At this writing, the search result reads: 7 Cups: Free Online Therapist & Counseling.
But 7 Cups does not offerfree online therapy.
Instead, it provides limited text therapy services for a monthly fee and a gateway to chat rooms.
In these chat rooms, users can connect with caring listeners, according to the companys website.
It says nearly half a million trained listeners are available in 189 countries and more than 140 languages.
As our reviews team dug deeper into the platform, however, we discovered many concerning details.
As a result, we cannot recommend 7 Cups for online therapy services or peer support.
Read on to learn everything you should probably know, plus how to find reputable mental health resources.
Weve spent many hours carrying out in-depth research on the online therapy market.
His mission was to ensure everyone had someone to listen to them.
Users can access text therapy and counseling on the 7 Cups website and app.
7 Cups also advertises the platform as a place tochat online with strangers.
How Does 7 Cups Work?
Chats with listeners and therapists are generally not monitored, according to the company.
7 Cups offers asynchronous text therapy, meaning you do not meet with your text therapist for an appointment.
You send messages anytime and hear back from your text therapist once or twice during weekdays.
Still, more research is needed to establish its full capabilities.
On 7 Cups, text therapy is only available for adults.
Teens ages 13 and older can only access online community forums and chat rooms.
The company’s so-called growth paths are open to all users.
7 Cups Enrollment Process
There are a few ways to get started on 7 Cups.
If youre interested in text therapy, you must become a member or begin with a therapist search.
You dont need to fill out an intake questionnaire typical of other online therapy services like BetterHelp or Talkspace.
You sign up as a member, choose a therapist, and fill out your contact information.
California had four therapists.
Alabama and Michigan had two each.
As such, limited availability may not be unique to the 7 Cups counseling platform.
Types of Services Offered
7 Cups offers several other services beyond text therapy.
AI Chatbot
One of the first chat options presented to users is an AI chatbot named Noni.
Community Groups
7 Cups is home to many discussion forums and group chats.
Categories include Newbies, Fun, Health & Wellbeing, and Peer Groups, among others.
Growth Paths
7 Cups users can also access self-guided exercises called growth paths to learn coping skills.
7 Cups Therapy Reviews
7 Cups has 4.7 out of 5 stars onTrustpilotwith 439 reviews.
OnBetter Business Bureau (BBB), the platform has 2.79 out of 5 stars with 14 customer reviews.
The 7 Cups app has 4.5 out of 5 stars on theApp Storewith over 5,900 ratings.
OnGoogle Play, the app has 3.9 out of 5 stars with more than 22,200 reviews.
Positive reviews highlight helpful listeners and the joy of serving as a volunteer.
OnTrustpilot, there are also serious accusations of inappropriate behavior and abuse on the platform.
They finished the active listening training a series of multiple-choice questions in less than 10 minutes.
A potential listener must answer 33 out of 46 questions correctly to pass.
According to the 7 Cups website, listeners must pass this quiz with a perfect score.
Our tester typed in unprofessional responses and gibberish to investigate the vetting process.
They passed the quiz and were approved.
7 Cups listener training took about 15 minutes.
After completing these steps, our tester was immediately allowed to begin working as a volunteer listener.
They verified their email and landed on the 7 Cups dashboard.
They then opened a chat.
At first, no listeners were available.
Before entering a chat, users can choose three topics they want to discuss with their listener.
The topics range from depression and anxiety to domestic violence, eating disorders, and sexual issues.
Our tester spoke with listeners located in India, Pakistan, and Estonia.
Our reviews team also checked out various discussion forums and groups.
Like the chat rooms, they provided little support and lacked adequate moderation.
The only response was from another user, who offered them a hug.
Finally, we tested out Noni, the AI chatbot.
Noni gave limited responses and did not adjust to user questions seeking resources.
7 Cups notes that Noni is unequipped to support users in crisis.
Chatbots arent currently considered appropriate mental health care providers, according toan article published in June 2023 inScientific American.
Our reviews team contacted 7 Cups for comment.
When asked about unprofessional or abusive listeners, the 7 Cups Support Team said listeners have trust scores.
They lose points when they are blocked by members or behave in negative ways.
Certain actions result in immediate removal.
Is 7 Cups Right for You?
If you are interested in online counseling, you have options.
Read our reviews of the best platforms foraffordable online therapy,online therapy for teens, andtext therapy.
You may also benefit from our guide tomental health apps.
We used our collected data to develop a scorecard to evaluate the platforms we tested ourselves.
Read more about how we researched andtested online therapy platformsin ouronline therapy review methodology.
If 7 Cups addresses these issues, we will update this review accordingly.
In case of an emergency, call 911.
That includes plans to harm yourself or others.
Help is available 24/7.
it’s possible for you to also send a text message to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
A crisis counselor will respond via text to help you stay calm and confirm youre safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to7 Cups, chats with listeners and therapists are generally not monitored.
