We were lucky to catch up with Tatiana St. Germain recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tatiana, thanks for joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
The defining moment in my professional career was when I realized that there is more to life than climbing the ladder, that I was more than the hours I worked trying to prove myself to others, and that I did not have to normalize burnout as a common price for success. When I was experiencing fatigue, exhaustion, and burnout, I could not show up to those who count on me the way they needed me to. I knew I needed to do something different. I knew that I needed to make a big change in my career but I was afraid to make the leap. I started to listen to that “whisper” that told me “You can do it.” Everything started to change when I started to believe in myself despite the noise inside my head and around me that was telling me to be afraid and to stay comfortable. At that defining moment, I was in my previous office reflecting about life, when it clicked. It was exactly 5 years since I voiced my dreams out loud to a group of people when someone asked “how do you see yourself 5 years from now?” I remembered saying “I want to serve people beyond these four walls. I want to be involved in the community and live an abundant and harmonious life.” Back then, I had been in the treatment field for over a decade and I felt I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to be a present mother and wife. I wanted to be able to keep doing what I love without sacrificing time with my family and the way I show up for them and my clients. I was experiencing burnout. I knew I had hit that breaking point. It was that moment when I looked in the mirror and wondered “Is this the life I truly want?” I was overwhelmed, tired and burnt out. It was frustrating, but I knew that within that frustration was an unyielding desire for a balanced life that I could not ignore any longer.
Tatiana, 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 am originally from Colombia. I came to the United States in 2001 and I had to try to adjust to a new culture without losing my roots. I am a Psychotherapist and Licensed Clinical Hypnotherapist located in Coral Springs and I provide therapy in both English and Spanish. I have a passion to help people transform their lives by healing the wounds from the past so that they can achieve true emotional freedom, release the painful energy trapped in memories and recreate healthier relationship patterns with themselves and others. I got into this field because I have a deep interest in understanding how the mind works and why we behave the way we do. I entered the addiction field right after graduating with my Masters degree. I began by working with chronic mental illness but working with addictions became my passion as I came to learn that addiction is often a coping mechanism for other symptoms such as depression, anxiety and trauma. Throughout my years of practicing, I also had the opportunity to reflect and experience the power of healing parts from my past that were keeping me insecure and fearful. I fell in love with how the heart heals. I practice heart-centered hypnotherapy and provide a holistic approach to healing. I help my clients free themselves from limiting beliefs that have kept them tied to unhealthy habits, reactions and patterns. I encourage my clients to explore the root cause of their stress, anxiety, depression and burnout, all of which may be symptoms of trauma and unresolved issues from childhood. I believe that revisiting the past is necessary to be able to understand the source of our pain, so we can begin to free ourselves from its grip and understand ourselves better.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Going through my first Summer in my private practice was challenging. I had moments of doubt and had thoughts of going back to agency work due to the slow season. Everything was very new and different. I felt scared and thought that I would not make it through. Going back to what was easy and comfortable crossed my mind several times. I wanted to create a lifestyle that would support me completely. I learned that building a business and a life around doing what I love would include some hardships. I had to face adversity, fear and learned that I also needed to take responsibility for what I could do on my own and be okay when I needed to ask for help. I had amazing support, personally and professionally, through that process. I learned about the importance of adapting to change, fostering relationships, and learning constantly. Now, I can tell you that I rest when my private practice is resting. During Summer time, I make an effort to slow down and enjoy the slow season. Right now, I believe in the power of embracing your uniqueness as you pursue your passion. The journey of private practice has shown me how important it is to seek out mentors when you need to, to build strong relationships, to learn from diverse experiences, to prepare to adapt to change and to enjoy the slow moments in life. Now, I have a fulfilling private practice and know that there is no need to battle between being successful at work and thriving in life. We can do both.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Besides the knowledge and the experience I have built in the last decade, doing my own healing has been the most powerful and helpful step. Grad school and years of practicing in the field are not enough on their own; you must also do the work of healing yourself in the same way you want to help your clients heal. Going to therapy and healing your own issues as a therapist offers you a unique opportunity to deepen your skills so you can cultivate deeper resonance, connection and healing with your clients. I am aware that in order to help those that need me, personally and professionally, I need to take care of myself too. I found out that in doing my own healing, I have greater understanding and deeper regard for my clients’ wounds and needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tatianastgermain.com
- Instagram: @tatianastgermain_counseling
- Other: Tatiana St. Germain LLC profile at google business
Image Credits
@emagenphoto