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BetterHelp vs 7 Cups Review
BetterHelp is one of the world’s leading brands as far as online counseling is concerned. 7 Cups is an equally reputable company — it has served millions of users since 2013. Because each of these services has a unique model, it is challenging to choose one over the other.
To help you, here is a comprehensive review of both online counseling platforms. Based on several factors ranging from services offered to price and much more, read on to establish the winner of this BetterHelp vs 7 Cups comparison.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups — How They Work
BetterHelp is an online counseling service that has licensed therapists for hire. It provides a platform where patients can get counseling for various mental health issues. Sessions are carried out over multiple devices, provided that one has a stable Internet connection. Subscriptions are renewed weekly and one can opt-out at any time.
7 Cups started as a 100% free online counseling platform. Offering free counseling made this service gain popularity much faster than its competitors who charge a fee. Because it operates as a social network of sorts, the platform is unique. Over time, the company introduced a paid membership option which has more features.
BetterHelp vs. 7 Cups — Services Offered
Betterhelp has licensed counselors who specialize in treating various mental health disorders. Based on information on the company’s website, users can pay for help with the following issues:
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma
- Parenting issues
- Religious issues
- Intimacy
- Grief
- Family issues
Similarly, 7 Cups offer counseling for a wide range of mental health issues. The 7 Cups website links to specialists who have experience with the following issues:
- ADHD
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Bullying
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Eating disorders
- Exercise motivation
- Financial stress
- Grief
- Panic attacks
- Relationship stress
- Social anxiety
- Work stress
BetterHelp vs. 7 Cups Verdict
Both companies offer an impressive variety of services. While the services on BetterHelp are generalized, 7 Cups narrows down to specific issues under each disorder. Both services score equally in terms of variety.
BetterHelp vs. 7 Cups — Counselor Qualifications
BetterHelp has counselors that are not only trained and licensed but also experienced and accredited by relevant bodies. These professionals have masters and doctorates in their fields of study. They have accredited psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors.
7 Cups does not offer access to licensed counselors for those using the free membership. Instead, they offer trained “listeners.” Although the listeners are not licensed to offer counseling, they are trained to be attentive to the user’s needs and offer a judgment-free zone. They allow you to vent anonymously about issues that you would not feel comfortable sharing with others.
Paid memberships on 7 Cups give access to licensed counselors. Counselors on the platform are required to have a degree as well as malpractice insurance. The latter usually requires several years’ worth of experience, ensuring that only capable professionals join the platform.
BetterHelp vs. 7 Cups Verdict
7 Cups have listeners who form a welcoming community. Their sole purpose is to pay attention to users without focusing on the diagnosis and clinical methods. Although listeners are not licensed therapists, their wholesome approach gives 7 Cups an edge over BetterHelp.
BetterHelp vs. 7 Cups — Types of Therapy
7 Cups offers messaging therapy only. A user can chat directly with a listener or licensed counselor. One may also choose to join the community forums. In these forums, members ask questions and contribute advice.
7 Cup’s operation mode is unique — it offers members badges for participating in the community forums. Each time you chat with a listener, you get a badge that symbolizes your growth. You can also earn badges from answering questions in the forums. This system is motivating for users.
On the other hand, BetterHelp offers therapy through four channels:
- Messaging
- Live chat
- Video
- Phone calls
Here is how each of these types of therapy works on the Betterhealth platform:
Messaging
BetterHelp allows users to meet their counselors in a private chat room. The communication is not real-time. Users leave messages for their counselors who respond when they are online. Getting an instant response using this method is highly unlikely, but counselors usually take the least time possible to answer queries.
When a counselor responds, the user gets an email notification. The notification does not reveal the contents of the message. Rather, it notifies the user to log in and read the response. This guarantees the user’s privacy.
Live Chat
Users who prefer getting instant responses can choose this type of therapy. In a private chat room, they can exchange messages with their therapists who are online at the time. The conversations happen in real-time.
To get a live chat, users must schedule one in advance. They must ensure that the counselor has time to log in and carry out the session.
Video Call
If a user does not mind seeing a counselor face-to-face, Betterhelp’s video counseling option comes in handy. The video sessions must be scheduled.
Phone Call
Users can schedule sessions over the phone. At a time that is convenient for both parties, the counselor will initiate the call. To protect users’ information, calls go through an encoding system. Therefore, the counselor cannot know the user’s number.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups Verdict
BetterHelp wins in this category because it offers many different channels for therapy. Some people might prefer instant responses instead of waiting for the counselor to get online. Therefore, BetterHelp is better suited to serve the unique needs of individual users.
BetterHelp vs. 7 Cups — Sign Up Process
BetterHelp requires users to fill out a questionnaire before signing up for the service. The questionnaire collects information that determines the counselor one is matched to. Once the questionnaire is filled out, the user is allowed to specify certain aspects of the counselor he or she wants. Users can specify the age, gender, sexual orientation, and qualifications of the counselor they want.
7 Cups has a simpler sign-up procedure. Users have to enter their email and create a profile. Anonymous profiles are allowed to protect users’ identities. Upon logging in, a user is taken through relaxing breathing exercises as they wait to be matched with a listener or counselor. If you do not like the counselor that has been chosen for you, you are allowed to ask for a replacement.
BetterHelp vs. 7 Cups Verdict
7 Cups has a simpler sign-up process. It only takes a few minutes to complete and is less intrusive than the one on BetterHelp. Although BetterHelp’s questionnaire may increase the likelihood of finding a perfect counselor, some users worry about their privacy when giving out so much information.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups — Price and Payment Methods
First-time users get 7 days to try out BetterHelp’s service before deciding whether to pay. Membership costs $60 – $70 per week depending on the complexity of one’s condition. Payments can be made through credit card companies or PayPal.
7 Cups offers free access for users who want to vent. Their volunteer listeners do not judge and will listen to any problems you may have. On top of that, if you want to talk to a licensed therapist, you will pay $150 per month. This pricing may change depending on your specific needs on the platform.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups Verdict
7 Cups is cheaper than BetterHelp. The free counseling option can solve the most basic issues for people who cannot afford to pay for therapy. Its paid membership is only half as expensive as that of BetterHelp.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups Privacy Policy
To guarantee the privacy of users on the platform, BetterHelp has put in place the following measures:
- Use of anonymous user profiles;
- Adherence to state and federal laws concerning patient confidentiality;
- Protection from data mining by third parties;
- Formatting options that allow users to delete all messages from the chat room;
- Encryption to guarantee data protection on the website;
- Scrambled databases that cannot be used by third parties.
7 Cups also has a detailed privacy policy. To protect users on the platform, the company has put the following measures in place:
- Encryption of users’ information using SSL technology;
- Flagging listeners/therapists who criticize or offend users;
- Purging user information after 1 year of inactivity;
- Moderation of content on the website.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups Verdict
BetterHelp’s privacy policy is more comprehensive regarding protecting users’ data. It offers detailed examples of how data is protected when a user is on the platform. 7 Cups has a policy that is not very detailed.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups — Customer Experiences
Both platforms have positive reviews from users who got value for their money. Although experiences vary from one individual to the other, both websites have satisfied customers who consulted professional therapists.
7 Cups volunteer listener panel has a few individuals who may not be as fluent as users expect. Because they do not have formal training and might be non-native English speakers, communication may pose a challenge. However, users who need high-quality professional services should opt for the paid membership.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups Verdict
Both platforms offer quality services for a fee. Although 7 Cups has a free version, there are no quality guarantees for it. Therefore, BetterHelp wins in this category.
BetterHelp vs 7 Cups — What Is The Bottom Line?
BetterHelp is one of the largest providers of online counseling services. It has licensed counselors who can treat most mental health issues. It offers a variety of communication channels which make it stand out from other companies.
7 Cups is a unique online counseling service. It offers a community of therapist and listeners, the latter being free. Users get to interact through forums and collect awards. Paid memberships allow users to seek professional counselors on the website.
The final decision as to whether you use BetterHelp or 7 Cups should be influenced by your needs. If you need a licensed therapist who can have live sessions whenever you need to, BetterHelp is the right fit for you. However, if you are looking for a good community to walk your mental health journey with, 7 Cups is more suitable.