Nigeria faces significant socioeconomic challenges, contributing to heightened anxiety and depression among its population. Despite the growing need for mental health support, psychotherapy apps specifically designed for Nigerians remain scarce. User feedback on existing apps reveals critical shortcomings, emphasizing the need for innovations tailored to local therapeutic requirements. This research focuses on integrating the unique needs of Nigerian users into the design of psychotherapy apps, particularly those featuring AI conversational chatbots, which have shown promise in providing therapeutic support. However, there is limited research on the specific design requirements for AI-integrated psychotherapy apps targeting Nigerians. To address this gap, the study analysed user reviews of 10 psychotherapy apps available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. A thematic analysis of 200 reviews identified key user priorities, including a well-designed user interface, user-friendliness, and functional AI chatbots. Conversely, poor usability and suboptimal AI performance were common reasons for users abandoning these apps. Additional concerns included a lack of content variety, repetitive chatbot responses, and security and privacy issues. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved app design to enhance user engagement and effectiveness. By addressing identified deficiencies—such as usability, AI functionality, and content diversity future psychotherapy apps can better meet the needs of Nigerian users. This research provides actionable insights for developing innovative, culturally relevant digital mental health solutions to support therapy for anxiety and depression in Nigeria.