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Heather225 profile picture
Forum Guideline Refresher: Listener Boundaries & Utilizing Member Accounts
by Heather225
Last post
 Monday
...See more Whether you are new to the community or a seasoned Listener, it’s always good to refresh ourselves on the guidelines that keep our platform safe. One topic that comes up often is Listener Boundaries (specifically Forum Guideline 7) and knowing when to use a Member account. The Golden Rule: Maintain the Listener Role When you are logged into your Listener account, your primary focus should be on giving support. If you are going through a tough time, need to vent, or are looking for emotional support for your own personal struggles, please switch over to your Member account. This ensures that anyone reaching out to a Listener is connecting with someone who is currently in the right headspace to help. ------------------------- Relating vs. Seeking Support It is totally natural to want to connect, but there is a clear line between empathizing with someone and accidentally reversing roles: * Okay (Relating): Briefly mentioning a past experience to validate a Member's feelings and show them they aren't alone. (e.g., "I hear you. When I dealt with anxiety, I felt really overwhelmed too.") * Not Okay (Seeking Support): Sharing your current struggles in a way that shifts the focus to you, which puts the Member in the uncomfortable position of having to comfort you. ------------------------- Keep Your Accounts Separate To protect everyone's boundaries, 7 Cups requires your Listener and Member identities to remain completely separate. * Please do not link your two accounts in your bio or username. * Avoid announcing, "I'm going to switch to my Member account now." Just log out and log back in! * Keeping these separate stops lines from blurring and prevents Members from feeling obligated to support a Listener they previously confided in. Listener Boundaries are enforced in Forum rule #7: "Users are expected to maintain a listener role if on a listener account. This includes not seeking emotional or personal support and following the expectations of a listener outlined in active listening. Please switch to a member account if necessary." Please note that violations of this guideline result in post removal. ------------------------- What About Listener Support? If you had a heavy chat and need to decompress about your listening experience, that is what Listener-only spaces, such as the Listener Support Room [https://www.7cups.com/chat/?c=2_2b554a18cf379d85bN8W7-fzi03rI51eauafmg], Peer Supporters [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2yFIiL6az6UEOc5LNqOOERpM7D0g8F49x0qjbIq7QwhJOBQ/viewform], and Mentors [https://www.7cups.com/listener/training/mentors/]are for! However, if you need to talk about your own real-life problems, please log into your Member account to get the dedicated support you deserve. Taking care of your own mental health is just as important as being there for others. By keeping these boundaries clear, we keep the community safe, organized, and supportive for everyone.
Hope profile picture
Follow us on social media!
by Hope
Last post
 Sunday
...See more Hi everyone, I hope you all are well. Did you know you can follow 7 Cups on your favorite social media platforms? Social media can be a mixed place, on one end we can find accounts/pages related to all of our favorite things but on the other hand, it can make us compare ourselves to others and sometimes interact with less than positive content. On our social media accounts, we share positive content focusing on inspirational quotes, the great things happening in our community, and what's up in the mental health world with a little fun in between. Our aim is to provide you with content that is good for your mental health. Following 7Cups social media accounts not only makes a positive impact on your feed, but it also helps us reach more people. More people can know about our platform and can benefit from our mission. That's quite a win, win if you ask me! To acknowledge and show our appreciation for the support you show you and us! Everyone who follows the following social media accounts will receive the ‘Super Supporter badge' Instagram - @7Cups [https://www.instagram.com/7cups/] Twitter - @7Cups [https://twitter.com/7cups] & @7CupsTeen [https://twitter.com/7CupsTeen] Facebook - 7CupsOfTea [https://www.facebook.com/7CupsOfTea/] Youtube - 7 Cups of Tea [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYsco2bYgzQzUsLnaO899Qg] LinkedIn - 7-cups [https://www.linkedin.com/company/7-cups] You can also follow 7 Cups Academy on LinkedIn! 7-cups-academy [https://www.linkedin.com/company/7-cups-academy/] Step 1) Hit follow! (We understand that not everyone has accounts on all social media platforms so you can follow the ones that you have accounts on) Step 2) Reply to this thread and let us know that you have followed us!
Hope profile picture
7 Cups for the searching soul book - Read and review to get a badge!
by Hope
Last post
 September 2nd
...See more Hi everyone, I hope you are doing well. Some of you may be aware that we have our very own book! It's called the 7 Cups for the searching soul. There is even a training /self-help guide based on the same book. The book focuses on helping you understand your behavior better, provide you with tips and tricks to grow as a person, and provides in-depth information about how our platforms can support you with your journey of growth. We encourage everyone to read the book and reflect on its contents. The admin team and I have read the book and we have really enjoyed the overall experience. You can download your copy of the book on Amazon for free here [https://www.amazon.com/7-Cups-Searching-Soul-7Cups-ebook/dp/B01BFWMCXY] * Please note that the book is available in the following Amazon marketplaces: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Spain, France, Italy, Australia, and the Netherlands. Don't see your country listed? We've got you covered! Please find PDF and MOBI versions here [https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/611898]. To get the Soul Searcher badge please follow the following steps: Download the e-book from Amazon (if your country provides it) or use the second link and read it. Leave us a review on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/7-Cups-Searching-Soul-7Cups-ebook/dp/B01BFWMCXY] or Good reads [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28930126-7-cups-for-the-searching-soul?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=465CcxbNjk&rank=1]. Respond to this thread, let us know you did step 1 & 2 and tell us what were your favourite bits! We will appreciate your support in downloading and reviewing the book as more downloads/reviews help us reach and support more people.
xxxniareht profile picture
Loneliness chat room
by xxxniareht
Last post
 July 3rd
...See more For coping advices, experience sharing and support, of course. Because most of Listeners don't really understand what it is to feel isolated and have no one to even talk and be oneself for years. They give mostly generic and useless advices or try to change the theme. Loneliness problem should not be mixed with Relationships. You can feel yourself lonely even if you have someone. It is the connection problem. Like you are numb to feel another human being or don't feel yourself at home anywhere. There are may be trusting problems, lack of empathy, etc. Loneliness is a big and complex problem. I believe there are dozens of users who knows what I am talking about. Would be nice to have some space for ourselves.
PatienceImpatiens profile picture
Please update the crisis page
by PatienceImpatiens
Last post
 February 17th
...See more I put this feedback elsewhere but I'm not sure who writes or edits the Crisis Page. It needs to be updated. The suicide line in USA is now 988 and has been since July 2022. Please, someone update this. The original number will go to 988 automatically but one of the purposes of changing it was to make it easier for people in crisis to dial in. I think our crisis information should be up to date. Linking the page referenced. If anyone feels too stressed or too much in crisis to read or understand the guidelines, please go to the crisis page https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026242193-Crisis-Resources [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026242193-Crisis-Resources]
KrinkTheMellowUnicorn profile picture
Testing an anti-spam thingie
by KrinkTheMellowUnicorn
Last post
 January 20th
...See more If I add an external link [https://google.com] to a site we should mark it for the search engines as "no follow" so there is no advantage to spamming us that way....
Laura profile picture
(Outdated/Click in for link) 7 CUPS COMPASSION COURSE
by Laura
Last post
 November 21st, 2025
...See more Please click into this post for the updated Compassion Course post! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/General_2418/UpdatedVersionMemberCompassionCourse_345105/] ------------------------- To all the members out there, I have created this compassion course [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMEXP6lopKu4ZJAtmctmwk0vq9Fp7T892gWJteqmQoIJa_Dg/viewform] for you!Ã *This course is for members only, not for listeners* Here are some important resources for you to view: Three Components of Self-Compassion [https://bit.ly/1wqEyUg] (Video) 8 Ways to Show Compassion Everyday [https://bit.ly/1t9iePk] And Another 10 Ways to Show Compassion [https://bit.ly/1FMx7w1] This course is for you if: - You want to learn more about how we think about compassion here at 7 Cups - You LOVE the group support chat rooms and want to continue to grow and thrive in that environment - You believe in the mission of 7 Cups and want to learn more about how you can show compassion in your experiences here Wed like all those who complete this course to learn: - The basics of giving and showing compassion - Learn how to get the most out of their experiences in the group support chat room - Learn how to build connection with fellow 7 Cups members - Be a loving, kind, awesome person, who supports the community We want you to walk away from this compassion experience, feeling well equipped to be a loving group support chat room participant. Sending you all hugs! Please give feedback and ideas in this thread! Note: All responses are read by community managers ------------------------- Edit by ASilentObserver on 04/06/2022
IndigoRoses profile picture
Common Mobile App Problems
by IndigoRoses
Last post
 November 6th, 2025
...See more If anyone has any other app-related issues that they've been dealing with frequently, please post below! Here are mine: 1. If I scroll up on a group support chat to reread something and then close the app, if I open it again, the chat will be stuck in the place where I left off and will not automatically scroll to the latest messages. 2. When viewing listener profiles under "Browse Listeners", clicking "Show More" to read more of their profile works for the first few profiles, but then doesn't expand and I cannot read the rest of the information. 3. It's rare that I get notifications on time, I'd say they're generally at least 15 minutes behind (which is a bigger issue when I'm on my listener account). Notifications within 7 Cups don't always work either (i.e. the blue dot indicating a new 1-1 message), which has caused some problems in the past. I know that the app is constantly being improved, and I'd like to thank the developers for making huge changes already. I just wanted to acknowledge what's been going on and bring it to the attention of people who may be able to help, instead of using "Ugh, sorry, I'm on mobile." as an excuse. Thank you! :D
profile picture
Forum: Needs reply initiative (Project...possibly?)
by
Last post
 May 20th, 2025
...See more Hello everyone! I've noticed throughout my time here as a listener, we get a lot of new forum threads! I know how overwhelming it can be and sometimes we do not have the time or energy to reply to all of them. This year, we have been doing excellent and thus far, all posts from members needing support have been answered. Give yourself a pat on the back and a round of applause if you're one of the many listeners who have responded to needs reply posts!. I would like to keep up that initiative but I'd also like to propose a "possible" idea! If you browse through the "Needs Reply" section of the forum....there are so many unanswered posts from last year and even the year before. Our little community is growing so quickly, so I feel like now is the time to start a new project for us! I'd really like to see ALL needs reply posts answered, even the ones from last year. I don't want to give up on these threads and I believe that all those who are seeking support, should get at least one reply on their forum threads. As we all know, it can take a lot of courage and bravery to speak out when you have a problem or just need support and I'd like to see them answered. Our members deserve all the love and support and I know we can help provide that! You may ask, "Well, if they're old posts, how do we know that they are still seeking support today?" I myself have answered posts that were from last year and I have received many replies back, thanking me for responding. There are some members who do not participate in the forums as much anymore but still participate on 7cups. That is why it is important to respond to them all because you just may brighten someone's day by showing that you care. If you are new to being a listener and aren't sure what I am talking about, here [https://gyazo.com/153b12cd82ee4410ae812566b0cebda8] is a screenshot to show you how to find the "Needs Reply" section of the forum. In order to encourage and inspire those who would like to respond to these unanswered threads, this is where I'm going to need the support of those who are higher up on the ladder at 7cups. I'd like to see a badge awarded to those who have responded to "Needs Reply" posts. I think it would be a great way of giving back to members for support and listeners for our efforts. It would encourage us to respond and to give a supportive comment to everyone. I really feel like now is the time to start this and it would be a great way of encouraging everyone to pitch in with helping respond to forum posts. I really hope my idea is considered or I have inspired someone to respond to old forum threads. Thank you!
rachier7 profile picture
Honors Project Essay: A Self Reflection
by rachier7
Last post
 May 14th, 2025
...See more Joining this internship was a bit of an impromptu decision, so I never expected it to have the massive impact on me that it did. All of my plans for this summer came to an abrupt halt as coronavirus swept the nation, as many others did, too. Instead of going to Germany for a conference, working an in-person, full-time job, and preparing for my Fall study abroad trip, I got a job as a part-time lifeguard, joined a virtual professional development fellowship, and of course, secured my internship with 7 cups. Its only natural that I was initially disappointed that my summer plans didnt go as intended. However, my mindset quickly changed as I adjusted to my new normal and was embraced by this unknown community with welcoming arms. I remember feeling incredibly nervous before I took my first chat. Beforehand, I had completed a lot of the trainings necessary to meet certain requirements and asked other listeners every question I could think of. Ive always known that Ive had a knack for communicating with and helping others. Its almost felt like a calling for me. However, my confidence fell to zero when I realized how much more experience other listeners had compared to me. I was an adult listener, yes, but Im only 20. Who would want to talk to and derive support from someone whos practically still a child? What kind of credibility did I have, as a mere undergraduate student, to assist adults with their serious, real life problems? There were so many other great listeners, who had years of experience under their belt, along with certifications, high ratings from members, and a solid reputation among others on the site. Not to mention the tons of older-adult professionals, who I felt I obviously couldnt compete with at this point in my academic career. I assumed that members would be disappointed when I picked up their chat, and I wondered if it even made sense for me to pursue something when I didnt even know if I could provide what the members would need. Luckily, I proved myself wrong almost instantly. My first chat came relatively easily, and I immediately received positive feedback. It was something simple, along the lines of Youve helped me a lot today or Thanks for being so kind, but that alone reassured me that what I was doing was worth it and that I really was good at what I wanted to do. Since then, Ive only become more confident in my skills as a listener. At the start, I would stick to trying to take chats that I could support through my own lived experiences, like depression and anxiety. As time went on, though, I found myself taking more and more chats that were out of my comfort zone and beyond anything I had personally experienced or understood. This, I found, was the truest test of my own empathy. As humans, were naturally egocentric. Therefore, its pretty easy to become engaged in a conversation that has to do with what affects you. The challenge is caring and wholly, actively listening when someone discusses something that has no bearing on your life or your personal interests whatsoever. It took practice knowing how to effectively respond to the unfamiliar through forethought and calculation, and not just pure intuition. I was worried that I would say something offensive, or not say enough, or say something counterproductive, but with time, I was able to acknowledge that my efforts actually were helping people, regardless of whatever doubts I was having about my own abilities. At the end of the day, we wont always be able to understand what someone is going through. It may not make sense to us, despite our efforts to empathize to the highest degree. Ive found that it is not necessary to fully understand someone in order to show compassion. Ive been able to work on my own humility and come to terms with the idea that there are certain things I will never fully grasp. I am not an all-knowing being, but I can be an unconditionally accepting human when someone needs it. Many people go their whole lives without being able to trust someone enough to confide in them. Many people go their whole lives without feeling entirely and completely accepted for who they are and what theyve gone through. With one compassionate listener, these people feel heard, accepted, and ultimately, not so alone. As a listener and as a person, I am imperfect and the things I say and do are often imperfect. In spite of this, I have come to the conclusion that every single person who listens on 7 cups is offering an indispensable service. Human beings need to connect and feel belongingness as much as we need to breathe. We inherently crave feeling cared for and supported, and without it, we become lonely and we struggle. When I began my internship, I was wracked with feelings of uncertainty. Now, I have an entirely new perspective on how to authentically communicate with others and provide genuine support. So, how do I measure success in my internship journey? For me, its that I know Ive touched lives. Its comments like Wow, I feel a lot better now or Your words mean a lot to me. Its members that have followed up and told me that I made a difference in their day or in their particular situation. The quote, helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person never sat right with me until now. I always felt pressure to do something big and to do something that would change the world for everyone as they knew it in a profound way. I felt that if I didnt achieve this lofty goal, my life and my career would basically be meaningless. I now understand that each person experiences their own unique universe, and when I step up for another, that universe expands. I now feel like I can truly make a difference. If I change the world for one person, I am changing their world, and thats something I can really be proud of.
intelligentSummer9355 profile picture
Technical support
by intelligentSummer9355
Last post
 February 13th, 2025
...See more I have join the app for just like hours and had many technical issues :( I have been kicked out of chat room with my listener and couldn’t get back in no matter how I restart the app, wander between tabs and functions. It’s so exhausting after all steps I take to finally connect with a listener. The help center is unapproachable also. Sorry to vent here but that was not some great experiences.
KrinkTheMellowUnicorn profile picture
Improving the Browse Listeners (personal request) experience
by KrinkTheMellowUnicorn
Last post
 November 16th, 2024
...See more Lately, it has become clear to me that the experience trying to find and chat with a specific listener (as opposed to making a general request for the next available listener with the "Connect Now" button), via the "Browse Listener" flow, currently leaves much to be desired. There seem to be bugs that are increasing the risk of people getting ignored or left hanging, and some listeners also have trouble managing their availability. I've heard that sorting by available listener does not (always?) work, that it would be nice to have people from your country or language sorted to the top by default, that the filtered search can be slow, and other things. So, i thought I'd start a conversation here as I study these flows and mechanisms and try to work out the best ways to improve them in the near future. Please share anything you are experiencing now or have noticed that makes browsing listeners and connecting with someone you requested specifically fail or not work as well as it should. (Feel free to suggest solutions as well but you don't need to have an idea for how to fix a problem to tell me about the problem, and if you do propose a solution please be aware that we may recognize the problem and decide to solve it in another way, or as part of a more holistic improvement.) Have at it! (and thanks! I couldn't do my job without your help!)
resourcefulPond1641 profile picture
Grief and Loss
by resourcefulPond1641
Last post
 September 13th, 2024
...See more As someone who was struggling with both intense grief and loss; after I came back to this site after a break, it took me a long time before I realized those things were still supported here; but they were now under General Support. I think that feels inappropriate; and I never would have thought to look there, because it seems to me likely to be a very different type of person and issue that would cause someone to look into general support, rather than someone looking for specific help to due to going through intense grief over the traumatic death of someone close to them as I was. I understand that that area wasn't actually being used that much; but somehow having it under the area of General Support seems even worse, because it feels so dismissive to me, as if it's not a serious enough this to be allowed it's own area. Or even to be mentioned in the title would have made it at least easier to find (e.g. General Support + Grief and Loss). I'm not sure how to solve this exactly, but I think this is something that needs to be addressed. If it was easier to find / signposted better maybe more people could actually find support there? Or maybe it would be better to let it have it's own area, even if it wasn't used as much. Because it's such an important topic. Intrested if anyone else has any thoughts about this?
KrinkTheMellowUnicorn profile picture
iPhone
by KrinkTheMellowUnicorn
Last post
 October 3rd, 2023
...See more Hey, I started an Android thread [/forum/Welcome_27/KrinksStudio_542/Android_32152/] the other day as we started testing the new Android app but I also should have started this thread because the innards of some tabs of the new app went live over the weekend and changed the iPhone app and also broke some things etc., and I owed y'all a heads up, so sorry about that! We hope to publish the Android update today and then fix a few things on the iPhone side and submit the app for its review in the App Store. I will post updates here and say more about what to expect from the initial (2.0) update and how we plan to keep improving the app from now on.
blackskysilverdust profile picture
Path
by blackskysilverdust
Last post
 August 16th, 2023
...See more Hi guys im new here. Does the "path" i choose on this site matter or is it the same for whatever path? I kind of panicked and chose one not really right for me. I want to change it but somehow i can't find a way to reverse it. Thank you.

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