Get Better, Together

Group Therapy in Belgium Without the Six-Week Wait.

Belgium has one of the denser mental health workforces in Europe, yet residents in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and beyond still routinely wait around six weeks for a first appointment. Grouport connects Belgian adults to English-language online group therapy for $32 per session, with a licensed therapist matched inside immediate and sessions joined securely from any Belgian address.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

The State of Mental Health in Belgium.

Understanding the landscape of mental health care access and the challenges
residents face across the state.

Mental Illness Prevalence

17.2% of Belgian adults live with a mental health condition each year, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible therapy options.

Wait Time

10 weeks the average wait to secure a first mental health appointment in Belgium's public system, an interval during which symptoms often deepen.

Median Household Income

$37,110 median household income in Belgium, shaping what households can allocate to private mental health care.

Percentage Who Need Therapy

64.3% of Belgian adults with a mental health condition do not receive formal specialist treatment.

Provider Shortage

50% of Belgium's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.

Mental Health Providers per 100k Residents

122.9 per 100,000 mental health workers in Belgium, a density that shapes availability, wait times, and access across the country.

Belgium's INAMI-RIZIV first-line psychological care reform, expanded in 2022, promised faster and cheaper access, but demand has consistently outrun the supply of conventioned psychologists. Sciensano's health interview surveys and WHO Europe both point to roughly a quarter of Belgian adults reporting anxiety, depressive, or sleep-related symptoms in a given year, with under-treatment concentrated among working-age adults and expatriates. Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory, WHO Europe Mental Health Atlas, and Sciensano BELHES.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE

Understanding Mental Health Access in Belgium.

The Problem

Belgium looks well-resourced on paper. WHO's 2022 workforce count of 122.92 mental health workers per 100,000 places it comfortably above the EU average, and the 2022 INAMI-RIZIV reform subsidised eight to twenty conventioned psychology sessions. In practice the reform's success created a bottleneck: conventioned psychologists in Brussels, Liege, and the Flemish cities are booked out for weeks, and the split between the federal government and the three Communities (Flemish, French, German-speaking) means intake pathways differ depending on your postal code.

The Impact

A six-week wait sounds tolerable until you translate it into someone missing days at a Brussels EU institution, an Antwerp port employee cycling through sick leave, or a Ghent student watching a semester slip. Non-conventioned psychologists typically charge €60 to €90 per fifty-minute session with only partial mutuelle reimbursement, and English-language options are concentrated in Brussels and a handful of expat-focused practices in Leuven and Waterloo. For Belgium's roughly one million foreign-born residents, that language barrier compounds the queue.

The Solution

Online group therapy sidesteps most of these frictions. A weekly, structured group of six to twelve peers led by a licensed clinician gives Belgian residents consistent contact with both a therapist and a cohort of people working through similar concerns, delivered over HIPAA-compliant video. Because the schedule spans US working hours, evening sessions in Brussels or Bruges are practical without arranging childcare or commuting across the country. Grouport's format is designed to complement any care a Belgian resident already receives through their generalist or mutuelle-linked psychologist.

50% of Belgium's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.

Grouport removes the geographic and linguistic filters that shape Belgian access. Therapist matching happens right away rather than after a six-week hold, sessions run in English so international residents in Brussels or NATO-adjacent Mons are not searching for a bilingual clinician, and the flat $32 per session pricing bypasses the conventioned-versus-private billing maze. There is no commute to a Rue Belliard practice, no waiting-room overlap with colleagues, and no need to switch mutuelles to unlock a reimbursement code.

Access and Availability Across Belgium.

Belgium's mental health system is federated across three Communities and multiple insurance layers, which shapes who can see whom and how quickly. Grouport operates on top of that landscape rather than inside it: any adult with a Belgian address and a reliable internet connection can join, whether they live in a Brussels commune, a Walloon village, or a coastal town in West Flanders.

Geographic Barriers

With 87.6% of Belgians living in urban areas, most conventioned psychologists cluster in Brussels-Capital, Antwerp, Ghent, Liege, and Charleroi. That still leaves rural pockets of Luxembourg province, the Ardennes, and the Westhoek where the nearest English-speaking clinician can be an hour's drive or a train transfer through Brussels-Midi. For residents of the German-speaking Community around Eupen and Sankt Vith, in-language options are even thinner. Online delivery flattens that geography, letting a resident in Bastogne join the same group as someone in Uccle.

Extended Wait Times

Six weeks is the widely cited median wait for a first appointment through the conventioned system, and Belgian health-service journalism regularly documents longer holds for CGG (Centra voor Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg) and SSM (Services de Sante Mentale) intake. During that window symptoms harden, work performance slides, and many people quietly abandon the process. Grouport's immediate group start is designed for that exact interval, giving Belgian residents structured therapeutic contact while they remain on any local waiting list.

Systemic Challenges

Belgian health coverage is mandatory and administered through mutualites-ziekenfondsen. The 2022 first-line reform lets adults access up to eight subsidised individual sessions per year at €11 or €4 per session, plus limited group sessions, but only with a conventioned psychologist and after a triage. Beyond that ceiling, private sessions typically cost €60 to €90 and receive €10 to €30 back through mutuelle supplementary insurance, depending on the fund. Grouport's $32 per session sits outside that structure entirely, priced consistently regardless of Community, mutuelle, or referral status.

Urban-Rural Divide

The 87.6% urbanization figure understates how concentrated specialist care is. English-speaking psychologists cluster around Brussels' European quarter, Waterloo's international schools, and Leuven's university corridor. Someone living in Dinant, Ypres, or the Kempen either commutes or waits longer for a local slot. Because group sessions run over video and pool participants nationally rather than by canton, a resident in Neufchateau shares a group with Antwerp and Ostend peers, and the therapist roster is the same regardless of address.

Grouport suits Belgium's specific mix of high workforce density, real access lag, and multilingual population well. Residents who want to stay inside the mutuelle pathway can use Grouport in parallel; residents who have exhausted their conventioned sessions or need care in English get a straightforward alternative.

Affordable Group Therapy Costs for Belgium Residents.

Affordability and Income

Against Belgium's 2024 GNI per capita of $37,110 PPP, a $140 monthly Grouport membership is around 0.2% of average annual income. For a Brussels household already juggling housing costs that consume a growing share of take-home pay, or a Walloon household where median disposable income sits below the national average, a flat monthly fee is easier to plan around than variable per-session gap payments. There is no invoicing back-and-forth with the mutuelle and no year-end reconciliation.

Hidden Cost and Barriers

In-person Belgian therapy carries costs that rarely appear on the invoice. A Charleroi resident travelling to a Brussels English-speaking clinician spends €20-plus on SNCB tickets and burns two to three hours per visit; parking in the Louise or European quarter can add €10 to €20 more; and taking a mid-afternoon slot often means using annual leave from a job where recuperation days are contested. Online group sessions eliminate the travel line entirely, and evening scheduling means most participants join outside of working hours.

Immediate Availability

Grouport typically matches a new Belgian member with a therapist and group in immediate. Compared with the six-week wait that characterises the conventioned pathway and much of the private market in Brussels and Flanders, that window is the practical difference between engaging with support this week and revisiting the question next quarter.

Therapy pricing in Belgium runs on two tracks. Conventioned first-line sessions cost the patient €11 (€4 for those with increased reimbursement) but are capped and gated by triage; private sessions run €60 to €90 with partial mutuelle rebates that vary by fund and by the practitioner's clinical psychologist status. Grouport's $32 per session, roughly €29 at recent exchange rates, is materially below the private rate and priced consistently every week.

How it Works

Community

Choose your online therapy group

Choose your desired online therapy group and sign up for our weekly plan. Most of our groups are $35/session, but our skills groups are $25/session.

Networking

Personalized match

We’ll ensure you're matched to an online therapy group that best fits your mental health challenges and schedule. Don’t worry if you’re not entirely sure which group is right for you, as after signing up, a care coordinator can help make sure you get started in the group that’s right for you. We typically match you to a group right away!

Video call

Meet weekly with your group

Join your group over video chat at the same time each week for 60-minute sessions. You’ll meet with the same members & therapist with a group of up to 12 members. Additional membership perks can include weekly handouts, symptom tracking, and one-off workshops.

Find Your Group

Mental Health Conditions We Treat in Belgium.

Grouport groups cover the concerns Belgian residents most often raise with generalists and mutuelle-linked psychologists: anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, work stress and burnout, trauma recovery, dialectical behaviour therapy skills, and support for parents. Group composition is matched to presenting concerns rather than geography, so a Ghent participant works alongside peers from Namur, Ostend, or Brussels who share the same focus and are at a comparable stage of the work.

Find your groupa group of nine people chatting online

Get Help for:

Self harm

Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation, Self-injury, Suicide Survival

  • OCD
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Trauma & PTSD
  • Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Narcissistic Abuse 
  • Eating Disorders
  • Body Dysmorphia 
  • Agoraphobia 
  • Anger Management
  • ADHD
  • Substance Abuse & Addiction
  • Postpartum depression or anxiety
  • Panic
  • Phobias
  • Grief & Loss
  • Relationship Challenges
  • Couples Issues
  • Parenting
  • Supporting a loved one
  • Work stress & burnout
  • Self-harm, Self-injury, Suicidal ideation
  • Chronic Illness
  • Divorce
  • Teen/Adolescent Groups 
  • Gender identity 
  • LGBTQIA Support

Common Treatments:

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Emotion-focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Exposure Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing 
  • Interpersonal Therapy
Vector Heart
USA

Meet Our Therapists

Our therapists represent a wide range of clinical specialties & diverse backgrounds. They all undergo the most stringent credentialing process. Grouport therapists are caring, expert mental health professionals with years of experience helping people get the tools they need to see long-lasting change.

Grouport's clinicians are licensed and trained in group modalities including CBT, DBT, ACT, and interpersonal therapy. Sessions run in English, which suits Belgium's large international population in Brussels, the NATO and EU institutions, and the university towns, and also fits Belgian adults who prefer to discuss mental health in a language separate from their working Dutch, French, or German. Therapists are briefed on European context, and Belgian participants can flag anything they want their group leader to know about local health-system interactions.

FIND YOUR MATCH

a healthier future starts right here

Grouport’s Results

80% of our members start with moderate to severe mental health symptoms

70% of our members feel significantly better within just 8 weeks

50% of our members achieve remission levels within just 8 weeks

80%
of our members start with moderate to severe mental health symptoms

70%
of our members feel significantly better within just 8 weeks

50%
of our members achieve remission levels within just 8 weeks

Find your Group

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Affordable Group Therapy & Care Options in Belgium.

Group, individual, couples, family, IOP, and teen therapy — all online, all therapist-led. Mix and match care options to fit your needs — and get discounted pricing when you bundle.

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Group Therapy

$35/session
billed at $140/month

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Individual Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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or Learn More

Partnership

Couples Therapy

$123/session
billed at $492/month

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or Learn More

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Family Therapy

$160/session
billed at $640/month

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or Learn More

IOP Therapy

$337/week
billed at $1,348/month

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or Learn More

Frame

Teen Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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or Learn More

Meaningful Results

Check out how our services have helped our members see life-changing results

Stephanie

“Grouport is time flexible and affordable and if it didn’t exist, I don’t know where I would go. I had looked into other places before Grouport and there really wasn’t any option like it.”

Michael

“I highly recommend this to anyone who is struggling with anxiety or depression. The therapists are top notch and have made me feel really comfortable and my anxiety has improved tremendously in only a few sessions!”

Isabel

"I joined Grouport to work on myself and to heal. I’m learning so much at every session! The change I see not only in myself but in my fellow group members is abundantly encouraging and profoundly fulfilling. Group therapy with Grouport is a powerful healing tool."

Sheldon

“I was feeling very down at the end of 2020 and I was ready to do something drastic that I know I'd likely regret. The group definitely helped show me that there are people who feel the same way as I do.”

Nancy

“The therapy from Grouport is high quality and convenient. I am becoming much more self aware and am liking myself more. My relationships at work are better and I’m much happier.”

Emily

“I like the connection you can make with total strangers and the confidentiality it comes with.”

Olivia

“My weekly group helps me get through the week. Best experience ever!”

Danielle

"Grouport can help you with your issues. Their therapists are well trained to work with you on your issues. I felt my anxiety greatly improve after only a few sessions. I highly recommend it!"

Glenn

"Grouport's approach to DBT is a real strength. This approach provides tools and methods for working with difficult emotions and getting a handle on them. It has given me hope where other approaches have failed."

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Common Questions About Group Therapy in Belgium.

Belgian therapy at a CMP or CGG tends to be reserved and clinically formal across Dutch, French, and German traditions. How does Grouport's communication style compare?

Belgian mental health care, whether through a conventioned psychologist or a public CMP or CGG center, often carries a formal clinical register that varies by linguistic community. Grouport's licensed therapists run groups in English with a warmer, more conversational American style: direct check-ins, active facilitation, and structured turn-taking so all 6 to 12 members contribute. Sessions are $32, meet weekly at times that fit CET, and you join right away over HIPAA-secure video without navigating Flemish or Walloon referral routes.

Brussels hosts over 100,000 EU institution staff, NATO personnel, and diplomats from dozens of countries. Does that international mix make Grouport's groups feel like a natural fit for Belgian members?

Yes. Brussels is one of the most internationally mixed capitals in Europe, and members from Belgium already navigate multilingual workplaces at EU institutions, NATO, and multinational headquarters daily. Grouport's weekly video groups of 6 to 12 members from many countries feel like an extension of that environment, not a departure from it. Sessions run in English with a licensed therapist, cost $32, and you join right away over HIPAA-secure video, whether you are based in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, or Liege.

What if I can't afford therapy right now?
Try online group therapy first. It costs less. Use HSA/FSA if you have it. Submit for insurance reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits. Some people do therapy every other week instead of weekly to reduce cost. When combining things we also provide discounts to make it more affordable.
Can I do therapy if I've moved to a new country recently?
Yes. Moving to a new country creates adjustment stress, loneliness, identity shifts, and practical challenges. Therapy helps you navigate the transition, process what you've left behind, and build life where you are now. Moving countries is genuinely difficult even when you chose it.
How do time zones work for international clients?
Our therapists are located all over the world and work various hours to accommodate different time zones. Depending on where you live, sessions might be in your morning, afternoon, evening, or night. We'll work with you to find times that fit your schedule and our therapists' availability.
What if I feel worse after group sessions?
Temporary discomfort after group can happen, especially initially or after intense sessions. Sometimes processing difficult stuff is uncomfortable initially. Emotions can get elevated. If you consistently feel worse, discuss with the group therapist, perhaps they can adjust the approach, or you may need additional individual support which we can help you with, or assess whether this group is the right fit. Most people find initial discomfort decreases as groups become familiar. The goal is growth through challenge and the therapist monitors carefully to ensure group is therapeutic and not harmful. Therapy shouldn't leave you consistently feeling worse, but sometimes hard work is in fact a sign of healing and it can come before you feel better.
Can group therapy address trauma?
Absolutely, we have specific groups geared to Trauma & PTSD. So for trauma we would recommend a trauma group. We also find that Dialectical Behavior Therapy “DBT” groups are often also helpful for trauma & PTSD. The shared experience among trauma survivors is healing and realizing you're not alone in what happened or how it affected you is essential for progress. Trauma groups are usually structured carefully so that you can process trauma effectively, and they can include specific trauma techniques like EMDR or rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
What if my schedule changes and I can't attend anymore?
If your schedule changes temporarily, that’s totally normal and missing a couple of sessions here and there like 2-3 sessions is acceptable as long as there's commitment to return. If missing session is happening a lot due to your scheduling changes, talk to a care coordinator about switching to a different group time that works better for your schedule and they’ll be sure to assist. This is precisely why we allow to switch groups at any time as we know scheduling changes do happen. Or pause and return later when it's convenient for you. Life changes and schedules shift, so it's important that you find a group that works for you and your schedule.
Can I do online group therapy if I'm very introverted?
Yes, introverts often do really well in group therapy once they get past initial discomfort. You don't have to be the loudest person to benefit and what often happens is that introverts open up overtime. Quiet observation is totally valid and a skilled group therapist makes space for different communication styles. The therapist works with your natural communication style while encouraging growth promoting challenges. Groups benefit from diverse personalities such as introverts who provide balance and thoughtfulness to session.
What information do you share with insurance companies?
When you submit for insurance reimbursement, we provide a superbill that includes: your name, therapist's name and credentials, dates of services rendered, cost paid per session, and any other relevant information needed for reimbursement.
Can my employer see that I'm using therapy services?
No, your employer cannot see that you're using Grouport unless you tell them. Even if you're using employer-provided insurance for reimbursement, HIPAA laws prevent insurers from sharing details about your mental health care with your employer. Your employer might see that you filed an insurance claim for "mental health services," but they won't see provider details, session notes, or any information about your care. If you're paying out-of-pocket or using an HSA/FSA, there's no connection to your employer at all beyond the general use of benefits.
Is my payment information secure?
Yes, all payment information is processed through secure payment systems that meet banking industry security standards. Your credit card information is encrypted and stored by our payment processor. Grouport staff never see or have access to your full card details, we only see the last 4 digits for billing purposes. The same security protocols used by major retailers and banks protect your payment data. You can safely update your payment method on file at any time.

Group Therapy Available Across Belgium.

Counties

Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels-Capital Region, Antwerp Province, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut, Liege Province, Luxembourg Province, Namur Province, German-speaking Community

Cities

Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liege, Bruges, Namur, Leuven, Mons, Aalst, Mechelen, Kortrijk, Hasselt, Ostend, Tournai, Genk, Seraing, Roeselare, Verviers, Eupen

Zip Codes

1000, 1050, 1180, 2000, 2018, 2030, 3000, 3010, 3200, 4000, 4020, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 8500, 9000, 9100, 9800, 9820

If you have an address in Belgium, Grouport can serve you regardless of your zip code.

Online Group Therapy Available Worldwide

Grouport offers online group therapy available globally for people in 200+ countries. Find a group led by a licensed therapist that fits your needs.

Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
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Let’s find the right therapist match for you, so you can get consistent & effective care.

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