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Everything you need to know about Sesshin — how it works, who we are, what it costs, and how to start.
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About Sesshin
What Sesshin is, what it isn't, and who it's for.
Sesshin is a platform that connects people with trained, compassionate listeners — for real, human conversations during life's hard moments. Whether you're carrying grief, anxiety, loneliness, big life questions, or simply need to feel heard without judgement, Sesshin gives you access to someone who is genuinely present with you.
It's not therapy, and it's not religion. It's trained human connection, available on demand.
No. Sesshin is not clinical therapy. Our listeners offer compassionate presence — they listen deeply, without diagnosing, treating, or prescribing. They won't tell you what to do. They'll help you feel heard.
If you need mental health treatment, we'll always point you toward appropriate professional resources. Some of our listeners are also qualified counsellors offering additional support within their scope.
Not at all. Sesshin is not affiliated with any religion, church, or spiritual institution. Our listeners come from many different backgrounds — some are secular, some are spiritual, some practice specific traditions. What they all share is genuine care for people.
You can be atheist, agnostic, spiritual-but-not-religious, devoutly religious, or anywhere in between. Sesshin meets you exactly where you are.
Sesshin is for absolutely everyone — including people with no spiritual identity at all. Many of our users come simply because they need someone to talk to: a loss, a career crisis, relationship stress, or just the weight of being human. No faith required. No labels needed. Just show up as you are.
Sesshin is available globally. Our listeners and users span multiple continents — including Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. As long as you have an internet connection, you can connect. Sessions are conducted in English, with additional languages being added as our community grows.
The word sesshin comes from Japanese Zen tradition and means "to collect the heart" or "to touch the mind." It describes an intensive period of deep, present-moment attention and inner inquiry. We chose it because that's exactly what we believe every person deserves: someone who gives them their complete, unhurried, caring attention.
Sessions
How sessions work, what to expect, and how to get the most from them.
It's simple. You browse available listeners, pick one, choose your session length (30 min, 1 hour, 90 min, or 2 hours), and confirm your booking. You're then taken directly into a private video session — like a video call, but built for calm and focus, not productivity.
There's no agenda or structure — you lead. Your listener follows. The session ends when the timer is up, or whenever you're ready.
Yes. You browse all currently available listeners and choose who feels right. Every listener profile shows their background, approach, and specialisms. If you're not sure, you can always switch to a different listener at any time — no explanation needed.
Sessions are available in four lengths:
- 30 minutes — A focused, grounding conversation.
- 1 hour — Our most popular option for deeper topics.
- 90 minutes — For when you need space to fully unpack something.
- 2 hours — Extended, unhurried presence.
You choose the length when booking, and the session timer counts down inside your session room.
That's completely okay. Connection is personal. You can switch listeners at any time, for any reason — we will never question you about it. Finding the right person matters more than loyalty to any particular listener.
Sesshin listeners are not emergency responders. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, please reach out to a crisis service:
- International: befrienders.org (worldwide directory)
- US: Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
- UK: Call 116 123 (Samaritans)
- Zimbabwe: Call 0800 2222 (ZHAFA helpline)
Our listeners can help you feel heard and supported — and can help you find the right resource when needed.
Sessions on Sesshin are on-demand — you book and begin immediately. There's no scheduling in advance for now, so there's nothing to reschedule. If a listener becomes unavailable after booking, you'll be notified and can choose another. Full refund policies are outlined on our Legal page.
Anything that's weighing on you. Common themes include:
- Grief, loss, and bereavement
- Loneliness and isolation
- Anxiety and overwhelm
- Relationship difficulties
- Career and life direction
- Existential questions and meaning
- Spiritual doubt or transition
- Burnout and exhaustion
- Simply needing to be heard
There's no topic too big or too small.
Privacy & Safety
Your data, your confidentiality, your peace of mind.
Yes, completely. All sessions are strictly confidential. Listeners adhere to professional codes of conduct. Sessions are not recorded by Sesshin. We use bank-level encryption for all data in transit and at rest. We never sell your information to third parties, and we never use your session content for advertising or profiling.
We collect the minimum necessary to run the platform: your account details (name, email), session metadata (duration, date), and payment information (processed securely by Stripe — we never see your full card details). We do not collect or store session content.
See our full Privacy Policy for complete details.
Every listener goes through Sesshin's multi-step vetting process before they can offer sessions:
- Application review and credentials verification
- One-to-one interview with the Sesshin team
- Background checks
- Agreement to our Code of Conduct and ethics guidelines
- Ongoing supervision and quality review
We do not allow anyone to become a listener without meeting these standards.
Please report it immediately via our Contact page. Every concern is taken seriously. Listeners who violate our Code of Conduct are removed from the platform. Your safety is non-negotiable.
Sesshin is designed for adults (18+). If you are under 18, please seek support through age-appropriate services in your country. For parents or guardians looking for resources for young people, we're happy to help point you toward relevant organisations — contact us.
Pricing & Plans
What sessions cost and how payments work.
Sessions are priced by length — pay only for what you book:
- 30 minutes — $15.00
- 1 hour — $30.00
- 90 minutes — $40.00
- 2 hours — $50.00
There are no hidden fees. You see the full price before confirming, every time.
Payments are processed securely by Stripe — the same technology used by major global platforms. You can pay by credit or debit card. Your payment details are encrypted end-to-end. Sesshin never stores your card information.
If a technical issue prevents your session from happening, or a listener fails to show, you will receive a full refund. We handle this on a case-by-case basis with genuine care. Please contact us and we'll make it right. Full refund terms are in our Terms of Service.
We believe financial barriers shouldn't stop anyone from being heard. If our standard pricing is genuinely out of reach for you, please reach out to our team directly. We will do our best to find a solution.
Currently Sesshin is self-pay. Sessions with listeners who are also licensed counsellors may qualify for partial reimbursement depending on your insurance plan — check with your provider. We're happy to provide receipts and documentation to support any claims.
Becoming a Listener
Everything about joining Sesshin as a listener and earning from your sessions.
We welcome applications from trained and caring individuals across a range of backgrounds — including chaplains, spiritual directors, counsellors, social workers, coaches, and others with formal training in deep listening and human care. You do not need to be a licensed therapist, but you do need verifiable training and a genuine passion for human connection.
Listeners receive 70% of every session fee. Sesshin retains 30% as a platform fee to cover operations, payment processing, and support. For example:
- $15 session → You earn $10.50
- $30 session → You earn $21.00
- $40 session → You earn $28.00
- $50 session → You earn $35.00
Payments are transferred directly to your bank account via Stripe.
Yes. You are in full control of when you're available. Simply toggle your status to "Online" when you're ready to receive bookings, and "Offline" when you're not. There are no minimum hours or fixed schedules — Sesshin works around your life.
The process takes about a week and involves:
- Completing our online application form
- Submitting your qualifications and credentials
- A 30-minute interview with our team
- A background check
- Agreeing to our Code of Conduct
- Completing a brief onboarding module
Start your application on our Become a Listener page.
Absolutely. We actively welcome applications from across Africa, Asia, Europe, and beyond. Some of our most valued listeners are based in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and other countries. Stripe payments are available in most countries — we'll confirm your region during onboarding.
Yes — one account, both roles. You can switch freely between seeking support and offering it from your dashboard. We believe that people who have experienced being truly heard often make the most compassionate listeners.
Tech & Access
Device requirements, connections, and troubleshooting basics.
Sesshin is a web-based platform that works on any modern browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge — on desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. No app download required. Just open your browser and go.
A stable connection of at least 2 Mbps is recommended for smooth video. If your connection is slower or unstable, audio-only still works well. We use Agora's global real-time network, which is optimised for reliability across regions including Africa.
Make sure your browser has permission to access your microphone and camera (check your browser's site settings). If it's still not working:
- Try refreshing the page
- Try a different browser (Chrome works best)
- Ensure no other app is using your mic/camera
- Check that your device's microphone isn't muted at the system level
Still stuck? Contact us and we'll help troubleshoot.
On the login screen, enter your email and then click "Forgot password?" — we'll send a reset link to your inbox within a minute. If you signed up with Google, you'll need to use the "Continue with Google" button instead. Still stuck? Contact us.
Still have questions?
Our team is here to help — we respond to every message personally, usually within a few hours.
