Trial Removing Three Day Therapy Trial - Information for the community!
Hey All,
We wanted to share an update with you from the Therapy team. Since the program started, we have had a 3-day trial, where members who sign up get the opportunity to talk to a therapist for 3 days free. We have long wanted to trail a new option for interested members. So we will be doing a trial where we remove the 3-day trial and track the impact. Members will have the opportunity to select a therapist of their choice and begin talking to them directly. Additionally, Members will still be able to go through Sophia and get auto-assigned to a therapist if they prefer that. No 3-day trial in either scenario.
We wanted to let you know, because once this trial goes forward, you may see updated language around the site around how we talk about therapy. Especially for adult listeners, youll want to keep this in mind if you refer a member to our therapy team.
Why are we trialing the removal of the 3-day trial?
- Continual and ongoing billing issues and disputes
- Majority of members who sign up this way did not stay retained
@Laura
Awesome!
@Laura thank you so much for informing us! I'm looking forward to seeing the positive impact it'll bring and hopefully, a lot of members will still consider 7cups therapy in the future. 🍕🍕🍕
@Erato
i hope so too!
@Laura I had the 3-day trial and while I didn't stay retained, I have been considering it. I have not signed up for financial reasons (and can't find the application for financial aid ANYWHERE, even though it was offered when I unsubscribed). I have to say, I wouldn't be considering it if not for the trial. The therapy experience is a lot different and more in-depth than the listener experience. I have also read reviews about online therapists not being as professional, which was not the case, but certainly would have dissuaded me from paying $150 without knowing what it would be like.
@Asmallsoftvoice
great feedback! thank you for sharing this.
With the removal of the trial, what types of things may entice you to give it another go?
@Laura
A weekly rate that is equivalent to the monthly split up. I.e. $35 per week. The ability to skip weeks or pause the membership if life gets hectic or i'm in a good place, but know I'll need to talk once in awhile. At the current rate I feel I would he obligated to make the most of it and text daily. I would be locked in for a whole month, and then when the next $150 charge comes up I might cancel to avoid it.
@Laura
Thank you for letting us know Laura.
I think dropping it as it was is a good idea.
With a site like this, if a free trial is implemented again, I think one should have to confirm before payment goes through. This is similar to what happens with face to face therapy IMO, where it's possible to speak to a therapist on the phone and send some information back and forth besides going forward with an appointment. In my experience the therapist confirms that follow through with the appointment is wanted, they don't just make it, tell me it's made and then charge if I don't show up.
To help find a good match, maybe in the future Sophia could include some more open ended-questions (optional, not mandatory) and give the opportunity for a few therapists to respond. The person could then pick from those therapists where they first have some answers directed to what they are specifically looking for. @7CupsCommunity @LisaDeRegtMBPsS
@AffyAvo
Thank you for the feedback! You have given suggestions on improving a free trial and improving matches between therapists and members.
remove it definitly a good idea. people was confused about how it works. listeners pressuring us in therapy under pretext "trial is free" but with the amount needed on your credit card. now they will no longer can mislead the members,
here where i live its even illegal to give free trial with automatic billing at the end of it without comfirmation from the cunsummer. i think the matchs through the bot could be better made, by letting more specific criterias for members to filter throught, including language, one or several topics matching (because yes sometimes you need one who knows more about two or more specific issues). or maybe you could introduce the type of issue or criterias that you are looking for, and there could be 2-3 therapists offering their services to the member and you pick from those who responded, so it would get a better match, and still the opportunity for member to have a first "contact" before choosing.
I never signed up for internet therapy while there WAS a 3-day trial. It 'sounds' too different to me and expensive. But then I am fortunate enough to have some health insurance, which I have no idea if 7cups therapists can use/bill them. I have long had many questions about 7cups paid for therapy. But without a "free" trial period, I may never know. (sigh) Very good to know this information before it happens though - and certainly for referral purposes. ~ Platy
Changing it so that the Person has to opt-in to therapy after the trial would probably solve the biling and canceling issue at once. It still would allow someone to check the trial before commiting.
As for retaining the people after the trial.. well, you will ofc loose every of those who still decided to go on with the therapy after the trial period.
@Laura
The problem with this, or any help site, is that people dont know what they want, or need, and dont know what to expect. In three days, how many sessions could they possibly schedule? One?
I had a year of very effective therapy, but I can say that no progress was made in the first three months as my therapist was monitoring me and seeing what was REALLY wrong with me, NOT just what was bothering me at the time.
I see MANY people coming to chats wanting quick fixes and answers, and when it is obvious they have deep issues or trauma in their past that is the SOURCE of their problems, they come in wanting quick solutions and answers.
Nowhere on this site does it educate people "If you have severe issues, you might not know ou have them, and may also take YEARS of therapy to fix. Oh, and the $150 monthly rate is what you pay out of pocket in some parts of the world for ONE HOUR of therapy when you have a typical insurance plan, so it's a pretty good deal for many"
@4F Definitely not suggesting $150 is a bad deal, but my understanding is that you cant use insurance for this and that's still a lot to pay out of pocket without even knowing if you like it.
I am abit lost. As in no more trial sessions or no more trial limitations?
If it is the latter. It will be so good, at least to be able to try, with a peace of mind.
Imagine wanting to seek help, yet being chained with the financial concern, regardless if the concern is a genuine case or be it a mental block. I believe without the limit, it will certainly open more possible paths for seeking assistance.
@mikenai22 no more free trial,. you will have to pay right away for the first month
@TortueDesBois
Thanks for clarification. Oh well, I hope the supportive reasons thought by the team was good enough.
