About Sarah

Sarah (Kolman) Wilzbacher RN, MA, CHPN, NC-BC

It came to me, during the final breaths of my grandmother’s passing in 2000, that I wanted to focus my career on end-of-life care. I was in nursing school at the time and it all came together in that moment—like fairy dust settling over me in a Disney tale. The certainty that I experienced in that moment felt less like a choice and more like a calling that I couldn’t deny. From that moment on, I dedicated my education and career to quality of life and comfort at the end of life.

I finished nursing school and I put in my time as a new nurse on a Medical Surgical/Oncology unit in an urban hospital. Next, I enthusiastically pursued a Master’s degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy at Naropa University to hone my communication skills and ability to be present, compassionate, and mindful in my responses to suffering, conflict, and uncertainty. I learned the practice of listening, trusting, and getting out of my own way in order to be of greatest service to others. I interned as a bereavement counselor during graduate school and dedicated my early career to home hospice nursing. I climbed the leadership ladder in hospice and dabbled in staff and nurse education as well as directing quality improvement programs.

As a new mom, I got to work through my own family’s health issues. They guided me to learn holistic approaches to health, and I dove deep into a new area of study to understand the power of diet and lifestyle in creating wellness and vitality. The results I was seeing in my family blew me away, and I was fiercely inspired to share my discoveries. I started my own business as a holistic health coach where I was able to lead people of all walks of life—with various health issues and physical challenges as well as deep sorrows, griefs and regrets—into peace, empowerment and vitality. I learned that EVERY individual has the potential of finding peace, contentment, and abundance that leads to inner wellness, no matter their physical ailments. When we live life in connection with others and alignment with what matters most, we find peace and purpose at any stage of life.

Many people want to be in a home setting
during their final years and days. Anam Cara Caregiving
helps make that possible.

My Background

Drawing on my eclectic background, I have created a team to offer custom caregiving that supports physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellness. I work in collaboration with an established medical team (like home health, hospice or a primary care team) to ensure that individuals receiving care experience comfort, dignity and peace. My team of caregivers provide custom care at varying levels to meet patient and family caregiver needs. Learn more about caregiving Services offered.

REGISTERED NURSE

I graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI with a Bachelors of Nursing in 2003. Starting in 2004, I worked with patients at the end of life. As a hospice nurse, my career focused on quality of life issues: relieving pain and uncomfortable symptoms while witnessing patients come to realize what matters most in life. I watched many people shift their life's focus to meaningful relationships, doing what they love, appreciating themselves, and slowing down. I am inspired when people live with meaning and purpose at any stage of their life and feel proud of who they are and the legacy they create.  

I have over 12 years of hospice experience from bereavement counseling to home hospice nursing. I have also been in leadership roles focused on staff and nurse education as well as improving quality and performance. I have been a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse since 2009, reflecting my competency and commitment to the practice of end of life medicine.

CONTEMPLATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPIST

I received my Master's Degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University in 2008. I specifically chose this training to enhance my skills as a hospice nurse after realizing my nursing education gave me great medical and technical knowledge, but I wanted to learn more about how to be a supportive, loving, and compassionate presence for those facing tough transitions. My nursing education gave me the skills to work with the physical needs of my patients, but I knew that to be most effective in hospice, I wanted to deepen my understanding of psycho-social-emotional-spiritual factors.

At Naropa, I learned about mindfulness awareness and how to be still within myself as a way to be most effective in service to others. I value deep listening, connected and honest interaction, and meeting people where they are with acceptance, love, and kindness.

INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION HEALTH COACH

I graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in 2015. IIN is a renowned international nutrition school that highlights the multi-faceted nature of health and teaches over 100 dietary theories. Not only did I learn a lot about food and nutrition during my education, but I also learned about how to take care of myself and my family in all areas of health—like career, relationships, exercise, sleep, and spirituality. My philosophy of primary and secondary foods as well as bioindividuality are core teachings at IIN. See my health coaching website for more details about my approach. I became Nurse Coach - Board Certified in 2018.

I started my own business as a holistic health coach and have used many lessons I have learned from the dying to guide and influence my approach to health. I lead all of my clients into a reflection of what matters most in life and what it means to get clear about meaning, purpose and legacy NOW, to avoid learning that valuable lesson when they get their terminal diagnosis. 

I have come to learn that wellness is not connected to our physical health or capabilities. Wellness is subjective, individual and an internal experience of peace, contentment and acceptance. I have learned that anyone, at any stage of life, and with any health challenge has the capacity to access the experience of wellness in any moment.

Anam Cara Apprenticeship Graduate

Through The Sacred Art of Living Center in Bend, OR, I successfully completed The Sacred Art of Dying series as well as the 2 year Anam Cara Apprenticeship intensive. The Anam Cara Apprenticeship provided a contemporary model of training to deepen the quality of relationships and enable caregivers to become “compassionate companions” through all the stages of living and dying. I was taught time-tested wisdom and skills from dying traditions across the world and how to integrate them within the modern culture of health care.

The Sacred Art of Living Center taught me that sacred relationships have the potential to transform suffering and bring meaning and healing to oneself and others. I discovered that how we are with ourselves, with each other, with the earth, and with the Divine, however we define it, affects everything that we do and are in the world. When the heart and soul of the caregiver are aligned with clinically-proven best practices, “the art, science and practice of sacred relationship” becomes a transformative model for healing.