the way.
What I’m most proud of are the small but powerful shifts I get to witness. Sometimes it looks like clarity gained around something that’s been uncertain for so long. Other times, it’s a breath of relief, an emotional release through tears, or someone finding their way back to their inner voice. To witness these moments is not something I take for granted. It feels like a privilege and reminds me why I do this work.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
That life is supposed to be hard.
It’s something I was told to unlearn during a therapeutic psychedelic experience. In the journey, I remember feeling far removed from my life. As I was going deeper into the experience, I felt a resistance to returning back to it. I thought, “I don’t want to go back. Life is hard.” And in that moment, I immediately heard: “Life isn’t hard. You make it hard.”
That message came through pretty clearly and it’s one I’ve been staying with ever since. I’ve begin to let go of the belief that things need to be difficult to be meaningful or worthwhile. I’ve started simplifying where I can, reducing overwhelm, creating more space, and asking: Where am I adding unnecessary struggle?
Another lesson from that same journey was around time. I was reminded that time is a man-made construct. Another message came through clearly, “Forget about the concept of time.” It’s a hard one to practice, but it planted a seed. There’s still a part of me that wants to track progress, measure things, figure out where I “should” be by now. The message reminded me of a quote I love by Zen master, Ikko Narasaki.
“The mind is constantly trying to figure out what page it’s on in the story of itself. Close the book. Burn the bookmark. End of story. Now the dancing begins.”
Any advice for managing a team?
For me, it’s continuing to learn. When I’m in a space of learning, whether that’s a new training, book, or an unexpected conversation, I feel inspired, and I think it shows in my sessions. Learning reminds me that I’m not just supporting others but I’m also growing alongside them. High morale also comes from making time to unplug, rest, play and spend time in nature. Whether it’s roller skating along the strand, a spontaneous karaoke session in the car, or watching the sunset, these moments help me reconnect to joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cathytrenary.com
- Instagram: cathecita
- Linkedin: Cathy Trenary
