This archive report was first published on 22 November 2019.
As of 2019, online therapy is slowly gaining traction in Kenya, despite being a well-established practice in the West. In the USA, platforms like Betterhelp and Talkspace have been providing online counselling services since 2013, with thousands of licensed professionals offering live chats, texts, calls, and video calls.
These platforms work by directing clients to a chat room where preliminary questions determine which therapist is the best fit. The client can then communicate directly with the selected counsellor, making it a convenient and private option.
However, the ratio of certified counsellors in Kenya to the number of people requiring therapy is high, and few public hospitals offer this service. With costs ranging from Sh2,000-10,000 per session, online therapy is a more accessible and affordable option for many Kenyans.
Studies have shown that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional face-to-face counselling for some conditions. In fact, a quick search on Google reveals several companies in Kenya that offer online therapy and counselling services, including Chris Hart, Therapy Kenya, Intrapersonal Health, and Niskize.
While online therapy should not replace face-to-face counselling, it can alleviate the problem of accessibility for many Kenyans. As Ms. Magoma notes, 'any help is better than no help at all.'
Published on November 22, 2019, by Kwamboka Magoma.
