Catherine Connelly found the process of registering with 7 Cups to be straightforward and effortless.

"I responded to several inquiries about my therapy preferences, such as whether I prefer to lead the sessions or have the therapist take charge, my openness to receiving assignments, the level of guidance I desired, and my focus on thoughts versus emotions, the past or present, as well as my comfort in expressing strong emotions."

Connelly observed that, unlike other services she was familiar with, the preliminary questionnaire lacked specificity. "The questions I answered didn’t seem designed to connect me with a particular therapist. Rather, it appeared that the purpose of the questionnaire was to inform a randomly assigned therapist on how to tailor the session."

Nonetheless, she was promptly paired with a therapist who was flexible with her changing schedule. Although Connelly identifies as a married, cisgender female, she noted that the platform did not easily allow users to filter based on personal experiences or demographic requirements.

"It felt as though everyone was grouped as a single community. I don’t recall any questions before matching with a therapist that addressed specific concerns or lifestyle aspects that might align with a therapist’s specialized knowledge or shared experiences," she mentioned. However, she acknowledged that the application offers various subgroup chat forums.

She pointed out the presence of "guided discussions available in addition to actual therapy sessions, which resemble chat forums with diverse conversation starters. These discussions felt somewhat akin to Reddit but in a 'therapy' context. I participated in one to explore it and found that the conversation was not particularly fruitful.

"There are insightful posts amid many random comments or brief responses to a moderator's query. Yet, I can see its value for those seeking to feel acknowledged."

As someone who had never engaged in therapy before, Connelly didn’t have pre-set expectations for her initial session, though she recognized a tendency towards catastrophic thinking. She viewed it as an opportunity to process her eventful past year and perhaps address unresolved issues to aid in moving forward.

Connelly felt that the therapist and the service overall mainly validated her feelings but "did not necessarily assist me in understanding the underlying causes of those feelings. Despite it being a single session, I anticipated leaving with at least one coping strategy to apply."

Ultimately, she concluded that 7 Cups might not be suitable for someone seeking more direction and advice, but it could be ideal for individuals looking to express themselves or unburden their thoughts.