Bert Nash Profile: George Wanke, Child and Family Services therapist

What led you to the mental health field?

I decided to be a person that helped others while traveling in Europe after I graduated from the KU School of Business focusing on Marketing and Personnel Management. I decided not to go into business after landing a job for a bank manager position in Washington, DC. I didn’t think it focused enough on helping others. When I returned to Lawrence to visit with my friends, I responded to an ad on the wall of the post office in Lawrence. The ad said, “Do you want to help others?” Clearly, it was meant for me. It was an ad from DCF (SRS at the time) in Troy, Kansas. Shortly after being hired I transferred to Kansas City to work in what was the forerunner to the Family Preservation program of today. It was an excellent introduction and resulted in me pursuing graduate school having found my passion.

Why do you do what you do? What do you find most rewarding about it?

I am very much a therapist by choice. I have had a wonderful social work career to date having been a CEO, CFO, COO, clinical director, program manager, private practitioner, and community mental health center (CHMC) staff in a wide variety of positions. I am putting the final colors on the canvas of my career and therapy is what has always brought me the most joy and brings me closest to my personal desire to help.

This is your second stint at the Bert Nash Center. What brought you back to us?

I left Bert Nash in the hopes of practicing integrated care (physical and mental health work at the same time). Stormont Vail in Topeka was hiring for such a position in their pediatric unit. I came back to Bert Nash because Lawrence has always been my hometown and Bert Nash has always been my local CMHC. When the integrated care program was not unfolding quickly enough for me at Stormont and Bert Nash had a need, I felt it was my time to return to my CMHC. Being here also helps me feel closest to my personal desire to help because it’s in my hometown.

What are your favorite things about working at Bert Nash?

My greatest sense of gratitude being at Bert Nash is that the people working here have such passion for their work. I also am very grateful for the opportunity to have a diversified practice where I get to see children, couples, families and adults. The diversity keeps me thinking, keeps me actively learning, and makes helping more dynamic.

This has been a big year for you, athletically speaking. Tell us about some of your exploits not doing that for 40 years. 

I had my “moment” because I bowled 300 and got to personally feel what that felt like and share it with my friends. I also competed in the USA Senior games in racquetball taking fifth in the nation in singles and third in the nation in doubles. If the truth be known, visiting with others from all across the country, hearing their stories, and hanging out with my doubles partner, seeing the sites of Albuquerque, N.M., and eating great food ranks up there with the medals in my drawer at home.