Online therapy in South Africa
Of the 8 475 psychologists, counsellors and psychometrists in this directory, 2 712 (32%) say they offer online sessions. Of those, 549 offer online sessions only, with no in-person option on their profile. 5 511 listings do not say how the practitioner sees clients; of the 2 964 that do, 91% offer online sessions. The listings were collected in the week of 19 October 2026.
Where this number comes from
Where a practitioner's profile on the directories we read says how they see clients (online, in person, or both), the listing shows it. Many profiles do not say. "Online" here means the practitioner says they offer sessions over the internet, usually by video call. We do not know which platform each practitioner uses or how many online clients they see.
Across all listings:
| How practitioners see clients | Listings |
|---|---|
| Online and in person | 2 163 |
| Online only | 549 |
| In person only | 252 |
| Not stated | 5 511 |
Online sessions by province
A listing's province is where the practice is. A practitioner who offers online sessions may see clients who live elsewhere, so ask if that matters to you.
| Province | Listed | Offer online sessions | Share of listed | Online only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Cape | 2 448 | 974 | 40% | 226 |
| Gauteng | 3 640 | 1 169 | 32% | 201 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 922 | 234 | 25% | 49 |
| Eastern Cape | 545 | 139 | 26% | 32 |
| Free State | 266 | 60 | 23% | 14 |
| North West | 227 | 53 | 23% | 6 |
| Mpumalanga | 188 | 38 | 20% | 7 |
| Limpopo | 186 | 35 | 19% | 9 |
| Northern Cape | 53 | 10 | 19% | 5 |
Fees for online sessions
A profile shows one published fee, not a separate online rate. This table compares practitioners who work online only with those who also see clients in person, within each category. Each cell is the median published fee for one individual session, with the number of fees it comes from (October 2026).
| How they see clients | Psychologists: median (fees) | Counsellors: median (fees) |
|---|---|---|
| Online only | R1 200 (124) | R550 (327) |
| In person, with or without online | R1 200 (586) | R650 (325) |
Comparing within a category matters: counsellors make up 64% of the online-only group and 27% of the in-person group, and counsellors publish lower fees than psychologists in general. Ask the practitioner what an online session costs.
Psychologist fees in South Africa has the full fee picture by category and province.
Medical aid and online sessions
Whether your scheme pays for an online session depends on your plan and the scheme's rules. Ask your scheme, and ask the practitioner whether they claim for online sessions. Our guide Medical aid and therapy in South Africa explains the general terms.
What to ask before an online session
These are practical questions about how the sessions work:
- Which video platform does the practitioner use, and do you need to install anything?
- What happens if the connection drops during a session?
- Is the fee the same as for an in-person session, and how do you pay?
- Can you switch between online and in-person sessions later?
- Does the practitioner see online clients who live in your province or outside South Africa?
A practitioner's HPCSA registration is the same whether they see you online or in person. To check a practitioner's registration, see How to check an HPCSA number.
Frequently asked questions
How many therapists in South Africa offer online sessions?
In this directory, 2 712 of 8 475 psychologists, counsellors and psychometrists (32%) say they offer online sessions, and 549 offer online sessions only (October 2026).
Can I see a therapist in another province online?
Online sessions can reach clients outside the practitioner's own city, but each practitioner sets their own rules. The province on a listing is where the practice is, so ask the practitioner whether they see clients where you live.
Does medical aid pay for online therapy?
It depends on your scheme and plan. Ask your scheme, and ask the practitioner whether they claim for online sessions.
Are online sessions cheaper?
A profile shows one published fee, not a separate online rate. Ask the practitioner whether online and in-person sessions cost the same.
How do I know if a practitioner offers online sessions?
Where the practitioner's profile says so, the listing on this site shows whether they offer online sessions, in-person sessions or both. If a listing does not say, ask the practitioner.