If you or someone you care about is struggling, start here. This hub brings together guides, verified services, and crisis resources in one place.
Support in Kenya comes in several forms: telephone and text helplines, in-person counselling at clinics and hospitals, private therapists in person or online, faith and community based support, and peer support groups. The right starting point depends on how urgent things feel, what you can afford, and what you are comfortable with. If a situation is an emergency, begin with the crisis directory or call emergency services.
Befrienders Kenya offers emotional support by phone, SMS, and WhatsApp on +254 722 178 177. Please verify the current hours, which we list as Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, before relying on them.
For a searchable list of verified institutions, clinics, NGOs, and online services, use our Service directory. Each entry is checked before it is listed, and you can filter by country or type of service.
Online therapy lets you meet a therapist by video, voice, or text, which can help if you live far from services, have a busy schedule, or prefer privacy. When choosing an online service, check that the therapists are qualified and registered, that your sessions are private and secure, how payment works, and what happens in an emergency, since most online services are not set up for crises.
If you already know you want one-to-one therapy, read our guide on finding a therapist, including what qualifications to look for and questions worth asking in a first session.
A good place to start is making sure a therapist is qualified and registered. In Kenya, counsellors and psychologists are regulated by the Counsellors and Psychologists Board, the statutory body established under the Counsellors and Psychologists Act of 2014. You can ask a practitioner about their training, their registration, and their areas of focus. These are reasonable, foundational questions, not intrusive ones.
Before or during a first session, it is fair to ask what the therapist's qualifications and registration are, what kind of therapy they practise and whether it fits your needs, how they handle confidentiality, what sessions cost and whether there are sliding-scale options, and what happens between sessions or in an emergency. How a therapist answers can tell you as much as the answers themselves.
Therapy can be effective in person or online. Online sessions can improve access and privacy, while in person sessions suit some people better. What matters most is the quality of the relationship and whether you feel heard and safe over time.
Therapy should expand your sense of self and bring more clarity over time. If it consistently leaves you feeling diminished, confused, or unsafe, that is worth attention. Our Therapist's Notes explain this in more depth, including knowing when to leave therapy and what to know about your therapist.
Start with our Service directory for verified clinics, NGOs, and referral routes. You can also read what to expect in your first therapy session and the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists.
This section brings together clear, plain language information on two related topics: substances that are commonly misused, and psychiatric medicines used in treatment. It also points to where to get help for substance use in Kenya.
Our substances section explains how common substances affect the body and mind, the signs of harmful use, and how to seek help, with Kenyan context drawn from NACADA and the World Health Organization. Browse the substances section.
Our medicines section explains the major classes of psychiatric medication, what they are used for, how they work in general terms, and common considerations, with regional availability where possible. Browse the medicines section.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol or other drugs, support is available. In Kenya, NACADA provides information and referral, and many hospitals and clinics offer assessment and treatment.
This is general information and not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a prescribed medicine without speaking to a qualified prescriber.
The Mind Project does not provide emergency care or one-to-one treatment. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services on 999 / 112. For emotional support, Befrienders Kenya can be reached on +254 722 178 177.
Looking to write to us instead? Visit Contact for general enquiries, Dear Psychologist for a Q&A column, or Contribute to share your story.
If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, you are not alone and support is available right now. Befrienders Kenya: +254 722 178 177 · Emergency services: 999 / 112
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