As part of our Open Call for NGOs and social entrepreneurs in Eastern Europe, The Inner Foundation is now proud to announce our grant support of Centrul Social de Psihoterapie (CSP), a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the accessibility of mental health support in vulnerable communities across Romania. The grant will support the implementation of a digital therapy platform to digitize the organization’s physical provision model and strengthen its mission of making mental health support a universally accessible right.
Sonia Tudoriu & Razvan Popa of Centrul Social de Phisoterapie during The Inner Foundation’s visit in spring of 2025
Romania’s mental health landscape
Romania faces one of the most severe mental health crises in Europe. Only 3.5% of the national healthcare budget is allocated to mental health — among the lowest in the European Union — while an estimated 60% shortage of licensed psychologists leaves millions without access to professional support (OECD, 2023).
The impact is profound. Untreated mental disorders cost Romania approximately USD 11 billion annually, equivalent to about 3.5% of GDP (Romania Insider, 2024). Publicly funded mental health services are scarce and unevenly distributed, while private therapy remains unaffordable for large parts of the population. In rural and semi-urban areas, entire regions lack practicing therapists, forcing those in need to travel long distances or forgo care altogether. Stigma compounds the problem, discouraging many from seeking help until crises escalate.
The result is a silent crisis that disproportionately affects certain groups: like young people navigating unstable education and employment, survivors of domestic violence rebuilding safety, and families living in poverty without access to consistent care.
How Centrul Social de Psihoterapie addresses the treatment gap
Centrul Social de Psihoterapie addresses this gap. Founded in 2023 by Răzvan Popa, through Asociația Atelierul Faptelor Bune, CSP is Romania’s first structured non-profit provider of free psychotherapy for people who would otherwise remain excluded from care.
Operating from two centers in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, CSP brings together more than 160+ licensed therapists and volunteers, offering professional, trauma-informed support to individuals experiencing emotional distress, social isolation, or financial hardship. Since its founding, the organization has provided over 10,000 therapy sessions, reaching more than 900 beneficiaries across Romania across 2 physical centers.
CSP’s model is built on three core principles — accessibility, dignity, and connection. The organization’s work spans multiple dimensions of care:
- Individual psychotherapy, free of charge, for low-income families, students, pensioners, and marginalized groups.
- Group therapy and peer support offer safe spaces for connection and shared recovery.
- Specialized programs for survivors of domestic violence, LGBTI individuals, and people living with chronic illness or disability.
- Legal aid and social assistance, helping those facing trauma or mental health–related legal challenges.
- Public awareness and education campaigns, challenging stigma and promoting help-seeking behaviour.
Through this combination of clinical expertise and community engagement, CSP is reshaping how mental health support is delivered — moving it from a privilege to a right.
As Răzvan Popa, Founder and Director of CSP, explains:
“Our goal has always been to make therapy accessible to anyone who needs it, regardless of income or background. With the right tools and partnerships, we can ensure that no one in Romania has to face emotional pain alone simply because they cannot afford help.”
A digiphysical model for expanded access
With support from The Inner Foundation’s grant, CSP is expanding its work into a digiphysical model — blending the relational depth of in-person therapy with the broader reach of digital access. The aim is to strengthen continuity of care and make professional support available to those who remain outside the current system, whether due to cost, geography, or stigma.
This next phase will help CSP build a more adaptive and inclusive infrastructure for mental health in Romania — one that combines proximity with scale. By integrating digital delivery into its established practice, CSP moves closer to its mission of ensuring that access to therapy is not determined by where a person lives or what they can afford, but by their need for support.
Strengthening connection and purpose
Our partnership with Centrul Social de Psihoterapie supports their transition toward a digiphysical model — combining in-person therapy with digital access to reach people who have long been underserved. By extending trusted, high-quality care beyond physical centers, CSP is helping bridge the gap between isolation and inclusion.
As Annika Sten Pärson, Executive Chair and Founding Partner of The Inner Foundation, reflects:
“Centrul Social de Psihoterapie is showing what progress looks like in practice — expanding access without compromising quality. Their model represents the kind of pragmatic, forward-moving change that’s needed to meet the growing demand for care across Eastern Europe.”
We’re proud to support this next chapter in CSP’s work and see it as part of a broader effort to strengthen access to mental health care across Eastern Europe. The funding landscape remains underdeveloped, and progress will depend on collaboration and shared investment. We invite partners to join us in co-funding organizations like Centrul Social de Phisoterapie through our open application.
📝 Share your interest via our co-investor form.
📩 Reach out directly to our team.
- Zakaria Hersi, Investment & Portfolio Manager at zakaria.hersi@theinnerfoundation.org
About Asociata Atelierul Faptelor Bune
Asociatia Atelierul Faptelor Bune is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable communities in Romania through social, educational, and humanitarian initiatives. The organization operates a range of programs focused on providing essential resources, mentorship, and support to children and families facing economic hardship. Through its work, Asociatia Atelierul Faptelor Bune fosters community engagement by mobilizing volunteers, collaborating with local institutions, and implementing sustainable projects that address social inequalities. Its initiatives include educational support, emergency aid, and capacity-building efforts to empower individuals and create long-term positive change.
About The Inner Foundation:
The Inner Foundation is an independent, non-profit foundation based in Sweden, investing in intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs addressing mental health and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in society. As a catalytic hybrid finance investor, The Inner Foundation supports both for-profit and non-profit solutions, fostering impactful change through its diverse portfolio of 40+ investments spanning Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America.
