Getting emotional support for your relationship challenges doesn't always have to be an in-person thing. There are lots of online relationship advice chat rooms that can help you build strong relationships or strengthen yourself to find your next special someone. You can find chat rooms with experts and therapists or those filled with other people just like you.
It's a good idea to know what you're hoping to get from an online chat room. Think about whether you want professional advice, support for a specific challenge, or comfort for a break-up or specific challenge. That way, you'll find a room that can help.
7 Cups of Tea
Seven Cups claims to be "The world's largest emotional support system." Professional and trained volunteer listeners are available to chat any time of day online for free. Check out the free Questions & Answers section where you'll find answers so you don't have to wait for a live person.
Features and Benefits
Reviewers at e-counseling.com give the site an overall three out of five stars with one sharing "I think it's a great place to connect and socialize." Some of the best features include:
Disadvantages and Concerns
Like any website, 7 Cups is not without its downfalls. A few problems you might run into are:
- Most listeners are volunteers without expertise
- In-app purchases and upgraded memberships cost about $100 per year
- There might not be someone available to live chat
Loveisrespect
At loveisrespect.org the goal is to help young people have healthy relationships and prevent abusive ones. DatingAdvice.com says the site is "the most reliable and authoritative organization focused on helping teens and young adults...end abusive relationships."
Features and Benefits
The website started out as the National Dating Abuse Hotline and has support from politicians and big businesses. Some of the best features are:
- Relationship resources for people in a relationship crisis
- Optional pre-chat survey
- Options to chat via text or online messenger
Disadvantages and Concerns
Since the site has a singular purpose, it limits users and the information they receive. Some of the biggest concerns are:
- Not intended for general relationship questions
- Advocates don't give advice but ask questions, listen, and give resources
- Geared toward teens only
Relationship Hero
If you don't mind paying for expert advice, Relationship Hero offers a unique chat experience for around $1.50 per minute. For your first chat, you get ten minutes free. You'll be asked a few simple questions about your chosen topic to help match you with a counselor.
Features and Benefits
Reviewers on Bark give the site nearly five out of five stars with one stating the site "help(ed) me re-balance my life by showing me how to focus on improving myself." More benefits of the chat include:
- Experts trained in counseling fields
- Available 24/7
- Money-back guarantee if dissatisfied after first 30 minutes
- Upload screenshots for analysis
Disadvantages and Concerns
While the site boasts your ability to chat with a trained professional, those you speak with might not have the credentials you'd expect. Other concerns are:
- Costs can add up; for example, 30 minutes costs roughly $45
- One short chat may not be enough to cover your needs
- Counselors are not necessarily accredited or certified
Reddit is filled with specified forums where people can share advice and experiences. There is a general forum for anyone looking for relationship advice, or there are more specialized forums like the Ask Men forum for men only. You'll need to create a free account to post, comment, or vote then you can look for existing conversations or start a new one.
Features and Benefits
A contributor to Elle magazine shares, "(I) have walked away, I believe, a more understanding and patient person." Other great features are:
- Search topics by filters like popularity and new posts
- Read current chats without creating an account
- Vote posts and comments up or down based on usefulness for future visitors
Disadvantages and Concerns
This chat forum is open to anyone, so you never know what kind of conversations you'll get into. Other downfalls include:
- Moderated by volunteers
- Responses to chats may not be immediate
- Advice is from other people, not experts
Chat Room Etiquette and Tips
A chat room is essentially a virtual public forum where anyone can join in the conversation. Some dos and don'ts for relationship advice chat rooms are:
- Don't use your real name.
- Don't provide any specific personal information.
- Don't do everything everyone tells you to do.
- Do ask a generalized question or give a general overview of your situation.
- Do think over the advice you receive before taking action.
- Do be gracious and thank others for their help.
Get Immediate Relationship Advice
Relationship advice chat rooms give you the chance to gather lots of opinions, perspectives, and advice in one place quickly. They're convenient and easy ways to build stronger relationship skills and get tips to help you with specific problems, so dive in.
