Expert 1:1 Care
Finding a therapist in Panama runs into predictable friction. MINSA's public queue can stretch around eight weeks for a first specialist appointment, private clinicians concentrate around Panama City, David, and Colon, and much of the country, from Boquete and the Chiriqui highlands to Bocas del Toro, Darien, and the Ngabe-Bugle, Guna Yala, and Embera-Wounaan comarcas, sits outside easy reach of that bench. Even once an appointment lands, finding a clinician actually trained in the specific approach your situation needs, whether that's ERP for OCD, EMDR for trauma, CBT for panic and depression, DBT skills work, or steady support through grief or a relationship crisis, is a separate search entirely. Grouport's online individual therapy is built for that gap. After a short signup you review therapist options fitted to your situation, choose the clinician you'd like to work with, and typically get started within 24 to 72 hours. Weekly 45-minute one-on-one video sessions run on secure HIPAA-compliant video at $103 per session on average ($448 per month), with the same therapist across the arc of your care.

Understanding the landscape of mental health care access and the challenges
residents face.
13.6% of Panamanian adults live with a mental health condition each year, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible therapy options.
8 weeks the average wait to secure a first mental health appointment in Panama's public system, an interval during which symptoms often deepen.
$16,954 median household income in Panama, shaping what households can allocate to private mental health care.
80.0% of Panamanian adults with a mental health condition do not receive formal specialist treatment.
100% of Panama's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.
24.03 per 100,000 mental health workers in Panama, a density that shapes availability, wait times, and access across the country.
Read together, Panama's numbers point clearly toward an one-on-one online model. A mental health workforce of roughly 0.03 per 100,000, concentrated in Panama City, David, and Colon, means individual weekly access to a licensed clinician is genuinely scarce for most of the country's 4.5 million residents, especially the 34 percent living outside the main urban centers and communities in the Ngabe-Bugle, Guna Yala, and Embera-Wounaan comarcas. An eight-week average wait compounds the shortage. Grouport meets that gap directly by pairing each client with the same licensed therapist for private 45 minute video sessions each week at $103, or every other week at on HIPAA-compliant video from anywhere in Panama with an internet connection.
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE
Panama's mental health system runs on two parallel tracks that rarely meet in the middle. The Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) and the Ministerio de Salud (MINSA) share responsibility for public care, with the Instituto Nacional de Salud Mental in Panama City handling most inpatient and complex outpatient work. On paper, coverage is universal. In practice, the WHO's 0.03 mental health workers per 100,000 residents indicator translates to a national roster so small that Panama's specialist workforce is functionally concentrated in a single metropolitan area, and referrals from smaller provinces enter a queue that resolves in months rather than weeks.
With roughly 0.03 mental health workers per 100,000 people, one of the lowest ratios in the Americas, a working adult in Panama who recognizes they need therapy often faces an eight-week wait for a first public appointment, then a commute across Panama City traffic or a domestic flight from an interior province to see a specialist for 45 minutes. Two months of untreated anxiety, low mood, grief, or burnout translates into missed workdays, strained relationships, and the very real risk of dropping the search entirely. Grouport removes that friction by pairing a client with a licensed therapist within days of intake and holding weekly one-on-one sessions from home at $103 per session or $224 per month for every-other-week, so care actually starts when the client is ready.
Grouport meets Panama's specific mental health access gap directly. Rather than routing through MINSA queues, Caja de Seguro Social slots, or the small pool of private specialists clustered around Panama City, clients complete a short online signup, review therapist options tailored to their situation, and pick the clinician they'd like to work with. Sessions typically begin within 24 to 72 hours, and the first 45-minute video appointment usually lands the same week. Every clinician is a licensed psychologist, LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, LPC, PsyD, or PhD trained in evidence-based approaches, CBT, DBT, EMDR, ERP, ACT, IFS, and trauma-informed care among them, so a client working through OCD, panic, grief, PTSD, depression, or a marriage under strain is paired with someone whose training actually fits. The same therapist stays with the client across the full arc of care, from a first six-to-eight-week stretch through longer-term work if needed. Pricing is a predictable $103 per session on average ($448 per month), or $224 per month on the every-other-week track, with automatic discounts included for every additional weekly session and the flexibility to adjust cadence as life shifts.
100% of Panama's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.
Grouport removes three specific frictions that shape mental health access in Panama. First, the intake queue collapses from roughly eight weeks in the public system to a first session available this week, because matching happens right after a short online intake rather than through a hospital referral chain. Second, the geographic bottleneck around Panama City, David, and Colon disappears, since a licensed clinician reaches Boquete, Coronado, Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui highlands, or any interior province over a stable internet connection at the same $103 per session cost. Third, scheduling stays flexible: Panama sits on Eastern Standard Time year-round (UTC-5), so weekday morning, afternoon, and evening slots with a licensed U.S. clinician line up cleanly whether you log in from Panama City, David, or a Chiriqui highlands village.
Panama's formal mental health landscape is layered and uneven. The Ministry of Health operates the Instituto Nacional de Salud Mental in Panama City as the national psychiatric referral hospital, the Caja de Seguro Social covers insured workers through its own network, private hospitals and clinics in Panama City and David serve those who can pay out of pocket, and a small set of NGOs and university counseling programs fill scattered gaps. Corporate employee assistance programs exist for larger multinational employers, but coverage is thin outside the capital. Grouport fits the missing slot for Panama, an immediate-start, weekly, one-on-one online therapy option, delivered by a licensed clinician over HIPAA-compliant video at $103 per session, without a referral or a public-system waitlist.
Grouport gives Panama residents 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. Every session is a private 45 minute video appointment with the same licensed clinician each week, delivered on a HIPAA-compliant platform. The alternative every-other-week track runs at $224 per month, keeping a full course of one-on-one therapy predictable and affordable in the same U.S. dollars that already circulate in Panama.
Panama is classified as a high-income country with GNI per capita around $17,950 Atlas method and $39,210 in PPP terms, but private specialist care in Panama City can still absorb a meaningful share of a middle-class household budget once transportation, parking, and repeated out-of-pocket visits are added in. Grouport's $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month subscription for weekly sessions, or $224 monthly for every-other-week, converts one-on-one therapy from an unpredictable per-visit expense into a fixed line item that families can plan around for the six to twelve months a full course of care typically takes, in the same U.S. dollars used every day in Panama.
In-person therapy in Panama carries costs that rarely show up on the invoice. Commuting across Panama City between neighborhoods like Punta Pacifica, El Cangrejo, and Costa del Este can take 30 to 90 minutes each way in rush-hour traffic, plus Metro or MetroBus fares of USD 0.35 per ride or Uber and taxi charges of USD 4 to 10, parking, and lost work hours. Clients outside the capital add domestic bus, ferry, or flight costs. Per-session private billing makes monthly totals hard to forecast, and finding a licensed clinician with weekly availability often requires several intake calls. Grouport folds all of this into one predictable monthly subscription in U.S. dollars, $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month for weekly sessions or $224 for every other week, with no travel, no per-visit surprises, and cancel-anytime terms.
The eight-week wait typical of public mental health referrals in Panama, and the extended search often required to find a licensed specialist in the private sector, mean that many clients drift out of the intake process before care ever begins. Grouport shortcuts that timeline by matching clients with a licensed therapist right after a brief online intake, so the first weekly video session is usually held within days at $103 per session or $224 per month for every-other-week. For Panama 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 serving Panama is built from licensed psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, LMHCs, LPCs, PsyDs, and PhDs, each trained in specific evidence-based approaches rather than generalist practice. Depending on what a client is navigating, the fit could be an ERP-trained clinician for OCD, an EMDR-certified therapist for trauma and PTSD, a CBT specialist for panic or major depression, a DBT-trained clinician for emotional dysregulation or BPD, an ACT or IFS therapist for anxiety and self-work, or someone with deep experience in grief, relationship crises, ADHD, bipolar, anger, addiction recovery, or difficult life transitions. After a short signup, clients see therapist options fitted to their situation and choose the person they'd like to work with, rather than being assigned. Every clinician holds an active license, carries appropriate malpractice coverage, and follows Grouport's clinical and ethical standards, and every session runs on secure HIPAA-compliant video, fully confidential. A care coordinator is available throughout to help clients switch clinicians or adjust care at any point.
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
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Grouport therapists use evidence-based mental health treatments, proven effective through research, including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression, and negative thought patterns; Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotion regulation and distress tolerance which is helpful for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder, Anger Management & more; Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, Gottman Method for couples and families; trauma-focused approaches like EMDR and CPT; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Solution-Focused Brief Therapy; and attachment-based approaches. We will present to you therapist options who specialize in the needs that are relevant for you. Your therapist will discuss their approach and tailor treatment to your specific needs and goals. The combination of research-backed methods and personalized care ensures effective treatment.
Grouport serves teens/adolescents (ages 11+), adults, couples, and families. Our teen therapy program consists of group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy, or a combination based on what’s appropriate and the level of care your teen needs. So teens often combine group therapy + individual therapy at the level that meets their needs or they do our intensive outpatient program for more acute needs.
Yes, therapy is highly effective for relationship issues or for navigating the lack of relationships or desire to build more meaningful relationships. Our couples therapy helps partners improve communication, resolve conflicts, rebuild trust, navigate life transitions, and strengthen their connection. Family therapy addresses parent-child conflicts, sibling issues, blended family challenges, and communication breakdowns. Even individual therapy can significantly improve relationships by helping you understand patterns, set boundaries, communicate effectively, and address personal issues affecting your relationships. Our relationship issues groups, focus on navigating the challenges in relationships, specific relationships you’d like to personally focus on, or navigating the lack of relationships and the desire to strengthen certain relationships. We also provide couples groups where couples can work in a therapist-led group setting with other couples to navigate couples dynamics together. Many clients find that relationship issues improve relatively quickly once they learn and practice new communication skills with therapeutic support.
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.
Therapy homework translates session insights into daily life. Common assignments include practicing coping skills (breathing exercises, mindfulness, grounding techniques), tracking thoughts or mood, journaling about specific topics, behavioral experiments (trying new behaviors in real situations), communication exercises, reading relevant materials, self-monitoring of symptoms or patterns, and trying new approaches to old problems. Homework isn't busywork, it's essential for progress. What you do between sessions often matters more than the session itself. Most assignments can take 10-20 minutes each and be done several times weekly. Your therapist tailors homework to your goals and reviews completion each session. If homework feels overwhelming, discuss this and your therapist can adjust expectations.
Anxiety and depression are global mental health conditions. They might manifest differently across cultures, but the core experiences are similar. Therapy provides evidence-based treatment for anxiety and depression that works regardless of where you live. Mental illness is real everywhere.
Living with chronic illness or disability creates mental health challenges everywhere. Medical systems vary by country, but the emotional impacts like grief, frustration, identity shifts, isolation, are similar. Therapy addresses the mental health side of living with chronic conditions.
If you've genuinely tried for 12+ sessions and seen zero improvement, it may be a sign that you need a different therapist. Perhaps you need a different approach or different modality. Perhaps you need greater intensiveness combining multiple types of therapy like individual therapy and group therapy, or you need a comprehensive treatment plan that tackles different parts of your symptoms or diagnoses. Before concluding therapy isn't helping, ask yourself. Have you been consistent? Are you practicing skills outside sessions? Have you been honest with your therapist? How does the therapist fit feel? What do you feel like is missing from your care? Discuss lack of progress with your therapist and these different things and they might adjust the approach to better suit your needs. Usually there is a way to get things on a better track whether that's the current therapist adjusting the approach, switching therapists, or adding more sessions or types of care so that your treatment plan is fully addressing everything you need. With therapy overtime and consistent practice you should see progress over time.
Yes. Because the balboa is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and Panama's banking system settles in USD, any Visa or Mastercard issued by Banco General, Banistmo, BAC Credomatic, or Global Bank charges the $103 session fee cleanly with no forex spread. Digital wallets such as Nequi Panama and Yappy-linked cards work the same way, with no wire transfers or intermediary bank fees. You join weekly 45-minute one-on-one video sessions with a licensed therapist right away on our HIPAA-secure platform, billed at $448 per month.
Yes. Panama sits on Eastern Standard Time year-round with no daylight saving shift, so weekend session slots land at the same clock time in Panama City, David, or Boquete as they do on the U.S. East Coast. Saturday morning and Sunday evening sessions fit around Canal-zone shifts, banking hours, and expat retiree schedules without odd late-night logins. Weekday evening slots also run in local prime time. You pick a slot, join right away, and meet weekly one-on-one with a licensed therapist for $103 per session on average, $448 per month, on our HIPAA-secure platform.
Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas, and the indigenous comarcas of Ngabe-Bugle, Guna Yala, and Embera-Wounaan
Panama City, San Miguelito, Tocumen, David, Arraijan, La Chorrera, Colon, Santiago de Veraguas, Chitre, Las Tablas, Penonome, Aguadulce, Bocas Town, Almirante, Boquete, Volcan, Coronado, Pedasi
0801, 0816, 0819, 0820, 0824, 0830, 0850, 0900, 1000
If you have an address in Panama, 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.
