Fake Therapy: How 7 Cups Stole Real Therapists’ Identities to Scam Clients | E70

Therapists, what if I told you your photo, credentials, and carefully crafted bio might be sitting on a website you never signed up for—used to funnel therapy-seeking clients into fake therapy phishing scams?  I know you might be thinking, “That could never happen to me…” But it’s a rapidly increasing issue that’s affecting therapists across the country right this second. And it could happen to you too. In this episode of Love, Happiness and Success for Therapists, I’m digging into the disturbing world of fake therapy platforms, profile scraping, and the deceptive tactics being used by some online therapy sites.  Joining me are powerhouse investigative journalists Rebecca Ruiz of Mashable and Lauren Krouse of Everyday Health, who have been on the frontlines of uncovering how these scams operate (particularly, 7 Cups online therapy) and how they’re hurting both clinicians and clients alike. If you’re in private practice, or even just listing your services online, you must listen to this. Timestamps: 04:11 – The Moment You Realize: “That’s My Face—On a Site I Never Signed Up For” 08:32 – Chatrooms Masquerading as Mental Health Care 13:50 – Real Therapists, Real Rage: The Emotional Toll of Being Impersonated 19:45 – How Big Tech and SEO Are Silencing Ethical Therapists 27:12 – Take Back Your Identity: What You Can Do Right Now 36:07 – It’s Bigger Than 7 Cups: AI, Fake Licenses, and the Future of Therapy If you're now frantically Googling your name—please know that you are not alone in this. I’m committed to helping ethical therapists like you stay informed and protected in this rapidly evolving landscape. I talk about issues like these in my For Therapists Newsletter—which includes updates on new interviews with experts in our field, strategies for navigating the business of private practice, self-care tips for therapists, and updates on urgent news like the 7 Cups fake therapy situation.  You’ll always be in the loop with the latest on how to protect your practice, support your clients, and thrive in this evolving digital landscape. I hope you check it out.  👉 Sign up to get crucial updates just for therapists. And let’s stay in conversation. I share breaking updates, announcements about my free CEU trainings for therapists, and thoughtful discussions on LinkedIn almost daily. Connect with me there so we can continue to educate, advocate, and elevate this profession together. 👉 You can find me on LinkedIn here.  Xoxo Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby www.growingself.com P.S. If you found this article helpful, I hope you’ll take a moment to share it with a colleague or your professional community. This information could protect someone else’s career—or their clients’ well-being. Let’s keep each other safe out there. 💛