7 Cups: Online Therapy & Chat 12+

Free safety net, Glad I have it, Be careful tho

I’ve used 7Cups for years. As the concept of Talk Therapy, for free, it provides a good safety net. Especially for those, like myself, who A) Can’t afford therapy in real life B) Have at times not been able to leave my flat to get help C) Have needed support right now, at a moments notice and D) Have been too nervous to get support over the phone or face-to-face, online is comfortable. Don’t expect it to hear your problems but if you need someone to talk to, even just to clarify your own solution, or if your isolated and just want to connect with someone likeminded, it can be good. BUT please be aware it is internet so it has its shortcomings; mute any trolls; safeguard yourself; and seek positive solutions. Also it is volunteer-lead and free so don’t put expectations on quality, its luck of the draw. It is improving though ever since they started paying staff to develop the site/app so I have hope that its shortcomings will become less and less in the future. The staff are increasingly attentive and are there to help if there’s any problems or issues or concerns.

Disgusted

I am greatly astonished and disgusted with this site. I joined up in 2018 September to get help I was getting help but kept being called names, people swearing at me, telling me I’m useless it hurt my feelings on a number of occasions. I wake up one morning to find my account had got banned I went to my emails no email to say why I’ve also put in a request to un ban it etc and it says you broke a violation and I’m like what violation did I break. I have screen shots proving I was harassed by listeners and also members on group chats and private messages this is appalling and quite frankly humiliating to me and also to your site. I AM NOT GOING TO EMAIL THE COMMUNITY because they don’t answer another shock and error on your behalf as a company. I have done nothing to anyone and I’m shocked that your site is run how it is. I was getting better using your site but now I can’t because I am banned for no reason or if there is a reason I have not been told and you ban people on a one sided story what is out of line for you as a company and a site what you advertise for people to get help not ban people for no reason and then not say what violation they broke in an email. If you really hate me that much you would tell what I did wrong not just ban me and shove it under the carpet.
I recommend if you do use this site be careful because of the stuff I have witnessed it’s not for people who get easily triggered or get upset easily by things said to them.
Yours sincerely Kai

Developer Response ,

Hi Kai! You provided a lot of amazing feedback that we could definitely put to good use. Please email support@7cups.com at your earliest convenience.

Good concept, not so great in practice

I downloaded this app when I was going through a particularly tough time and had no idea what to do. I matched with a person and was relieved to be able to get my thoughts out to someone who could offer support and/or advice, but they bombarded me with personal, and quite frankly, inappropriate questions. I answered only what I deemed necessary, which seemed to be fine. When it got the the point of them giving advice, all I got back was a barrage of insults, which not only was upsetting, but their nature was embarrassing and personal, especially relating to mental and physical health issues I have suffered with my whole life. Determined not to escalate things, I simply asked if they were okay, which then turned into a rant about their personal life. Whilst I understand they needed someone to talk to, I wasn't in the headspace to be able to do that and I felt uncomfortable. I ended the chat and looked for a report feature, either to stop other people being insulted and humiliated like I had, or to raise a flag about concerns regarding their mental health, but this feature did not exist. I believe this would greatly improve the quality and control of advice, if a brief screening beforehand is not possible.