See a Therapist in Nigeria Without Joining a Clinic Waiting List
Nigeria has roughly 250 psychiatrists for more than 200 million people, nearly all of them in Lagos, Abuja and a few teaching hospitals. InnerSpark puts a licensed therapist on your phone instead — video, voice or chat, from Lagos to Maiduguri.
The provider gap, and what to do about it
If you have tried to book privately in Lagos you already know the pattern: a two- to six-week wait, a fee between ₦25,000 and ₦60,000 a session, and a clinic on the other side of third-mainland traffic. Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba and the teaching hospitals in Ibadan, Enugu and Kano are cheaper but heavily oversubscribed. Online therapy takes geography and traffic out of the equation. You keep the same clinician week after week regardless of whether you are in Lekki, Wuse, Port Harcourt or a posting upcountry — which matters, because continuity is what actually produces change. No waiting list — most clients are matched within 24 hours Anxiety and panic, depression, trauma, grief, marital strain, substance use Individual, couples and teen (13+) sessions Voice-only or chat if you would rather not be on camera
Work stress in a country that never switches off
A large share of our Nigerian clients are working professionals: bank staff on 7am-to-9pm rotations, tech workers on foreign contracts and Lagos time, NYSC members, doctors doing back-to-back calls, and business owners absorbing every naira shock personally. The presenting problem is usually 'stress', and what we find underneath is untreated anxiety, insomnia and burnout that has been running for years. Sessions are scheduled around that reality — 6am before the commute, 9pm after the children sleep, or Saturday morning.
Paying from a Nigerian account
You can pay by naira bank transfer or by Visa, Mastercard or Verve card. There is no dollar subscription to maintain and no international card requirement, and each session is paid for individually so you are never locked into a plan while the exchange rate moves. Individual 60-minute session: USD 22 (payable by naira transfer or card) Couples session: USD 35 Chat therapy: from USD 9 per session No subscription, no cancellation fee, no referral letter needed
Faith, family and the fear of being talked about
Many Nigerian clients have been told to pray harder, or that therapy is a foreign idea. Our clinicians do not ask you to set your faith aside — several work explicitly alongside it, and you can request a therapist who shares your religious background. Nothing reaches your family, your church or mosque, your employer or an insurer. There is no clinic anyone can see you entering, and you may book using a first name only.
How much does online therapy cost in Nigeria?
A 60-minute session with a licensed therapist is USD 22, couples USD 35, and chat therapy starts at USD 9 — usually below the ₦25,000 to ₦60,000 charged by private clinics in Lagos and Abuja.
Can I pay in naira by bank transfer?
Yes. Nigerian clients pay by naira bank transfer or by Visa, Mastercard or Verve card. You do not need a domiciliary account or an international card.
How do sessions work across time zones from Nigeria?
Our therapists hold early-morning, evening and weekend slots, so you can book a time that fits your working day in Nigeria. Sessions run on WhatsApp video, voice call, Google Meet or Zoom — you choose.
Is it completely confidential?
Yes. Nothing you share is disclosed to your employer, family, insurer, board or government. Senior clients often use voice-only or chat sessions so they never appear on video, and we can sign an NDA on request.
Can I speak to a therapist today in Nigeria?
Often yes. Message us on WhatsApp and we will match you with a clinician who has a same-day or next-day slot, including evenings.
Do I need a referral or a diagnosis first?
No. You can book directly. Your therapist will do a short assessment in the first session and tell you honestly if you need psychiatric care rather than talk therapy.