Community Resource: "7 Cups: The Basics" Guide!

Our Ambassador @Jenna kindly wrote a fantastic guide outlining what our platform offers. This is one of the fundamental resources we share with newbies as we see them. It is originally in document form (click here), and for easy referencing on-site, I am pasting the text in this post!

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7 Cups is an online emotional support platform that offers users the opportunity to talk to trained listeners, therapists, and a supportive community.

Here's how it works:

1. Listeners:

• Volunteer Listeners: Trained listeners provide emotional support to users via one-on-one text-based chats. Listeners are not professional therapists but have undergone basic training in active listening and empathy.

• Anonymous Chats: Conversations are entirely anonymous, allowing users to feel more comfortable opening up.

• Listeners by Topic: Users can select listeners based on specific topics like stress, anxiety, relationships, or depression. This can be done when you request a listener through Browse Listeners and the chat request queue.

• Free Access: Users can connect with volunteer listeners, join group support chats, and access community forums for free.

2. Specialized Listeners:

• Support on Specific Topics: Users can choose listeners who specialize in certain topics, such as trauma, grief, addiction, LGBTQ+ issues, and more. This allows for more tailored conversations that suit the user’s needs.

• Age-Specific Support: 7 Cups also offers listeners who cater to specific age groups like teens or older adults.

3. Therapists:

• Licensed Therapists: For users seeking professional help, 7 Cups offers access to licensed therapists which 7 Cups aims to keep as affordable as possible. Users can access online therapy through messaging over time and have the option of adding live video sessions.

• Affordable Therapy: For users who need professional help, 7 Cups offers affordable online therapy through licensed therapists. Users can communicate with their therapist via messaging or asynchronous conversations, and we have now added live sessions so users can have a video/audio call with their therapist. 

• Subscription Model: Therapy is offered through a subscription, which costs significantly less than traditional face-to-face therapy. The service is designed to be flexible, with no rigid session times, allowing users to message therapists anytime. 7 Cups Therapy offers text-based, video, and audio therapy. All for a monthly cost of $159 USD for text-based which equals $39.75 USD a week and $299 USD for video and audio which equals $75.75 USD a week. (Find more info about online therapy here.)

4. Supportive Community:

• Group Chats & Forums: 7 Cups also has community support through group chats and forums. These spaces allow people to engage with others facing similar struggles, exchange guidance, and build supportive relationships.

• Topic-Based group chats: group chats are often organized around specific issues such as anxiety, depression, relationships, healthy living, trauma, and more.

5. Self-Help Guides & Exercises:

• The platform offers self-help exercises, mindfulness practices, and mental health resources for users to explore on their own. There are guides tailored for stress relief, anxiety management, and many more.

6. Progress Tracking and Self-Help Tools:

• Growth Paths: 7 Cups offers structured self-help paths called "Growth Paths" that guide users through exercises and reflections aimed at helping them manage specific issues (e.g., anxiety, depression, mindfulness). Each path contains a series of steps to follow, and users can track their progress over time.

• Mindfulness Exercises: The platform also offers relaxation exercises like guided meditations, breathing techniques, and mindfulness exercises to help users calm themselves during stressful moments.

• Explore more resources here! 

7. Community and Peer Support:

• Forums: Users can join topic-specific forums to share their stories, ask questions, and offer advice. It fosters a sense of community, where users help each other. (Find them here)

• Support Group Chats: 7 Cups hosts live group support rooms where users can chat in real time about their experiences. Moderators help keep these rooms respectful and supportive. (Find them here!)

• Topic Leaders: Some listeners and community members become Topic Leaders, who focus on specific topics (e.g., anxiety, relationships) and lead discussions or offer additional resources.

8. Accessibility:

• Browser: 7 Cups is available on PC and mobile browsers. It’s great for accessing all the site has to offer.

• Mobile App: 7 Cups is available as a mobile app (iOS and Android), allowing users to access emotional support on the go. This makes it convenient for users to reach out anytime they feel the need.

• Global Reach: 7 Cups has listeners and users from around the world, making it accessible to people from different time zones and cultures. There are listeners who speak different languages, providing a more inclusive environment.

9. 7 Cups for Organizations:

• 7 Cups also offers services for organizations, including businesses and schools, to provide mental health support to employees or students. These organizational partnerships offer emotional support and self-help tools for larger communities.

10. Confidentiality and Privacy:

• 7 Cups takes privacy seriously, and all conversations are confidential and encrypted. Users can remain anonymous, and listeners don’t have access to users' personal details.

• Moderation: The platform has rules and moderation systems in place to ensure that the environment remains supportive and safe for everyone.

11. Community Standards:

• Supportive Environment: Users and listeners are expected to follow community guidelines that emphasize respect, non-judgment, and empathy. The platform also uses reporting systems to address any violations of its code of conduct.

7 Cups is built around the principle of providing quick, anonymous, and compassionate support, making mental health help more accessible, and reducing the stigma around reaching out for emotional assistance. It is designed to be a non-judgmental, accessible platform for anyone seeking emotional support or professional help.

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For additional information, please visit the Help Center.

To learn more about how to utilize the community for support as a member, please consult the Welcome Pack.