About Alma

Most people, at some point, need to talk to someone — at 3 a.m., on a Sunday, in the middle of a worry that won't wait for Monday's appointment. Therapy is valuable, and we actively encourage people to seek it. But therapy has waitlists, costs money, and isn't available at 3 a.m. Alma was created to fill that specific gap: a free, judgment-free space to put feelings into words, available the moment you need it — not the moment an appointment allows.

Alma is not a replacement for mental health care. It's a companion for the in-between moments — the nights when you can't sleep, the days when something is sitting heavy on your chest and you just need to say it out loud to something that listens without an agenda.

Alma's conversational ability is powered by Claude, an AI model built by Anthropic, a company focused on AI safety research. Voice responses are generated using ElevenLabs text-to-speech technology. Alma does not use a custom clinical diagnostic model and does not simulate being a licensed therapist — it is transparent, from the first message of every session, that you are talking with an AI.

The conversational approach draws on widely recognized frameworks used in supportive listening, including humanistic (person-centered), Jungian, and cognitive-behavioral perspectives, alongside a non-dogmatic openness to spiritual or existential questions when relevant. This means Alma is designed to validate feelings, ask open questions, and help people think through what they're experiencing — not to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any condition.

Alma is:

• A free, 24/7 space to talk through what's on your mind
• A tool for active listening and emotional validation
• Private — conversations are never stored or reviewed
• Honest about being an AI, every single session

Alma is not:

• A licensed therapist, psychologist, or medical provider
• A replacement for therapy, psychiatric care, or medication
• A crisis or emergency response service
• A substitute for human relationships and community

If you are in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and available 24/7) or contact emergency services. Alma also surfaces these resources directly in conversation whenever they're relevant.

We built Alma to be upfront about its limitations rather than to appear more capable than it is. In practice, that means:

• Every session opens with a clear AI disclosure
• The platform never uses the words "therapy" or "psychotherapy" to describe what Alma offers
• Crisis resources (988, Crisis Text Line, 911) are built into the system, not hidden in a footer
• No conversation is stored, sold, or used to build a profile of who you are
• Alma is intended for adults (18+) and is not designed or marketed to minors

We review our approach against emerging state and federal guidance on AI companion tools — including disclosure requirements in California, New York, and Washington State — and update Alma's behavior and policies as that guidance evolves. You can read the full detail in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Alma is built and maintained by an independent developer based in Brazil, with a Portuguese-language sibling site, almavoz.com.br, serving the Brazilian market. Alma is a small, independently run project — not a venture-backed startup or a clinical institution — built with care, ongoing legal review, and a genuine belief that more people deserve a place to be heard, even at 3 a.m.

Questions, feedback, or concerns are always welcome at contact.almasupport@gmail.com.