About eating disorders
Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating are serious and treatable. Care is usually multidisciplinary: psychological therapy, medical follow-up and nutritional support. If there is significant weight loss or physical symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.
Psychotherapists are professionals trained in one or more models of psychotherapy (psychodynamic, systemic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioural…). The protected title and requirements vary by country; profiles show each professional’s training and registration.
Getting mental health care in Guam
Public health system · Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC)
GBHWC is Guam's public agency for behavioural health and substance use treatment, offering adult counselling, child and adolescent services, psychiatric and nursing clinics, drug and alcohol treatment and a crisis hotline. Services are provided regardless of ability to pay and most medical insurance is accepted. More information
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners (Health Professional Licensing Office, DPHSS). Clinical psychology is one of the allied health disciplines licensed by the board. There is no online lookup found; contact the Health Professional Licensing Office to verify a licence.
Online therapy in Guam
Practitioners providing care to patients on Guam must hold a Guam licence; a licence from a US state does not automatically apply.
Urgent help in Guam
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 911 · Emergency (911)
- 988 · 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center)
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: gbhwc.guam.gov, dphss.guam.gov, asppb.net
Signs to look out for
Concern about food or weight becomes worrying when it takes up a lot of thought and affects daily life: strict dieting or skipping meals, episodes of eating large amounts with loss of control, vomiting or using laxatives or excessive exercise to compensate, rapid weight changes, avoiding eating in front of others, or intense fear of gaining weight. Eating disorders affect people of all sizes, genders and ages.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Eating disorders are best treated by a team that combines psychological, medical and nutritional care. Approaches with good evidence include enhanced cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT-E), family-based treatment for children and adolescents, and specialist supportive clinical management. Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors and dietitians with eating disorder experience usually work together. Early help tends to make recovery easier.
When to seek urgent help
Eating disorders can have serious physical effects. Contact your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department for fainting, chest pain, a very slow or irregular heartbeat, severe weakness, confusion, vomiting blood, or if someone is unable to eat or drink at all. Seek urgent help too for thoughts of suicide. Regular medical check-ups are important during treatment.
What you can do in the meantime
Try to eat regular meals and avoid long periods without food, even if it feels hard. Reduce exposure to content that promotes dieting or body comparison, and avoid weighing yourself frequently. Tell someone you trust. If you are supporting someone, express concern calmly, focusing on feelings rather than food or weight, and encourage them to seek professional help.
What does a psychotherapist do?
A psychotherapist helps people understand and change emotional, relational and behavioural patterns through a structured therapeutic relationship. Their work is shaped by one or more models, such as cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, systemic, humanistic or integrative therapy. They meet individuals, couples, families or groups, usually in regular sessions, and spend time outside sessions on notes, preparation and their own supervision.
When to see a psychotherapist
Psychotherapy suits people who want to work in depth on recurring difficulties: anxiety, low mood, relationship patterns, self-esteem, the effects of past experiences or major life transitions. It can also help when you feel stuck without a clear diagnosis. If you need a formal diagnosis, a specific psychological assessment or medication, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist may need to be involved.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Guam cover psychological care?
GBHWC is Guam's public agency for behavioural health and substance use treatment, offering adult counselling, child and adolescent services, psychiatric and nursing clinics, drug and alcohol treatment and a crisis hotline. Services are provided regardless of ability to pay and most medical insurance is accepted.
How do I check that a psychotherapist is licensed in Guam?
Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners (Health Professional Licensing Office, DPHSS): Clinical psychology is one of the allied health disciplines licensed by the board. There is no online lookup found; contact the Health Professional Licensing Office to verify a licence.
Can I have online therapy in Guam?
Practitioners providing care to patients on Guam must hold a Guam licence; a licence from a US state does not automatically apply.