Online Individual Therapy Across Senegal.

We recommend joining from a computer, laptop or tablet in a private setting as that typically provides for a better therapeutic experience. If you’d prefer to join from a smartphone, you can absolutely do so as our platform works well on smartphones (both iPhone and Android). Using your phone can be convenient as it allows you to attend therapy from anywhere private. However, we recommend using WiFi rather than cellular data when possible to ensure stable video quality and avoid data charges. Consider using headphones for better audio quality and privacy, and position your phone so your therapist can see your face clearly (many clients use a phone stand). While phones can work well, many clients prefer larger screens like tablets, laptops, or computers for a more immersive experience.

You can message your therapist between sessions through the Grouport app. Response time is typically 24-48 hours during standard business days. This channel is good for scheduling questions, small check-ins, or sharing something that came up before your next session. It's not designed for immediate crises — if you're in crisis, use your country's local emergency services or crisis line, which is staffed 24/7. Your therapist will discuss the between-session communication norms in your first meeting so you know what to expect between weekly meetings.

To prepare for your first therapy session: (1) Test your technology by logging into the platform before your appointment time if your sessions happen within our member portal. If your sessions don’t happen within our member portal, make sure you see the auto session reminder email with the unique link for that week’s session sent to you 24-hrs before the session and make sure you have zoom downloaded on your device. If you don’t have zoom downloaded, then you can always download it on your device for free. (2) Find a private, quiet space where you won't be interrupted. (3) Have a glass of water nearby and ensure your device is charged. (4) Think about what you'd like to get out of therapy - your goals, main concerns, and what you're hoping will change. (5) Have any relevant information ready (medications you're taking, previous therapy experience, etc.). Remember that first sessions are often just getting to know each other, there's no pressure to share everything immediately.

Emotional expression is not only acceptable in therapy, it's often where healing happens. Therapists expect and welcome emotions. You won't make your therapist uncomfortable with crying, anger, or any other feeling. They're trained to handle intense emotions and create safe space for expression. Many people worry about "wasting" session time crying, but processing emotions is therapeutic work. If you tend to shut down emotionally and want to access feelings more, your therapist helps with that too. There's no right emotional level, and therapy adapts to your natural expression style.

Yes, therapy can help when physical symptoms have psychological components. Mind-body connections are powerful, and chronic stress, anxiety, and unresolved emotions often manifest physically as headaches, digestive issues, muscle tension, fatigue, and pain. Therapy addresses stress management to reduce physical symptoms, trauma that's stored somatically in the body, health anxiety making symptoms worse, chronic illness adjustment and coping, and developing relaxation techniques. While you should always rule out medical causes with your doctor first, therapy is valuable for medically-unexplained symptoms, chronic pain, psychosomatic concerns, and managing physical conditions worsened by stress. Mind-body interventions are evidence-based treatments.

Skepticism about therapy is common, especially if you haven't experienced it or had negative past experiences. Consider attending 8-12 sessions before fully judging, as therapeutic relationships take time to develop, and benefits aren't always immediate. Research consistently shows therapy is effective for most mental health conditions, and it's evidence-based, not just "talking." Many skeptics change their minds after experiencing a good therapeutic fit and seeing actual changes. Share your skepticism with your therapist and they can explain how therapy works, discuss the evidence based treatment relevant to your needs, and address specific concerns. You don't have to believe for therapy to work, but openness to the process helps. Therapy effectiveness doesn't require faith, but it does requires participation.

Weekly 45-minute sessions fit into most schedules, and online therapy eliminates commute time. Many people attend during lunch breaks, early morning, or evening from home. If even 45 minutes weekly feels difficult, consider that therapy is an investment in yourself like exercise or medical appointments, many issues worsen without addressing them, and preventing problems is more time-efficient than dealing with crises later on. Some people start with bi-weekly sessions if weekly feels too frequent. Therapy also makes you more efficient in life with better coping skills, less time ruminating, improved relationships, and clearer thinking which actually save time. The time commitment can also be temporary as many issues resolve in 3-6 months.

Financial stress affects mental health everywhere. Therapy helps you cope with the anxiety and depression that come with economic insecurity. If money is tight, group therapy costs less than individual therapy so that might be a great way to affordably access therapy. Through our platform, we want therapy to be accessible.

Whether you're dealing with partnership conflicts, dating challenges, family relationship stress, friendship issues, or loneliness, therapy addresses relationship problems regardless of your cultural context. Cultural norms around relationships vary but the emotional pain is universal.

No, group costs less because the therapist's time is divided among multiple people, not because it's inferior. Online group therapy is highly effective for many issues. Some things groups do better than individual therapy include peer support, social skills practice, normalizing experiences and much more. It's different, and serves a different functional purpose that is usually a material driver of improved therapeutic progress. Cost doesn't determine effectiveness.

A new intake at Fann or the Thiaroye psychiatric center can stretch roughly 16 weeks before you see a specialist, and private consultations in Dakar fill quickly too. Grouport removes that queue: once you enroll, you are matched with a licensed therapist for weekly 45-minute one-on-one video sessions and can start right away. Sessions run on HIPAA-secure video at $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month, so people in Dakar, Thies, Saint-Louis, or Ziguinchor can begin structured support this week rather than months from now.

Yes. Senegal sits on GMT year-round with no daylight saving, so Grouport's US-timed evening slots land cleanly in the late afternoon and evening for staff at UN agencies, the African Development Bank regional office, embassies, and NGOs across Dakar. Sessions are 45-minute one-on-one video meetings with a licensed therapist, delivered in English on HIPAA-secure video, and priced at $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month. Professionals can join right away from a laptop between meetings or after leaving the office in Plateau or Almadies.