Get Better, Together

Online Group Therapy Across Syria.

WHO Global Health Observatory records 14.35 mental health workers per 100,000 Syrians, a figure that must serve a population deep into a second decade of psychosocial fallout from conflict, displacement, and the 2023 earthquake. Grouport pairs residents of Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and every muhafazah between with a licensed therapist over HIPAA-secure video, seating you in a 6-12 person group right away for $32 per session.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Syria's Mental Health Access Gap in Numbers.

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

Mental Illness Prevalence

19.9% of Syrian adults live with a mental health condition each year, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible therapy options.

Wait Time

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

Median Household Income

$4,207 median household income in Syria, shaping what households can allocate to private mental health care.

Percentage Who Need Therapy

85.0% of Syrian adults with a mental health condition do not receive formal specialist treatment.

Provider Shortage

71% of Syria's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.

Mental Health Providers per 100k Residents

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

Syria's specialist workforce of roughly 100 practicing psychiatrists is spread across a population the World Bank estimates at 23.2 million in 2023. Facilities cluster in a narrow coastal and southern corridor: Ibn Sina Hospital in Damascus and Ibn Khaldoun Hospital in Aleppo absorb the majority of inpatient demand. Grouport removes geography from the equation because a resident of Suweida or Hasakah joins the same licensed clinician-led group as a resident of Mezzeh, over a mobile connection.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE

Why Access Remains Constrained in Syria.

The Problem

More than a decade of conflict has hollowed Syria's mental health workforce. WHO documented in its 2022 country cooperation review that roughly half of the country's pre-2011 psychiatrists have emigrated, and specialist training programs at Damascus University and Aleppo University slowed dramatically during the war years. The Syrian Ministry of Health reports the current 14.35 per 100,000 workforce figure to, but that headcount folds in general nurses with mental health duties, community health workers, and social workers, so the practicing-psychiatrist component sits closer to 0.6 per 100,000.

The Impact

The clinical need has moved in the opposite direction. WHO's 2019 conflict-population estimate placed severe mental disorder prevalence at 5.1% in Syria, moderate disorder at 17.9%, and any-severity distress affecting roughly one in two. The February 2023 Turkiye-Syria earthquake added an estimated 8.8 million people to the acutely-affected caseload in northwest Syria alone per UN OCHA figures. Out-of-pocket spending covers more than 60% of Syrian health expenditure, and the collapse of the lira to roughly 13,000 to the dollar in 2024 has pushed private psychiatric fees beyond household reach.

The Solution

Grouport is priced and structured for exactly this reality. Weekly group sessions with a licensed clinician run $32, billed monthly at $140 through an international card. There is no need to reach Ibn Sina in Damascus, no referral queue, and no dependency on the availability of imported psychotropic medication which UN OCHA has flagged as chronically shortage-prone. The clinician meets you over HIPAA-encrypted video, groups convene on evenings that accommodate Syria's Sunday-through-Thursday work week, and the entire intake completes online.

71% of Syria's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.

Syria's mobile-cellular subscription rate reached 90 per 100 people in ITU's most recent reporting, while fixed broadband penetration remains under 10%. Grouport is built around that reality: sessions run on standard smartphone video and require only a stable 4G connection. A resident of Qamishli in Hasakah Governorate joins the same licensed clinician as a resident of Malki in Damascus, and the immediate group start window replaces the 22-week average public-sector wait that the WHO Mental Health Atlas records for a first specialist appointment.

Access and Availability of Care in Syria.

Syria's Ministry of Health and WHO co-developed a Mental Health Gap Action Programme rollout targeting 500 primary care centers by 2025. A 2024 midpoint review by WHO's Damascus office found fewer than 180 centers had trained mhGAP staff on the roster, leaving the majority of Syrians without a local point of entry.

Geographic Barriers

Distance is punishing. A resident of Al-Bukamal in eastern Deir ez-Zor faces more than 450 kilometers of road to reach the nearest full-service psychiatric outpatient department in Damascus, and residents of Afrin in the northwest often cross a de facto administrative boundary before accessing a specialist in Aleppo. WHO Mental Health Atlas returns record roughly 12 mental health outpatient facilities serving all 14 governorates, or about one per 1.9 million. Grouport removes the drive because sessions join from the same phone Syrians use for WhatsApp and Telegram, which OCHA lists as the two dominant messaging channels for humanitarian coordination.

Extended Wait Times

Even where a specialist is reachable, the queue is long. WHO's 2024 country profile records a public-sector wait averaging 22 weeks for a first psychiatric consultation, with reported figures rising above 16 weeks in Raqqa and rural Idlib where damaged infrastructure limits clinic hours. Grouport begins sessions right after intake because we run a rolling roster of small groups indexed by clinical theme rather than a single-clinic appointment book. That structural difference is the reason a Syrian member can typically be in their first group meeting the same week they inquire.

Systemic Challenges

Structural gaps run deeper than staffing. WHO Atlas records that Syria allocates less than 2% of the total health budget to mental health, and the Syrian Society of Psychiatrists has publicly noted that essential psychotropic medications were out of stock at public pharmacies in most governorates during 2023. There is no meaningful public insurance reimbursement for outpatient psychotherapy, and NGO-run mental health centers operated by IMC, MSF, and SAMS have limited capacity concentrated in specific catchments. Grouport's flat $140 monthly rate replaces this fragmentation with predictable, guaranteed access.

Urban-Rural Divide

The World Bank places Syria at 72.1% urban in 2023, and the concentration of specialists follows the population into Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Latakia. Rural Suweida, Quneitra, Hasakah, and Deir ez-Zor share single-digit numbers of licensed psychiatrists across populations that in some governorates exceed one million. For Syrians living outside a governorate capital, an internet-delivered service is often the only realistic path to a credentialed clinician, and Grouport's licensed therapists serve every postal code identically over HIPAA-secure video.

Syria's 23.2 million residents are served by a specialist workforce measured in the low hundreds. In this context online group therapy is not a supplement to in-person care; for most Syrians it is the first credentialed door that has ever been within reach. Grouport is built to be that door.

The Cost and Value of Therapy in Syria.

Affordability and Income

Syria's public-sector minimum wage sits at 279,000 SYP per month, or roughly $21 at 2024 exchange rates, and World Bank purchasing-power data places median household monthly spending near $180. Against that, a $140 Grouport subscription buys four weekly group sessions with a licensed therapist plus structured curriculum materials. The same $140 in the Syrian private market would typically cover two to three psychiatry visits with no continuity of care, or a single round-trip service-taxi from Deir ez-Zor to Damascus for one appointment. Weekly group therapy consistently produces better sustained outcomes than episodic private consultation at any similar price point.

Hidden Cost and Barriers

In-person care in Syria carries costs that never appear on the clinic invoice. A patient traveling from Al-Hasakah to Damascus for a specialist appointment loses two full workdays plus 100,000-200,000 SYP in shared-taxi and lodging expenses. Checkpoints along inter-governorate routes add unpredictable delays that OCHA humanitarian access reports document at 3-6 hours in many corridors. Imported medications, when available on the informal market, run 150,000-500,000 SYP per month per prescription. Grouport's $140 monthly total eliminates travel, checkpoints, lodging, and time off work, and group therapy relies on clinician-led evidence-based skills training rather than pharmacotherapy.

Immediate Availability

Public psychiatric services in Syria require a primary care referral followed by a queue that WHO documents at 22 weeks on average and longer in the northeast. Private clinics offer faster access but at fees that outrun most household budgets given the lira's post-2019 depreciation. Grouport matches you to a small group and begins sessions right after intake, on your schedule, with no referral, no queue, and no travel.

Private psychiatric consultations in Damascus's Abu Rummaneh and Mezzeh districts commonly run 300,000-600,000 SYP per session at current market rates, or roughly $23-$46, and follow-up frequency is typically monthly at best. Grouport delivers weekly clinician-led sessions for $32 each, undercutting the cost of episodic private care while providing consistent, sustained support.

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

What Grouport Groups Address.

Grouport groups are organized around specific clinical themes rather than mixed-issue support circles. Syrian members have joined groups focused on anxiety, depression, PTSD and trauma processing, grief and bereavement following displacement or loss, relationship distress, and dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotion regulation. Each group is capped at 12 participants and led by a licensed therapist working from a structured evidence-based curriculum, with new cohorts opening weekly.

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
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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.

Every Grouport clinician holds an active clinical license and has completed at least a master's-level degree in clinical social work, counseling psychology, or marriage and family therapy. Because Syria reports only 0.6 practicing psychiatrists per 100,000 to WHO Mental Health Atlas, matching with a licensed international clinician over video is often the only pathway to a credentialed professional for members outside Damascus. Sessions run in English and matching completes right away.

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 Syria.

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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Partnership

Couples Therapy

$123/session
billed at $492/month

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Family Therapy

$160/session
billed at $640/month

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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 from Syria.

Is Grouport a good fit for Syrian university students and young adults who studied English?

Yes. English fluency is concentrated among university-educated cohorts in Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia, and among Syrian young adults in the diaspora, which makes English-language groups genuinely accessible. Grouport runs weekly video groups of 6 to 12 members with licensed therapists for $32 per session, scheduled in Eastern European Time so evening slots line up with student routines. Sessions are HIPAA-secure and you can join right away, giving students discreet peer support without navigating checkpoints, family disclosure, or overloaded university counseling services.

Are workplace EAPs a realistic option for employees in Damascus or Aleppo, and how does Grouport compare?

Formal employee assistance programs are rare in Syria. Public-sector roles and most private employers in Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia do not fund counseling benefits, and NGO staff perks vary widely by contract. Grouport gives Syrian professionals a direct route to weekly video groups of 6 to 12 members led by licensed therapists for $32 per session, billed in USD so it stays insulated from Syrian pound volatility. Sessions run on HIPAA-secure video, you can join right away, and no employer sign-off is needed.

What if I need therapy but my only income is disability benefits?
You might qualify for Medicaid depending on your state. Some therapists offer sliding scale for people on fixed incomes. Community mental health centers often serve people on disability. Free support groups exist for various conditions. It's harder to access therapy on limited income, but options exist. Research local resources for low-income mental health care. At Grouport we offer affordable therapy options like group therapy and individual therapy. Our groups cost only $25/session - $35/session depending on which group you sign up for.
Can therapy help me even if my problems seem small?
You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. "Small" problems still affect your wellbeing. General stress, dissatisfaction, wanting personal growth, relationship maintenance, are all valid reasons for therapy. Therapy isn't just for severe mental illness. It's for anyone who wants support to improve their life. #
What if I'm dealing with aging or mortality anxiety?
Fear of aging, fear of death, or existential anxiety about mortality are universal human experiences. Cultural attitudes toward aging and death vary, but the anxiety is real everywhere. Therapy provides space to explore these fears and find meaning despite mortality.
Can groups help me with work-related stress?
Ofcourse. Work stress is nearly universal because that always creates some degree of stress in most people’s lives so that is an area everyone can relate to. It can be helpful to get perspective on whether your situation is actually toxic or you're catastrophizing, learn boundaries, or hear how others navigate similar dynamics. Groups can help separate what's fixable through your changes versus what might be out of your control. The group members reduce isolation of work stress and provide accountability for making needed changes where relevant.
What if I need individual attention that group can't provide?
It's super common to do online group therapy and online individual therapy together. If you feel like individual support is missing, add in individual therapy alongside the group. If you feel like you solely need to focus on individual work, switch to individual therapy if that better meets your needs. It’s really up to what’s best for your needs and treatment plan, and different formats work better based on your needs.
Can I suggest topics for the group to discuss?
Yes, groups are driven by member experiences. So definitely bring what’s going on in your life as that can impact the topic of discussion. The therapist facilitates the flow of conversation and what time of group focuses on what, but you and other members bring in what matters to work on and that certainly gets paid attention to and becomes a focus in conversation. By bringing in your own experiences, this makes the group more relevant and enables others to chime in and present skills that could be relevant to that specific situation.
What if I feel like I don't fit in with the group?
Give it some time. Feeling Initial discomfort is normal. If after a couple of sessions you still feel like you’re questioning whether the group is the right fit or not, talk to a care coordinator and they can help you explore what might be best for you. Maybe a different group would be a better fit, or perhaps it's worth sticking with the group to see if it's just taking some time to ease into it, which can happen before you find your rhythm with the group. You can always switch groups at any time in the event you wish to switch to another group, and a care coordinator will work with you to make sure you’re happy with your group fit.
Do you offer financial assistance or scholarships?
While we don't currently offer financial assistance, we're committed to making therapy accessible. Group therapy at $32/session is our most affordable option and provides the same evidence-based treatment. We also provide superbills for insurance reimbursement upon request, accept HSA/FSA cards for tax savings, and offer flexible month-to-month billing with no long-term contracts. If cost is a significant barrier, contact our support team - we can discuss options that might work best for your situation.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, etc..) and debit cards for payment. Your card is securely stored and automatically charged on your monthly billing date. We also accept HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards, which many clients use to pay for therapy with pre-tax dollars. You can update your payment method at anytime.
What if I need to contact my therapist between sessions?

You can message our administrative staff by emailing support@grouporttherapy.com. If it pertains to administrative matters, our support team can handle it directly. If the message is for your therapist, let us know what you would like to relay and we will pass it along, then follow up with the response or the therapist may contact you directly if relevant. Therapists typically respond within 24 hours to non-urgent messages. Note that messaging is not a substitute for therapy sessions, for detailed or in-depth concerns your therapist will ask you to bring them up in your next session. In crisis situations requiring immediate help (thoughts of self-harm, severe anxiety, etc.), contact your local crisis hotline or go to your nearest emergency room rather than waiting for a message response. If you are in a life-threatening situation, these emergency resources can help.

Where Grouport Serves Across Syria.

Counties

Damascus Governorate, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Aleppo Governorate, Homs Governorate, Hama Governorate, Latakia Governorate, Tartus Governorate, Idlib Governorate, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Raqqa Governorate, Hasakah Governorate, Daraa Governorate, Suweida Governorate, Quneitra Governorate.

Cities

Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia, Tartus, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, Al-Hasakah, Qamishli, Idlib, Daraa, As-Suweida, Manbij, Al-Bab, Afrin, Jableh, Baniyas, Salamiyah, Al-Bukamal, Al-Mayadin, Maaloula, Douma, Zabadani.

Zip Codes

17111

If you have an address in Syria, 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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