Crew members’ life can be amazing with opportunities for work and travel, as well as expanding friendships from all corners of our world that last a lifetime. Crew members cultivate a community feeling through the good and the bad, but sometimes that is not enough. Sometimes we all need someone who understands the crew lifestyles and challenges and can bring professional mindset to address the stress and burnout that work can bring. 

It took a decade for cruise companies to acknowledge the need for appropriate mental health support for its crew members. However, a lot of crew refrain from use of those supports as they are contracted through the cruise companies and the fear of being let go should their struggles be found out. Now, Crew members have a choice of independent, professional and virtual mental health support with the release of Mara Tago. But before we dive in the services that this innovative website offers, let's meet the creator and how Mara Tago came to life.

Meet Laura,  a veteran with years of experience working on cruise ships in several different departments. Communicating with Laura has been very personable, warm, and informative. Laura started her cruise ship journey as a dancer and life was both beautiful and challenging. When Laura faced abuse of power and harassment as a crew member, she reached out to HR for support. However, her pleads were silenced with dismissal. Many of us can relate to this and Laura made a decision to become empowered instead of defeated. She went to school and obtained a degree that landed her a position as HR on board cruise ships. She worked passionately and with compassion trying to help and support each person where there at. The more Laura faced people's struggles, the more her passion and empowerment grew to reach more people. So she went back to school and became a psychologist who created Mara Tago for that purpose, to provide mental health support with evidence-based therapy and community support with her knowledge of HR.

Looking through the website, you will find a lot of comprehensive services from individual therapy, to group workshops, and trainings. The modality used during the sessions is Cognative Behavioral Therapy utilized for stress management, anxiety, depression, sleep, etc. The workshops and trainings use psychoeducation to teach crew members skills, tolls and plans that can support during challenging situations whether on personal level or how to approach HR to obtain the best outcome for you. Confidently is guaranteed with secure note taking system and under ethical consideration with informed consent meaning that your sessions are confidential and private, unless you provide release of information for their release whether for personal, professional or medical reasons and in accordance with applicable laws. Services are provided I several languages such as English, Italian and Spanish.

It's time to cater not only to the financial and travel side of yourself, but also the emotional and mental side without the fear of anyone knowing your personal bussiness. It's time to make Mara Tago and Laura a part of your weekly self-care routine.