Expert 1:1 Care
Online Individual Therapy for Gambians, Without the 12-Week Wait.
Reaching a therapist in The Gambia is difficult before you even get to the question of quality. Tanka Tanka in Kanifing anchors an entire national inpatient system, roughly 180 mental health workers cover 2.76 million residents, and a first appointment in the public system commonly sits about twelve weeks out. Finding a private clinician trained in the specific approach your situation calls for, whether that is CBT for anxiety and depression, ERP for OCD, trauma-focused work for PTSD, DBT for emotional regulation, or steady support through grief, burnout, ADHD, bipolar, or a relationship crisis, is harder still and largely limited to the Greater Banjul strip. Grouport's online individual therapy is built for exactly that gap. After a short signup you are shown therapist options fitted to your situation, you pick the clinician you would like to work with, and typically get started within 24 to 72 hours. Weekly 45-minute one-on-one 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.
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The State of Mental Health in Gambia.
Understanding the landscape of mental health care access and the challenges
residents face.
Mental Illness Prevalence
15.4% of Gambian adults live with a mental health condition each year, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible therapy options.
Wait Time
12 weeks the average wait to secure a first mental health appointment in the Gambia's public system, an interval during which symptoms often deepen.
Median Household Income
$4,435 median household income in the Gambia, shaping what households can allocate to private mental health care.
Percentage Who Need Therapy
85.0% of Gambian adults with a mental health condition do not receive formal specialist treatment.
Provider Shortage
87% of the Gambia's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.
Mental Health Providers per 100k Residents
6.58 per 100,000 mental health workers in the Gambia, a density that shapes availability, wait times, and access across the country.
Read together, The Gambia's numbers tell a specific story about what individual therapy needs to look like here. A workforce density of 6.58 mental health workers per 100,000 residents, a 12-week wait for a first appointment, and roughly 85 percent of adults with a mental health condition receiving no formal specialist treatment describe a system that cannot realistically deliver weekly one-on-one care at scale from within the country. A GNI of around $3,430 PPP means that when private options do exist, they tend to be priced for expatriates rather than local households. An online, one-to-one model with a licensed clinician, a transparent monthly USD subscription, and an immediate start is not a substitute for domestic capacity, but it is a direct fit for what individual Gambia clients actually need this week.
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE
Understanding Mental Health Access in Gambia.
The Problem
The Gambia's mental health system rests on a very narrow base. WHO records about 6.58 mental health workers per 100,000 people, meaning the entire country of 2.76 million shares roughly 180 trained mental health professionals across all cadres, and only a handful of those are psychiatrists. Tanka Tanka Hospital in Kanifing is effectively the national psychiatric referral centre, and general nurses in regional health centres often take on counselling duties they were not specifically trained for. Formal outpatient talk therapy, delivered by a qualified clinician, is not a routine feature of primary care.
The Impact
Consider a schoolteacher in Basse or a small-business owner in Farafenni who begins struggling with persistent anxiety in April. Under the public system, the earliest realistic appointment falls in July, and reaching it means a full day on shared taxis and river ferries to Kanifing, an overnight stay if the return trip runs late, and a second day off work for the follow-up two months later. The mental math for most working Gambian adults ends before an appointment is ever booked, and symptoms deepen quietly in the interval. Grouport removes every piece of that friction. No travel, no three-month waiting list, no rearranging a week around one hour of care. A licensed therapist appears on screen at the scheduled time and the work begins.
The Solution
What The Gambia's system cannot reasonably provide at scale, private and sustained weekly time with a licensed clinician focused on one person, is exactly what an online one-on-one model is built to deliver. Rather than spreading roughly 180 domestic mental health workers across millions of residents, Grouport places each Gambia client with their own therapist and keeps them with that clinician week after week. After a short signup you review therapist options fitted to your specific situation, whether that is OCD, complex trauma, panic disorder, major depression, an eating disorder, addiction recovery, a difficult life transition, or something else you are working through, and you choose the clinician you would like to work with. Sessions run 45 minutes over secure HIPAA-compliant video, at a time that fits around work and family life, and typically begin within 24 to 72 hours of signup. Continuity is the point. The same therapist stays with you through the arc of your care, with the flexibility to adjust cadence as your situation shifts, and that is the piece the domestic system has never been able to guarantee at meaningful scale.
87% of the Gambia's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.
Three specific frictions loosen the moment a Gambia client opens Grouport. The queue disappears: instead of waiting nearly a full quarter of the year for a first appointment, intake takes minutes and the first one-on-one session lands within days. Geography stops mattering: someone in Basse Santa Su, Janjanbureh, or Farafenni sits with the same licensed therapist as someone in Serrekunda or Bakau, with no full-day journey to Kanifing required. And sessions run in English, which is The Gambia's official language and medium of secondary education, while the country's GMT time zone aligns naturally with a licensed clinician's Western-hours availability across a 64.3 percent urbanised population that is well-connected on Africell and QCell 4G.
Access and Availability Across Gambia.
Formal mental health care in The Gambia rests on a small foundation. Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital in Kanifing anchors the public system as the country's only dedicated inpatient facility, supplemented by a psychiatric unit at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul and a scatter of community mental health nurses in regional health centres. A small private sector exists along the Kombo coast, largely oriented to expatriates and NGO staff, and traditional or faith-based counsel remains a common first step. What is missing across all of it is a routine, weekly, one-on-one therapy option a working Gambian can actually keep on the calendar. That gap is where Grouport fits: licensed clinician, HIPAA-compliant video, $103 per session, immediate start.
Geographic Barriers
Extended Wait Times
Systemic Challenges
Urban-Rural Divide
Affordable Individual Therapy Costs for Gambia Residents.
Gambia residents get immediate access to Individual Therapy at $103 per session on average (billed at $448 per month), 50 to 60 percent below the global average of $150 to $250 per session for one-on-one care with a licensed clinician. Every Grouport session is one-to-one, 45 minutes with the same licensed therapist week after week, delivered over HIPAA-compliant video. Every Gambia client pays the same transparent USD rate regardless of whether they log in from Banjul, Basse Santa Su, or the Kombo coast.
Affordability and Income
The Gambia's GNI per capita on a purchasing-power-parity basis sits at roughly $3,430, and there is no national health insurance to soften the cost of private care, so mental health spending lands almost entirely on households. Grouport's monthly subscription, $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month for weekly one-on-one sessions or $224 for every-other-week sessions, is a fixed USD figure that a working professional, a returning diaspora Gambian, or a family pooling resources can plan around across a full course of care. That is a fundamentally different exercise than piecing together per-session invoices from an in-country private clinician priced for expatriates, and it delivers licensed clinician quality at a rate well below what the global market typically charges for equivalent one-on-one care.
Hidden Cost and Barriers
The visible fee is only part of what in-person care actually costs a Gambian household. A single appointment at Tanka Tanka from Farafenni can involve a river-ferry crossing, two shared-taxi legs, a full day off work, and a return trip in the evening, all of which recur every week if therapy is to hold together. Add to that the unpredictability of per-session invoicing at private clinics along the Kombo coast, the friction of paying in dalasi against USD-quoted expatriate rates, and the time cost of finding a licensed clinician with an open slot at all. Grouport dissolves the entire list. No commute, no lost work hours, no cash-only surprises, and one predictable monthly rate in USD.
Immediate Availability
The wait speaks for itself. Around twelve weeks for a first mental health appointment in the public system, and often longer for follow-up, is the standing figure across The Gambia. In practice, that means someone deciding to seek help in April may not sit with a clinician until July. Grouport operates on a different clock. Intake is short, a licensed therapist is matched right away, and a first one-on-one session lands within days rather than months, whether the client is logging in from Banjul, Farafenni, or Basse Santa Su. For Gambia clients ready to start now, a licensed Grouport therapist is available this week.
How it Works
Explore Virtual Mental Health Services
With plans tailored to you, it's easy to choose the right mental health care plan. Simply sign up today!
Personalized match
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)
Start Online Therapy
Meet weekly with a licensed mental health professional for 45-minute video sessions. With consistent online therapy services, you can start seeing meaningful results.
Mental Health Conditions We Treat in
Gambia
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."
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 bench is made up of licensed clinicians, psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, LMHCs, LPCs, PsyDs, and PhDs, trained across the evidence-based approaches that different situations actually call for: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, EMDR and other trauma-focused work, exposure and response prevention for OCD, internal family systems, acceptance and commitment therapy, and integrative one-on-one care. When you sign up you are shown therapist options fitted to your specific situation, and you choose the clinician you would like to work with, rather than being assigned whoever happens to be next on a list. Sessions run in English over secure HIPAA-compliant video, and clinicians are experienced working across cultural, religious, and family contexts, treating that context as part of the picture rather than something to talk around. A care coordinator is available throughout if you ever want to change therapists, adjust cadence, or ask about layering in other Grouport care alongside your individual sessions.
Affordable Individual Therapy & Care Options in the Gambia.
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.
Individual Therapy
$112/session
billed at $448/month
Get Started
Group Therapy
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
IOP Therapy
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Teen Therapy
Common Questions About Individual Therapy in Gambia.
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\! You can attend over video chat on any smartphone. While we recommend video on a computer or laptop for the best therapeutic experience, you can attend sessions by any smartphone as well. Additionally, you can also attend sessions by audio only if needed, though we recommend to join by video for the best experience.
Getting started is easy. First, visit grouporttherapy.com and click "Get Started". This will take you to https://www.grouporttherapy.com/service-types, to first select which type of therapy you’re interested in and to complete a brief intake form about your therapy goals and preferences. Then, we'll match you with a licensed therapist/your group based on your needs and any specific requests you may have. After signing up, a care coordinator will get in touch with you via email &/or phone to walk you through available therapists and scheduling. You’ll make the final choice about your care, including which therapists you’ll meet with and when based on your preferences and schedule. You'll then be confirmed for your sessions, and be able to attend your sessions weekly over video chat.
Feeling worse temporarily is actually common when starting therapy and often indicates the work is beginning. This happens because addressing avoided issues brings them to surface, discussing painful experiences can be emotionally draining, old coping mechanisms are challenged before new ones are solid, and increased awareness of patterns can initially feel overwhelming. This is often part of the healing process as things often feel worse before they get better. However, talk to your therapist if you're concerned. They can adjust the pace, provide additional coping support, or modify the approach. If distress is severe or prolonged beyond a few weeks, your therapist may recommend a different treatment approach or additional support.
Yes, individual therapy significantly improves relationships even when your partner doesn't attend. You work on understanding your relationship patterns and why they occur, identifying your contribution to conflicts, developing communication skills, setting healthy boundaries, addressing personal issues affecting the relationship (anxiety, past trauma, attachment issues), gaining insight into your partner's perspective, and determining what changes you want to make. Often when one person changes their patterns, the relationship dynamic shifts. Your therapist might eventually recommend couples therapy for issues requiring both partners' participation, but individual therapy creates substantial relationship improvement through your own personal growth.
Yes, combining therapy with self-help resources often enhances progress. Many therapists recommend specific books, worksheets, apps, or classes as therapy adjuncts. Self-help provides information and strategies, and therapy helps you apply them to your specific situation, work through resistance, and address deeper issues preventing progress. However, discuss resources with your therapist to ensure they align with your treatment approach and don't conflict with therapeutic work. Your therapist can recommend the most helpful resources for your goals. Some people use self-help first and add therapy when they need personalized support, while others do both simultaneously. Both have value independently and together.
Disagreement is not only okay, it's valuable therapeutic material. Good therapists welcome different perspectives and aren't threatened by disagreement. Tell your therapist when you disagree, and this helps them understand you better, prevents misunderstandings, strengthens the therapeutic relationship through authentic dialogue, and sometimes your disagreement reveals important insights. Your therapist might be noticing patterns you're not ready to see yet, or they might be wrong, either way, discussion clarifies. Therapists aren't authority figures dictating truth, they're collaborators offering observations for you to consider. If you feel you can't disagree with your therapist, this itself should be discussed as effective therapy requires open communication including disagreement.
Seasonal affective disorder happens in many countries, especially those with long dark winters or extreme seasonal changes. Therapy combined with light therapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes medication helps you manage seasonal depression. Where you live affects light exposure and seasons differently.
Parenting is hard. Cultural expectations about parenting vary, but the stress is universal. Whether you're dealing with difficult child behavior, work-life balance, single parenting, parenting with limited support, or parenting across cultures, therapy addresses parenting stress and helps you cope.
Yes\! You can change your plan anytime, whether that means adding or reducing sessions or switching to a different billing cycle. Changes take effect immediately.
✅ Upgrading your plan - ## Adding more sessions per week (e.g., 1 session/week → 2 sessions/week). - ## Switching to a longer billing cycle (e.g., Monthly → Quarterly). - ## You’ll be charged a prorated difference based on the time remaining in your current plan.✅ Downgrading your plan
- ## Reducing the number of sessions per week (e.g., 3 sessions/week → 1 session/week). - ## Switching to a shorter billing cycle (e.g., Quarterly → Monthly). - ## This will result in a credit applied to your next renewal.Grouport Individual Therapy is delivered entirely over HIPAA-compliant video, so you never sit in a Kanifing or Banjul waiting room where you might be recognized. You are matched with a licensed clinician (a psychologist, LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LPC, PsyD, or PhD) working from outside The Gambia, which keeps your care fully separate from local professional and community networks. Sessions run 45 minutes once a week from your own home, in English, and you can start right away after intake.
Grouport Individual Therapy is priced at USD 103 per weekly session, or USD 448 per month, with a lighter every-other-week plan at USD 224 per month (USD 52 per session). For that flat fee you get a 45 minute video session with a licensed clinician, delivered in English on GMT-friendly hours, with no travel from provincial regions like Basse or Janjanbureh to Kanifing. Given the near absence of office-based talk therapy in-country, the alternative is often no consistent care at all.
Individual Therapy Available Across Gambia.
Regions
Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama (West Coast Region), Mansa Konko (Lower River Region), Kerewan (North Bank Region), Janjanbureh (Central River Region), Basse Santa Su (Upper River Region), Kuntaur (Central River North).
Cities
Banjul, Serrekunda, Brikama, Bakau, Farafenni, Basse Santa Su, Sukuta, Gunjur, Soma, Janjanbureh, Barra, Lamin, Kerewan, Mansa Konko.
Zip Codes
Grouport serves all zip codes across Gambia. If you have an address in Gambia, Grouport can serve you regardless of your zip code.
Ready To Get Started?
Let’s find the right therapist match for you, so you can get consistent & effective care.
