Expert 1:1 Care
In Costa Rica, getting into mental health care means running into predictable friction. The Caja's outpatient queues stretch around six weeks for a first non-urgent appointment, and private psychologists in Escazu, Santa Ana, Heredia, and San Pedro ask 40,000 to 60,000 colones per session for whoever happens to have an open slot. Even when someone picks up the phone, finding a therapist actually trained in the specific approach your situation calls for, whether that's ERP for OCD, EMDR for trauma, DBT for emotion regulation, CBT for depression or panic, or the many other things people work through, is another search on top of the first. Grouport's online individual therapy is built for exactly that. After a short signup you're presented with clinician options fitted to your situation, you pick the therapist you'd like to work with, and typically get started within 24 to 72 hours. Weekly 45-minute video sessions with the same licensed therapist over secure HIPAA-compliant video, at $103 per session on average ($448 per month), with automatic discounts included for every additional weekly session.

Understanding the landscape of mental health care access and the challenges
residents face.
15.4% of Costa Rican adults live with a mental health condition each year, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible therapy options.
6 weeks the average wait to secure a first mental health appointment in Costa Rica's public system, an interval during which symptoms often deepen.
$8,915 median household income in Costa Rica, shaping what households can allocate to private mental health care.
65.0% of Costa Rican adults with a mental health condition do not receive formal specialist treatment.
100% of Costa Rica's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.
9.63 per 100,000 mental health workers in Costa Rica, a density that shapes availability, wait times, and access across the country.
Read together, Costa Rica's statistics point to a specific mismatch that the individual therapy model is well suited to close. A workforce density of 0.12 mental health specialists per 100,000 residents caps how quickly the Caja and private practice can absorb demand, and a six-week average wait for a first outpatient appointment means the delay itself becomes a factor in outcomes. Median household purchasing power in Costa Rica is real but stretched, which puts a $150 to $250 per session global rate for one-on-one care with a licensed therapist out of reach for most sustained treatment arcs. Grouport's $103 per session weekly plan, delivered by a licensed clinician over HIPAA-compliant video with no travel and no queue, lines up cleanly with what the underlying data says Costa Rica most needs.
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE
Costa Rica built one of Latin America's most admired public health systems around the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, but mental health has never been resourced at the same level as primary care. The WHO's most recent MH_11 submission for Costa Rica logged just 0.12 mental health workers per 100,000 residents, a national total that translates to only a few dozen specialists spread across a population of 5.13 million. The Hospital Nacional Psiquiátrico in Pavas absorbs most complex casework, and community-level psychology posts are concentrated in a handful of EBAIS clinics in the Central Valley.
Six weeks is not an abstract statistic when you are the person waiting. That is a full rainy-season stretch, most of a school semester, an entire fiscal quarter. A parent in Alajuela recognizing early burnout or a professional in Heredia noticing a first depressive episode can watch symptoms deepen while the Caja referral moves through the system, and by the time the appointment opens, work performance has already slipped and family relationships are strained. Even private consultations in Escazu or Santa Ana at 40,000 to 60,000 colones per visit come with their own friction: finding a licensed practitioner with capacity and open weekly availability often means calling several clinics. Grouport removes both delays. A short intake, a licensed clinician matched to your goals, and a first session on the calendar within days rather than months.
Online individual therapy meets Costa Rica's specific bottlenecks head on. With roughly 0.12 mental health specialists per 100,000 residents logged with WHO, and most of that thin bench concentrated in the Central Valley around San Jose, Alajuela, Cartago, and Heredia, an in-country search often comes down to whoever has capacity rather than whose training actually fits. Grouport widens that pool nationally. After a short signup you're presented with clinician options selected for your particular situation, whether the work centers on anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, BPD, bipolar, anger, grief, a relationship in crisis, an eating disorder, or something less easily labeled, and you pick the therapist you'd like to work with rather than accepting the next available slot. The first 45-minute session typically lands the same week over secure HIPAA-compliant video, and the same clinician continues week over week. That continuity is where in-country pathways through the Caja tend to fall short, since specialists rotate between clinics and follow-up gaps are common. The therapeutic relationship stays intact across the full arc of care.
100% of Costa Rica's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.
Three barriers loosen as soon as care moves online. The Caja queue for non-urgent outpatient mental health referrals stretches around six weeks in Costa Rica; with Grouport, intake finishes in a short session and a licensed therapist is available the same week. Geography stops mattering when the delivery is video-based, so a resident in Puerto Jimenez, Liberia, or Bribri joins on the same terms as someone in Curridabat or Escazu, with no drive over mountain roads to reach a specialist assigned to Pavas. And Costa Rica's Central Standard Time position at UTC-6 with no daylight saving aligns cleanly with weekday morning and evening slots on the Grouport calendar, so professionals in the Central Valley's tech, call-center, and shared-services corridors can schedule sessions around the workday without losing office hours.
Costa Rica's formal care landscape spans four rough tiers. The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social anchors universal coverage through the Hospital Nacional Psiquiatrico in Pavas and community-level EBAIS posts. A private sector of psychologists and psychiatrists operates out of Escazu, Santa Ana, Heredia, and San Pedro, typically paid out of pocket or through INS, BMI, or Bupa policies. Corporate EAPs cover a slice of the workforce clustered around multinational employers in the Central Valley. University clinics at UCR and UNA fill some sliding-scale gaps. What sits genuinely missing from that map is an weekly one-on-one option with a licensed clinician that can start this week. Grouport fills that specific slot with $103 individual therapy sessions delivered nationwide over HIPAA-compliant video.
Costa Rica residents get immediate access to individual therapy at $103 per session, billed at $448 per month, roughly 50 to 60 percent below the global average of $150 to $250 per session for one-on-one care with a licensed therapist. Local rates in the Central Valley cover a wide band, from lower-cost counsellors advertising around 25,000 colones per session up through Escazu and Santa Ana private practitioners at 40,000 to 60,000 colones for a 50-minute visit. Grouport's differentiator inside that mix is the combination of a licensed clinician holding graduate credentials, HIPAA-compliant video delivery, weekly consistency with the same therapist, sessions, and a fixed USD subscription that will not surprise you at month end.
On the affordability side, Grouport's monthly USD subscription is what makes the model sustainable across the many months of weekly work that most therapeutic goals actually require. A weekly plan at $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month, or an every-other-week plan at $224 per month, is a single predictable line item in a household budget rather than a variable per-session invoice that fluctuates with holidays, therapist availability, and currency movement. For Costa Rican residents earning in colones, the fixed USD rate removes any surprise from month to month and still lands well below the global average of $150 to $250 per session for one-on-one care with a licensed therapist. It also opens up a caliber of clinical training, graduate-level credentials with active licensure, that in-country private practice typically prices at the top of its own range.
The sticker price of an in-person session in Costa Rica understates the real cost, especially for anyone outside the Central Valley. A resident in Nicoya driving to San Jose for a specialist appointment loses most of a workday, spends 15,000 to 25,000 colones on fuel and tolls each way, and often pays for parking in a private lot near the clinic. Central Valley residents avoid the mileage but still trade traffic and an unpaid morning at the office, plus a bus fare of ₢200 to ₢500 or an Uber ride of ₢3,000 to ₢6,000. Currency-conversion friction adds a small tax whenever private clinics quote in colones and a household budget tracks in USD. Grouport removes all of it: no commute, no lost work hours, no cash-only surprises, no scramble to find a licensed clinician with an open weekly slot. One fixed monthly rate in USD, cancel anytime, sessions from your own home.
Timing is where the online model most obviously separates from the in-country alternatives. The Caja's six-week wait for a first outpatient mental health appointment is the shortest realistic path through the public system for a non-urgent referral, and many health areas run longer than that. Private clinics in Escazu and Santa Ana can occasionally open a slot in two or three weeks for clients who pay full rate and are comfortable working in Spanish. Grouport's intake completes in a short session, and a licensed clinician is matched to the client's goals within the same week. For Costa Rica clients ready to start now, a licensed Grouport therapist is available this week.
With plans tailored to you, it's easy to choose the right mental health care plan. Simply sign up today!
We’ll get in touch with you to get brief context to make sure we match you with the therapist that best fits your needs & schedule. (Typically match in 24-72 hours)
Meet weekly with a licensed mental health professional for 45-minute video sessions. With consistent online therapy services, you can start seeing meaningful results.
Check out how our online therapy 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.”
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."

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 clinician bench is made up of licensed psychologists, PsyDs, PhDs, LCSWs, LMFTs, LMHCs, and LPCs holding graduate credentials from accredited programs. Beyond the licensure, the difference is depth of training in specific evidence-based modalities, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, exposure and response prevention, EMDR, internal family systems, acceptance and commitment therapy, and others, so the therapist you work with is actually equipped for what you're bringing in rather than whoever a queue happened to route you to. After a short signup you're presented with a shortlist of clinicians selected around your situation, goals, scheduling, and any preferences you flag, and you pick the therapist you'd like to work with. That same therapist stays with you week over week rather than reshuffling every few months, and a dedicated care coordinator is available throughout to help you refine the fit, change therapists if needed, or handle anything else that comes up as the work moves forward.
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.
$112/session
billed at $448/month
Get Started

Online therapy with Grouport works through video sessions where you meet with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home. After you sign up, we match you with a therapist within 24-48 hours based on your needs, schedule, and preferences. Sessions are conducted via our HIPAA-compliant video platform - you simply log in at your scheduled time and connect with your therapist. You'll receive the same evidence-based treatment and professional care as in-person therapy, with the added convenience of attending from anywhere.
You’ll need a device with a camera and microphone such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer along with a stable internet connection. Grouport's platform works on most modern devices and browsers. If you can video call with friends or family, you can attend Grouport therapy sessions. Many of our sessions happen within our member portal, in which case it uses our proprietary video chat technology. If the session doesn’t happen within our member portal, many of our sessions also happen over Zoom’s HIPAA compliant platform, so in that case you would have to download zoom which you can do for free.
A stable internet connection of at least 3 Mbps is recommended for video sessions. If video connection isn't working well for some reason, you can always switch to audio-only during the session.
Yes, therapy is confidential with specific limited legal exceptions your therapist explains in the first session. Exceptions include you report intent to harm yourself or others, you disclose child or elder abuse, a court orders release of records (rare), or you provide written consent to share information. Outside of these rare situations, your therapist cannot share anything without your permission, not with family, employers, or anyone else. This confidentiality creates safety for you to explore difficult topics honestly. Your therapist takes confidentiality seriously and explains exactly what's protected and what isn't.
Yes, many people combine online therapy and medication and research shows this combination is often most effective for conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. Medication addresses neurochemical imbalances while therapy teaches coping skills, addresses thought patterns, and helps you understand and manage your condition. Your therapist can coordinate with your prescriber (e.g. Psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or primary care doctor) if you'd like, though they cannot prescribe medication themselves. Some people start with therapy and add medication later if needed, while others taper off medication as therapy provides alternative coping tools. Therapy supports medication treatment regardless of your approach.
Previous unsuccessful therapy can happen and doesn't mean therapy can't help. Take into account, was the therapist a good fit? Did you attend long enough (change often takes 8+ sessions)? Was the timing right? Did the approach match your needs? Sometimes people need a different therapeutic modality and if talk therapy didn't work, maybe DBT skills, CBT, or EMDR would. Therapy also works better when you're ready for change versus feeling pressured. Discuss your previous experience with your new therapist and this helps them adapt treatment to what didn't work before. Many people succeed with therapy after finding the right fit or approach.
Individual therapy effectively treats anxiety disorders, OCD, depression, trauma and PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder, grief and loss, relationship problems, self-esteem and identity issues, life transitions (career changes, divorce, moving, becoming a parent etc.), stress management, anger issues, eating and body image concerns, substance use, chronic illness, and general personal growth. Even if you don't have a diagnosis, therapy helps with life challenges and improving mental wellbeing. If unsure whether therapy can help your specific concern, schedule a free call with a care coordinator and they can discuss what would be relevant for your needs.
Family pressure about career, marriage, children, or life choices exists across cultures. Some cultures have particularly intense family expectations. Therapy helps you navigate family pressure, set boundaries, and make choices that are right for you even when family disagrees.
Religious doubt, faith crises, conflicts between your identity and religious teachings, or pressure from religious community all create distress. Therapy provides space to explore these questions without judgment. Your therapist respects your religious background while supporting your wellbeing.
For private sessions, we require 48-72 hours notice to cancel/reschedule without charge. If you no-show or cancel last-minute, you would be charged. For groups we can add in session credits within reason if you miss a session here and there, but the premise is that you're paying monthly regardless of whether you use all your sessions. If you miss group sessions on occasion, we understand and that’s normal, so we can provide session credits as long as it's within reason.
Yes. Grouport Individual Therapy is well suited to the large expat and digital-nomad communities in the Central Valley (Escazu, Atenas, Grecia), Guanacaste (Tamarindo, Nosara), and the Southern Zone (Ojochal, Uvita). You get weekly 45 minute one-on-one video sessions with a licensed clinician (psychologist, LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LPC, PsyD, or PhD) over HIPAA-compliant video in English, at $103 per session on average or $448 per month. After a short intake you match with a therapist and start right away, no relocation to San Jose required.
Mental health specialists in Costa Rica are heavily concentrated in the GAM around San Jose and Cartago, leaving Guanacaste, Limon, and the Southern Zone underserved, and Caja waits for non-urgent outpatient referrals can stretch several weeks. Grouport removes the drive into San Jose or Escazu entirely. You meet a licensed clinician weekly over HIPAA-compliant video for 45 minute one-on-one sessions in English, at $103 per week or $448 per month, and can start right away after intake from anywhere with reliable internet.
San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Limón
San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Liberia, Puntarenas, Limón, Puerto Viejo, Quepos, Tamarindo, Jacó, San Isidro de El General, Nicoya, Escazú, Santa Ana
10101, 10102, 10201, 20101, 30101, 40101, 50101, 60101
If you have an address in Costa Rica, Grouport can serve you regardless of your zip code.
Let’s find the right therapist match for you, so you can get consistent & effective care.
