About addiction
Addictions to substances or behaviours such as gambling, gaming or the internet involve loss of control and continuing despite harm. Treatment usually combines psychological therapy, relapse prevention and, in some cases, medical care. Professionals with experience in addictions can coordinate with specialised services.
Therapist is the everyday word for a professional who offers talking therapy: depending on the country it can be a psychologist, a psychotherapist, a licensed counsellor, a marriage and family therapist or a clinical social worker. Profiles show each therapist’s actual title, training and registration.
Getting mental health care in Sint Maarten
Public health system · Mental Health Foundation (MHF), funded mainly through SZV Social and Health Insurances
The Mental Health Foundation provides outpatient clinic care, day treatment, guided living, crisis intervention and an admission ward, with psychiatrists and psychologists on staff. It relies mainly on SZV and other insurers for funding since government subsidy ended in 2015. SZV also contracts private-practice psychologists, so SZV-insured patients can be covered for assessment and therapy.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA); Dutch BIG register as reference. Sint Maarten has no national register of its own yet; a draft National Ordinance on a Healthcare Professionals Registry was completed in 2026 but is not in force. Doctors have generally been required to be BIG-registered, and you can check Dutch BIG registration of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists online. Search the official register
Insurance and coverage
SZV has care contracts with private psychologists and with the Mental Health Foundation, so SZV-insured people can be covered for psychological assessment and therapy.
Urgent help in Sint Maarten
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 912 · Ambulance
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: thedailyherald.sx, thedailyherald.sx, sintmaartengov.org, thedailyherald.sx
Signs to look out for
An addiction may be developing when you find it hard to control how much or how often you use a substance or engage in a behaviour such as gambling, gaming, shopping or online use; when you keep going despite problems with health, money, work or relationships; when you need more to get the same effect; or when you feel restless or unwell when you stop.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Effective approaches include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, relapse-prevention programmes, contingency management and, for young people, family-based therapy. Psychologists and clinical psychologists with addiction experience, psychiatrists and specialised addiction services usually work together. For some substances, medically supervised treatment is needed. Mutual-help groups can complement professional care for many people.
When to seek urgent help
Contact your local emergency services immediately in case of a suspected overdose, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, seizures, chest pain or confusion. Seek urgent help too if there are thoughts of suicide or harming others. Stopping some substances suddenly after heavy use can be dangerous, so talk to a doctor before quitting.
What you can do in the meantime
Be honest with yourself about how often and why you use, and notice the situations, emotions and people that trigger it. Tell someone you trust and consider removing easy access, such as blocking betting apps or limiting cash. Fill your time with activities that do not involve the substance or behaviour. Lapses can happen; they are a signal to seek support, not a failure.
What does a therapist do?
A therapist helps you talk through what is worrying you and find practical ways to feel and cope better. In sessions they listen, ask questions, help you notice patterns in your thoughts, emotions and relationships, and agree goals with you. Depending on their training they may use cognitive-behavioural, humanistic, systemic, psychodynamic or other evidence-based approaches, with individuals, couples, families or groups.
When to see a therapist
It makes sense to look for a therapist when stress, anxiety, low mood, grief, relationship problems, a difficult change or the effects of past experiences start to weigh on your daily life, or when you simply want space to understand yourself better. If symptoms are severe, you may need medication or there are signs of a medical cause, involve your doctor or a psychiatrist as well.
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 Sint Maarten cover psychological care?
The Mental Health Foundation provides outpatient clinic care, day treatment, guided living, crisis intervention and an admission ward, with psychiatrists and psychologists on staff. It relies mainly on SZV and other insurers for funding since government subsidy ended in 2015. SZV also contracts private-practice psychologists, so SZV-insured patients can be covered for assessment and therapy.
How do I check that a therapist is licensed in Sint Maarten?
Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA); Dutch BIG register as reference: Sint Maarten has no national register of its own yet; a draft National Ordinance on a Healthcare Professionals Registry was completed in 2026 but is not in force. Doctors have generally been required to be BIG-registered, and you can check Dutch BIG registration of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists online.