At Women Offshore, we’re committed to highlighting conversations that support the health, safety, and success of women in the maritime industry. In our latest podcast episode, The How-To of Healing, we welcome Pam Kern, MS, LCSW—an expert whose career bridges the gap between life at sea and mental health support on shore.
Pam brings a rare and valuable perspective to the topic of therapy. She spent 18 years sailing the globe as a Guest Relations Manager aboard cruise ships, overseeing the wellbeing of up to 3,200 guests and crew at a time. After coming ashore, she turned her attention to the mental health needs of maritime professionals—earning her master’s degree in advanced clinical social work from Columbia University and dedicating her career to trauma-informed care for those in our industry.
Now serving as Director of Maritime Mental Health Services at Port Medical Management in Houston, Pam also runs a private therapy practice and speaks internationally on maritime mental health advocacy, prevention, and intervention. She’s a clinical trauma psychotherapist, an employee assistance program (EAP) professional, and the spouse of an active sea captain—offering a well-rounded, deeply informed view on what mental health looks like for those who live and work at sea.
In this episode, Pam breaks down the “how-to” of therapy: What therapy really looks like. How to get started. How to find someone who gets your lifestyle. And why addressing mental health head-on is essential—not optional—for maritime professionals today.
Whether you’re struggling, seeking tools to stay grounded, or simply curious about how therapy works, this episode will help demystify the process and empower you to take the first step.
Listen now and learn how to navigate your own path to healing—on land or at sea.
You can find Pam on LinkedIn and at Pamkern.com
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