NAVAL BASE GUAM (March 14, 2025) – Practicing self-care comes in various forms including recognizing that your mental health is just as important as your physical health and seeking professional help when you need it.
In recent years, mental health counseling has become more popular in online platforms, allowing greater accessibility, convenience and flexibility to connect to therapists.
“Talkspace is the number one-rated online therapy resource on the market,” said Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Guam Director for Mental Health, Cmdr. Francine Segovia. “Unlike therapy in person, with Talkspace you can receive therapy from anywhere, message your therapist any time, receive messages back, experience easy appointment scheduling, quickly switch therapists, and avoid lost travel time."
Talkspace is a virtual mental health service that is available to U.S. Navy members and their dependents (13-years-old and above) on Guam. The pilot program launched on Guam in December and includes supports therapy, and self-guided counselling programs. This service is free of cost (the pilot covers two sessions per month) and does not require a referral. Psychiatry services are also in the works and will be announced, once launched.
As of March, 59 authorized users have taken advantage of this resource. The program will be available at least through December of this year and may be extended based on utilization.
Some may find that online counseling feels intimidating, primarily due to the lack of a physical presence in a traditional therapy setting, and fear in not being able to build rapport with the therapist.
However, according to Segovia, many people find online therapy less intimidating because they can access it from the comfort of their own home, reducing anxiety associated with traveling to an office. Segovia is also aware that some may raise concerns about privacy, but emphasized that Talkspace’s technology is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
“Talkspace provides services similar to those a client would receive when going in-person to a therapist’s office,” Segovia said. “They conduct annual assessments to ensure they are compliant with current HIPAA and related health care standards. All data on their servers, as well as all communication that happens between their software and the servers, is encrypted.”
Talkspace will not share or disclose personal information to anyone, including your organization and other third parties if you sign up through them. However, they do require every member to submit emergency contact information, which is only utilized according to safety and reporting mandates. They do not sell protected health information (PHI), which includes medical history, diagnoses, transcripts, and any other documentation held in medical records, to anyone, Segovia explained.
Into the New Year, many individuals want a fresh start and set out to accomplish goals, including better mental health practices. However, individuals may be harder on themselves because they feel they have not accomplished or started their goals.
“I’d share the proverb, ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ is applicable here,” Segovia said. “Even if your goal is really big or intimidating just take the first step.”
Aside from Talkspace, there are various other mental health resources available for Sailors and their dependents in Guam.
In March 2024 NMRTC Guam established the hospital’s Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and was officially designated as a clinic in December 2024.
The CSU is an alternative to emergency departments and psychiatric hospitalization and provides intensive, short-term stabilization for someone experiencing a behavioral health crisis that cannot wait until a regularly scheduled appointment.
According to Segovia, the hospital has successfully treated about 250 active-duty service members experiencing mental health emergencies.
“The CSU’s initiative is dedicated to the psychological readiness of our warfighters who deserve quality care in a timely manner, no matter the platform or location,” Segovia stated.
Common concerns about seeking mental health care include being treated differently by leadership or peers, being seen as weak, others losing confidence in them, embarrassment, and fear of impacting their careers. However, Segovia reiterates that seeking help is a sign of strength and a positive step forward.
“You may think that seeking help for psychological health concerns will cause your security clearance to be denied or even taken away, this is very rare,” Segovia said.
According to National Intelligence Briefing, only .002 percent of all individuals that answered “yes” to consulting with a healthcare professional regarding an emotional or mental health condition, had a negative effect applied to their case.
“Mental health, is health,” Segovia said. “Take care of your mind and your own health, it’s okay to ask for help. It builds your psychological strength and shows you’re moving forward toward wellness and recovery.”