In Nigeria, mental health remains a deeply under-discussed issue, often shrouded in stigma and cultural misconceptions. Mytherapist(dot)NG, a homegrown mental health platform, is determined to change the narrative.
Founded by Oluwaseun Raphael Afolayan, a tech entrepreneur, and Dedoyin Ajayi, a certified counsellor and NLP practitioner, Mytherapist is transforming smartphones into personal therapy rooms, making mental health support affordable, culturally relevant, and easy to access.
In this edition of Techparley’s DRIVE100, where we spotlight Africa’s most promising startups, we turn our attention to Mytherapist(dot)NG, and how it is transforming access to affordable, culturally relevant mental health care in Nigeria.
“We help Nigerians get easier access to therapy and mental health support. Right now, most people either don’t know where to start, can’t afford it, or don’t feel safe talking about their problems. Because of that, many live with stress, anxiety, and depression without help. We’re solving that by making therapy feel simple, affordable, and safe,” Afolayan told Techparley.
Bridging the Mental Health Gap
Mytherapist(dot)NG says it addresses these gaps by connecting users with licensed Nigerian therapists in minutes. Users can choose chat, voice, or video sessions tailored to their budgets, starting from as low as ₦3,000.
Beyond therapy, the platform offers daily affirmations, guided meditations, mood tracking, and journaling tools, creating a holistic mental wellness ecosystem.
“We turn every smartphone into a mobile therapy room where you can easily access the support you need. We connect users to licensed Nigerian therapists in minutes, with flexible pricing, local context, and multiple support tools,” Afolayan explains.
While competitors like Blueroomcare, AkomaHealth, and international apps like Calm focus on either therapy or wellness tools, Mytherapist combines both. Every feature is built with the Nigerian context in mind.
The platform also extends services to corporates, offering wellness plans designed to support employee mental health.
Milestones and Traction
According to the startup, since its launch, Mytherapist has steadily gained traction, including:
- Over 20,000 registered users
- 120+ licensed therapists available around the clock
- 10,000+ therapy sessions delivered
- Partnerships with HMOs such as HCI Healthcare and corporate HR teams
- Mobile apps available on Android, iOS, and web
- Achieved first-ever month of profitability in October 2025
- Recognised as Best Virtual Therapy Services Provider 2025 by GHP
“Our growth has been largely organic, proving that Nigerians are ready for accessible mental health support,” Afolayan shares.
The Mytherapist team brings a rare combination of clinical expertise and technological know-how.
- Oluwaseun Raphael Afolayan, Co-founder & CEO, leads product, engineering, and tech strategy, ensuring the platform is smooth, reliable, and user-friendly.
- Dedoyin Ajayi, Co-founder & Chief Clinical Officer, leverages her counselling experience to ensure ethical, culturally relevant care.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite its success, the journey hasn’t been without obstacles. Stigma around therapy remains a significant barrier.
Mytherapist combats this with educational content, awareness campaigns, and normalising therapy as a practical tool rather than a label.
Other challenges include onboarding enough qualified local therapists, navigating payment and connectivity issues, and maintaining user trust.
The startup has addressed these by streamlining therapist training, enabling multiple payment options, and optimising the app for low-bandwidth use, all while prioritising data security and privacy.
Afolayan also stresses the importance of government support beyond funding. He advocates for faster corporate registration, IP protection, infrastructure subsidies, mental health funding, and regulatory sandboxes to enable innovation in digital health.
Vision for the Future
Over the next 6-12 months, Mytherapist aims to deepen user engagement, expand corporate partnerships, and refine its platform technology.
Medium- to long-term goals include scaling across Africa, serving millions of users in multiple languages, and becoming the default mental health platform on the continent.
“We want therapy to feel normal, accessible, and supportive for everyone, regardless of where they live or their income level,” Afolayan emphasises.
By combining technology, clinical expertise, and cultural relevance, experts say Mytherapist is helping Nigerians confront mental health challenges head-on. With its innovative platform, growing user base, and ambitious vision, the startup is redefining what accessible, affordable, and effective mental health care looks like in Nigeria.
Talking Points
It is impressive that Mytherapist has designed a platform that combines therapy, wellness tools, and AI-supported features, addressing a major barrier many Nigerians face.
This single approach alone positions Mytherapist.ng as a practical solution for real mental health challenges, especially for individuals living with stress, anxiety, and depression who may not know where to start or feel safe seeking help.
At Techparley, we see how tools like this can accelerate mental health awareness and support across Nigeria, extending care beyond urban centres and into communities that have historically been underserved.
The integration of therapy sessions, mood tracking, guided meditations, and daily mental health tips into one platform means users can take control of their mental wellbeing with the same consistency and support as they would in traditional settings.
With the right strategic support, Mytherapist has the potential to become a game-changer for mental health care access in Nigeria and beyond.
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