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 the British Virgin Islands
Public health system · BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Community Mental Health and Behavioral Health Unit
The BVIHSA runs community mental health and substance abuse services and a Behavioral Health Unit at Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital offering psychiatry, counselling and psychotherapy. Patients can self-refer by requesting a consultation or be referred by a GP. National Health Insurance (NHI) includes mental health services in its defined benefit package. More information
How to check that a professional is licensed
- BVI Allied Health Professionals Council (Ministry of Health and Social Development). Psychologists practising in the Virgin Islands register with the Allied Health Professionals Council. Ask the practitioner for their local registration.
- BVI Medical and Dental Council. Doctors, including psychiatrists, must be registered with the Medical and Dental Council to practise in the territory.
Insurance and coverage
National Health Insurance covers mental health services as part of its benefit package, with limits that may apply; many expatriates add private cover.
Urgent help in the British Virgin Islands
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 / 999)
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: bvihsa.vg, vinhi.vg
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 the British Virgin Islands cover psychological care?
The BVIHSA runs community mental health and substance abuse services and a Behavioral Health Unit at Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital offering psychiatry, counselling and psychotherapy. Patients can self-refer by requesting a consultation or be referred by a GP. National Health Insurance (NHI) includes mental health services in its defined benefit package.
How do I check that a psychotherapist is licensed in the British Virgin Islands?
BVI Allied Health Professionals Council (Ministry of Health and Social Development): Psychologists practising in the Virgin Islands register with the Allied Health Professionals Council. Ask the practitioner for their local registration.