7 CupsReviews of 7cups.com

People are mostly self-absorbed just keeping up ratings...

Listening therapy is wrong. It sees your issue but does NOTHING to fix it. Therapy should be about trying to find good solutions to practical and emotional problems. The site is badly built and outdated. Listeners are not vetted and are poor at what they do.

Unfortunately, started my therapy with this site before I found my current (fabulous) therapist. When responding to one of my messages I got the message had absolutly nothing to do with what I was going through when I was like Dude I don't know what you're taking about then I as no longer able to log into the therapist part of the platform

I used the 7cup listener service as I was just needing someone to speak to about the anxiety I was going through. The first listener I spoke to brushed my issues off and immediately started preaching about their philosophy. I was curious at first, but the conversation quickly became trying to prove his philosophy as real. Not being interested in the conversation anymore, I tried another listener. This listener immediately told me to look for a lover as soon I spoke about my issues. Said I "needed" it, to let it all out. "Be a bed contest". He suggested. Told me that I need to sleep with someone and then suggested that maybe a friend would be best. Then, he asked me to be his friend.... Once I told him that I'm not interested in all that, I asked if he just uses the app to flirt. To which he said "sometimes". Overall, would not recommend. The website is tedious to navigate through and filled with pay walls.

I just got banned. for no reason. I would be happy to correct any misunderstandings. I did not break any rules or anything. I emailed 7cups cause I was banned on another account and I was trying to tell them that I don't have access to the email of that account. I emailed with my new email, for the account I tried to have but that got banned. I would like an explanation. I have heard of people getting banned as a mistake. But this is not cool. Like what? I can't make an account at all on here?

Today I went to my Listener account at 7 Cups to see I had been "unapproved" as a listener, based a bad review or complaint. I have no idea what the complaint is and I have been there over a year and had many, many good reviews. Seems like after ONE complaint I am axed. The only even I can think of is a tiring chat with an unhappy guy who simply wanted to complain, not matter what I said. In the end he called me a "nihilist" for some reason, and I said that is no way to talk to me. He then said "you can't talk to me because you're weak". I said I have to go, "good riddance" he said, adding "I am going to report you" I left and blocked him. I figured he would report me because he seemed in a wired state of mind, but that the chat would be reviewed and it would be obvious I did nothing to him. BUT..., in the morning I am gone! I tried to file a grievance but the process 100% favored the member, with me being required to list three different things I could do to improve as a listener. As if I am 100% to blame. I still have yet to see the complaint, who it was from, what was said or be given the chance to defend myself. It is like an employee at a coffee shop who has coffee thrown in his face, and then gets fired for making bad coffee. I had some people I chatted with regularly and now I am out. Useless place. I am very saddened and hurt. I did the best I could do. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER: I believe I have a more clear idea of what happened. Basically I called a troll a troll. Told him I could help and did not have time. He complained. That is it. I have had a few experiences with being called names and trolled there, it would come with thew territory. This one time I said something and I was zapped. But to be fair, I guess I should not have said it, but I will not take my review down. I should have gotten a warning or something.

I've interacted with several of the listeners and did the training to be a listener. The first thing you need to know about this site is that it mandates only reflective listening. This is an approach where a person talks to a listener who encourages them to solve their own problems and is very supportive and encouraging. On the surface, this sounds good but the reality is that it often fails in practice. They do this because they don't consider lay listeners qualified to counsel others, so all they can do is play a supportive role. At least that was what I thought was going on at first but then I saw counselors who said they don't believe in giving advice and the red flags went up. A counselor needs to assess and spot mental health problems and advise what to do. If any counselor said I do not give advice I would immediately leave that office. However, while I do believe teaching reflective listening is a good idea, mandating it is stifling for listeners who actually could brainstorm with the person to help them understand and possibly solve their problems. It belittles the listener to put those handcuffs on them, is often inappropriate and ineffective for the member and it creates a toxic environment for people to be in. You have a bunch of people venting while the listeners offer supportive comments. I could get an AI to do that, why even have a person there? Even worse, the moderators enforce this code so if you challenge their beliefs, probe someone for more information, and offer help you are warned and then kicked off the service. This is how cults operate with groupthink, enforcing dogma and demonizing perceived enemies. For your own mental health's sake stay far away from this site.

I encounrered a poorly trained listener whose idea of "compassion" was to spout out accusations instead of asking what I did something and why - they'd already preemptively jumped to a judgment, went on an attack, and tried to make everything I said fit that narrative they created in their head. "Let's be real, you did [thing] to do [goal]." Stuff like that.