We recently connected with Nautica George and have shared our conversation below.

Nautica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

A defining moment in my career began in 2015. I had the opportunity to travel to Spain three weeks after graduating with my bachelor’s degree in psychology. I visited five cities in Spain-Madrid, Toledo, Ponferrada, Segovia, and Salamanca. While each city left a lasting and memorable impression, Ponferrada and Salamanca were cities where I experienced defining moments in my personal life and the start of my career.

During my time in Ponferranda, I had the opportunity to travel 35 minutes from the city to tour Las Medulas, the third-largest gold mine in the Roman Empire. I learned of how the Roman Empire would use a hydraulic power technique to mine this area of gold. I also learned that Romans relied on slave labor and would force the indigenous people of Spain to work in the mines, mainly as a form of tax. I can vividly recall walking through the wrecked mountains, admiring the beauty of the remains, and thinking, “Wow. There truly is beauty in the struggle.” It was at that moment I reflected on my own life experiences and gained an appreciation for the difficult times. It was also at that moment that I knew I wanted to help people have a similar “aha” moment of finding beauty in their life struggles and hope during hard times.

My second defining moment in Spain occurred in Salamanca. Before elaborating on this defining moment, I want to highlight the significance of the decision I made while in Salamanca. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I was uncertain of what I wanted to do next. I knew I did not want to go straight into a master’s program, but also was uncertain of the jobs I wanted to work. I researched the AmeriCorps program but left for Spain undecided on whether I should apply. It was during my time in Salamanca, specifically after touring the University of Salamanca, that I decided to apply for the AmeriCorps. This moment was so powerful because, during my time serving in the AmeriCorps, I found my passion for serving youth helping them reframe their life experiences, and developing a sense of hope for their futures. Nine years after going to Spain, I am now a licensed independent clinical counselor specializing in working with children and adolescent youth on emotional regulation, trauma, finding purpose in their lives, and empowering them to overcome any obstacle they may encounter.

My time in Spain granted me the opportunity to appreciate everything I’ve been through. Now I get the opportunity to help my clients and future clients do the same.

Nautica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I remember when I was in second grade, we had an assignment in a computer class that included writing an essay about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I remember thinking, “This assignment is going to be easy” as I typed about wanting to be a counselor to “help people get through hard stuff.” I’ve described myself as a helper and encourager just about all my life. Reflecting on my childhood and teenage years, I guess I’ve always wanted to help people because in many ways I felt helpless and had little to no control over my life or life experiences until I went to college. As an adult, I’ve experienced how powerful it is to heal from past hurts and experiences and have a desire to help people have similar experiences. As a therapist, what sets me apart is my excitement for working alongside my clients to have life-changing breakthroughs and empowering them to learn strategies to cope. I’m very proud of my ability to create a safe space for people to feel comfortable opening up to me about some of their most painful experiences and helping them work through those moments.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

The field of mental health requires a good support system, operating with fidelity, a passion for serving others, compassion, and commitment. It also requires having a consistent self-care plan as it is easy quickly feel burnout.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe my compassion, empathy for others, and trustworthiness truly contributed to my positive reputation in my field. I also believe it is important to treat each client with the respect they deserve and to make them feel welcomed and as if they belong. I believe any field and/or business that requires interaction with people should involve prioritizing people feeling like they belong and they matter.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thisisnauti
• Linkedin: Nautica George

Image Credits
Michael Cavotta