Expert 1:1 Care
Getting to a therapist in South Africa is hard enough on its own. Public-sector referrals through provincial hospitals often sit in the queue twelve weeks or longer, and more than 75 percent of registered psychologists cluster in Gauteng and the Western Cape, which leaves clients in Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, and rural KwaZulu-Natal driving hours for a single appointment. Finding a quality therapist is harder. Finding one actually trained in the specific approach your situation needs, whether that is CBT for anxiety or panic, DBT for emotion regulation, ERP for OCD, EMDR for trauma, or IFS or ACT for depression, grief, or a hard life transition, is harder still. Grouport's online individual therapy is built for that. After a short signup we present clinician options fitted to your situation, you choose the therapist you would like to work with, and you typically get started within 24 to 72 hours. Weekly 45 minute one-on-one video sessions run 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.
14.9% of South African adults live with a mental health condition each year, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible therapy options.
12 weeks the average wait to secure a first mental health appointment in South Africa's public system, an interval during which symptoms often deepen.
$6,068 median household income in South Africa, shaping what households can allocate to private mental health care.
74.9% of South African adults with a mental health condition do not receive formal specialist treatment.
78% of South Africa's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.
41.5 per 100,000 mental health workers in South Africa, a density that shapes availability, wait times, and access across the country.
Behind South Africa's mental health numbers is a workforce and access story an weekly one-on-one video model is well suited to answer. With roughly 41.5 mental health workers per 100,000 people, more than 75 percent of psychologists concentrated in Gauteng and the Western Cape, and only about 16 percent of the population on private medical schemes, most South Africans face either a long public-sector wait or a costly out-of-pocket private route. Grouport's model, a licensed therapist matched right away, private 45 minute sessions each week, and a predictable USD subscription at $103 per session or $224 per month for every-other-week, gives clients across Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, the Western Cape, and everywhere in between a way to start now and stay with the same clinician throughout a full course of care.
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE
South Africa's specialist mental health system is anchored by a handful of tertiary institutions: Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria, Sterkfontein west of Krugersdorp, Valkenberg and Lentegeur in the Western Cape, Fort England in Makhanda, Townhill in Pietermaritzburg, and psychiatric wings at Chris Hani Baragwanath, Groote Schuur, Tygerberg, King Edward VIII, and Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein. With roughly 900 psychiatrists registered with the HPCSA for a population above 62 million, and a total mental health workforce density of 41.54 per 100,000, most district hospitals across the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, North West, and Northern Cape operate without a resident psychiatrist and rely on general medical officers backed by periodic outreach.
For a working adult in South Africa, the access gap is not abstract. A twelve-week wait for a public-sector psychology appointment can span an entire quarter at work, a full semester of study, or a critical stretch of a relationship or postpartum period. Private psychologists concentrate in Sandton, Rosebank, and the Cape Town City Bowl, which means clients in outlying suburbs and rural areas absorb one to two hours of traffic each way, on top of a per-session fee that has to be paid out of pocket if a medical scheme's mental health benefit runs out mid-year. Grouport removes that friction entirely: matched right away after intake, licensed therapist, weekly 45 minute sessions delivered over HIPAA-compliant video from wherever the client already is.
South Africa's mental health system leaves most people navigating a hard trade-off. Roughly 84 percent of the population depends on an overstretched public sector, private practice concentrates in a handful of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Sandton, and Cape Town neighbourhoods, and medical scheme mental health benefits often run out mid-year even for the 16 percent of households they cover. Grouport works around that entirely. After a short intake you are shown clinician options fitted to what you are working through, whether that is OCD, panic, complex trauma, BPD, major depression, grief, anger, a fraying relationship, ADHD, bipolar, addiction recovery, or the many other things people navigate. You pick the therapist you would like to work with, typically get started within 24 to 72 hours, and meet weekly for 45 minute one-on-one video sessions over secure HIPAA-compliant video. The same clinician stays with you across the arc of the work, whether you are logging in from a townhouse in Rosebank, a home in Polokwane, or a small town in the Karoo, and a care coordinator is available throughout for anything you need along the way.
78% of South Africa's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.
Grouport loosens three specific frictions South Africans hit when they try to start therapy. First, the queue: instead of waiting the twelve or more weeks a public-sector psychology referral often takes, a licensed Grouport therapist is available this week after intake. Second, geography: with over 75 percent of registered psychologists practicing in Gauteng and the Western Cape, clients in Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape, and Mpumalanga can now work with the same caliber of clinician without relocating or commuting to Johannesburg or Cape Town. Third, language and continuity: sessions run in English with a matched therapist week after week, an option that suits the country's large professional, student, and expatriate communities.
South Africa's formal mental health care runs along several tracks. The public sector, funded by roughly 5 percent of the national health budget, delivers psychiatric care through provincial hospitals and primary care clinics. Private medical schemes reach about 16 percent of the population and cover a variable slice of outpatient psychotherapy under Prescribed Minimum Benefits. Employer-sponsored EAPs, university counselling centres, and NGOs such as SADAG fill important gaps but often cap sessions or focus on crisis triage. Grouport sits in the missing space between these options: weekly, one-on-one individual therapy with a licensed clinician, with an immediate start and transparent USD subscription pricing a South African client can plan around.
South African 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. The every-other-week option lowers ongoing cost to $224 per month for clients who want a steadier, lighter cadence. Pricing is set in USD and billed as a predictable monthly subscription, so a South African client can plan a full course of care around a single line item rather than tracking per-session fees, scheme benefit limits, and unpredictable co-payments.
Household budgets in South Africa are stretched by high unemployment, elevated fuel and food costs, and a gross national income per capita of around $6,110 (Atlas) or $15,170 in PPP terms. Weekly Grouport sessions at $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month, or $224 per month at the every-other-week cadence, give middle-income households a way to plan therapy as a defined monthly commitment instead of a series of open-ended private-psychologist invoices. Because pricing is set in USD and does not vary session to session, a client can budget across an entire course of care, from the first few sessions through months of consistent work with the same licensed therapist.
In-person therapy in South Africa's larger metros often carries hidden costs beyond the session fee. A client commuting from Randburg to a Sandton practice, or from the Northern Suburbs to central Cape Town, can lose 60 to 90 minutes each way in traffic, plus a MyCiTi or Rea Vaya fare of R15 to R30 or an Uber or Bolt run of R80 to R200 that adds up quickly. Per-session billing makes monthly costs hard to predict, especially when medical scheme benefits run out mid-year, and finding a licensed clinician with evening availability can involve weeks of calling around. Grouport folds all of that into one predictable monthly subscription in USD, cancel anytime, with 45 minute sessions delivered over HIPAA-compliant video from wherever the client already is.
Rather than joining a twelve-week public-sector queue or a several-week private waitlist in Johannesburg or Cape Town, South African clients can complete intake and be matched with a licensed Grouport therapist right away. Sessions are 45 minutes, delivered over HIPAA-compliant video, and can be booked this week rather than months from now. For South Africa clients ready to start now, a licensed Grouport therapist is available this week at $103 per session weekly ($448 per month) or $224 per month for every-other-week ($224 per month), with the same clinician kept for the full course of care.
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 bench is made up of licensed clinicians, psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, LMHCs, LPCs, PsyDs, and PhDs, with graduate training in specific evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, ERP, EMDR, IFS, ACT, and trauma-focused work, so clients are not settling for whoever happens to be free. After a short signup you are presented with therapist options fitted to your situation and choose the clinician you would like to work with, rather than being assigned one. That same therapist stays with you week after week across the arc of care, which is often what turns 45 minute sessions into steady, compounding progress. Clinicians routinely support clients across many countries and cultural contexts, which helps South Africans across all walks of life, whether logging in from Sandton, Umhlanga, Bloemfontein, or a rural district of the Eastern Cape, feel understood without having to translate their background into an unfamiliar framework. All sessions run over secure HIPAA-compliant video and are fully confidential.
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

No, Grouport pricing is completely transparent with no hidden or additional fees. Your monthly subscription cost is clearly stated upfront and includes all your scheduled therapy sessions for that month. There are no extra fees, beyond whichever plan you’re on. What you see is what you pay and there are no surprises on your bill.
When you submit for insurance reimbursement, we provide a superbill that includes: your name, therapist's name and credentials, dates of services rendered, cost paid per session, and any other relevant information needed for reimbursement.
No, Grouport therapists cannot prescribe medication as they are licensed therapists (LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, PhD, PsyD, LPC), who are focused on psychological care only and are not psychiatrists or medical doctors. However, many clients see both a therapist and a prescriber (psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or primary care doctor) for combined treatment - research shows therapy plus medication is often an effective combination for conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Your therapist can coordinate care with your prescriber if you're taking medication, and can help you find a prescriber if needed. We focus on the therapy component of your mental health care whether online group therapy, online individual therapy, online couples therapy, online family therapy, online teen therapy, or virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP).
Your decision to attend therapy is yours alone. No one else knows your mental health or the challenges you experience, except for yourself. If you’re struggling and you need help, you will know that best. What goes on in your mind is not visible to others and you shouldn’t have to face internal challenges alone. You don’t need anyone else’s permission to take care of yourself. You should set a boundary that this is your decision and therapy helps you be your best self. If still needed, your therapist can certainly discuss strategies on how to address these challenges with your partner.
Many people continue therapy on an ongoing basis beyond needing it because they value ongoing support and maintenance. There's no pressure to end when symptoms improve. You can also discuss your thoughts about ending with your therapist, and they'll be able to help you evaluate what the best course of action is and create an ending plan if relevant. If you have achieved your goals and feel like you have the tools to handle future challenges on your own, and you know which skills to draw on by yourself, then it's a matter of evaluating if you feel like you need additional maintenance even if less frequent or if you feel ready to address your challenges on your own. Whichever way you decide, you can always come back at any time and it’s totally up to what you think is best for your needs.
Individual therapy is one-on-one mental health treatment between you and a licensed therapist. Unlike group or family therapy where multiple people participate, individual therapy focuses entirely on your personal goals, challenges, and growth. Sessions provide a confidential space to explore thoughts and feelings, develop coping strategies, address mental health conditions like anxiety or depression, work through past experiences, improve relationships, and make desired life changes. Your therapist tailors treatment to your specific needs using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, ERP, EMDR, or trauma-focused therapy. Individual therapy is collaborative and you and your therapist work together toward goals you define.
You should consider individual therapy if you're experiencing persistent sadness, worry, or mood changes; difficulty coping with stress or life changes; relationship patterns you want to change; trauma or past experiences affecting current life; decreased interest in activities you once enjoyed; sleep or appetite changes; substance use concerns; difficulty managing emotions; feeling stuck or unfulfilled; grief that feels overwhelming; or simply wanting personal growth and self-understanding. You don't need a crisis or diagnosis to benefit from therapy. If something in your life causes distress or you want to improve your mental health, online therapy can help. Many people attend therapy proactively to maintain wellbeing.
Living through political instability, protests, violence, or conflict is traumatic. Therapy provides support during crises, helps you process ongoing stress and fear, and addresses trauma. If you're in danger, therapy also helps with safety planning and deciding whether to leave.
Workplace discrimination based on gender, race, age, disability, religion, or other factors happens in many countries. Employment protections vary, but the mental health impact is real. Therapy helps you cope with the stress of workplace discrimination and navigate difficult challenges and decisions.
Call your insurance and ask specifically about out-of-network mental health benefits. Questions to ask include - Do I have out-of-network mental health coverage? What's my out-of-network deductible? What percentage is reimbursed after deductible? Is there a session limit? Do I need preauthorization? What's the process for submitting claims? Get this in writing if possible.
Yes. Grouport runs weekly video sessions year-round, and because South Africa Standard Time (SAST, UTC+2) has no daylight saving shifts, your slot stays consistent from January through December. You can pick an evening time that works around Heritage Day braais, long weekends, or the Cape Town and Johannesburg December break. One-on-one 45-minute sessions with a licensed therapist run $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month, and you match right away instead of waiting the roughly 6 weeks typical of local providers.
Grouport sessions happen over private, HIPAA-secure video from your own home in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town in Limpopo or the Eastern Cape, so no one sees you walking into a psychologist's rooms. You are matched one-on-one with a licensed therapist who works with you privately on your specific challenges, keeping the conversation confidential from the start. At $103 per session on average, billed at $448 per month, with an immediate start, it is a discreet, affordable way to begin without navigating medical scheme approvals.
Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, City of Cape Town, eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, Buffalo City, OR Tambo District, Vhembe, Sekhukhune, uMkhanyakude, Zululand, Amathole, Sarah Baartman, ZF Mgcawu, Namakwa, Cape Winelands, Overberg, Garden Route, West Coast
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), Bloemfontein, East London, Pietermaritzburg, Polokwane, Nelspruit (Mbombela), Kimberley, Rustenburg, Sandton, Rosebank, Centurion, Midrand, Randburg, Roodepoort, Krugersdorp, Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Soweto, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Stellenbosch, Paarl, George, Knysna, uMhlanga, Pinetown, Richards Bay, Newcastle, Mthatha, Uitenhage, Welkom, Witbank (eMalahleni), Secunda, Sasolburg, Upington, Springbok
2001, 2050, 2091, 2196, 8001, 8005, 8025, 4001, 4041, 0002, 0181, 0186, 6001, 6070, 9301
If you have an address in South Africa, 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.
