Frequently Asked Questions

While both relationship coaching and therapy support personal growth and relationship health, they differ significantly in approach, focus, and methodology. Licensed therapists and counselors are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions, past traumas, and clinical psychological issues, typically exploring underlying psychological causes over months or years of regular sessions focusing on past experiences or clinical symptoms. This type of relationship coaching takes a practical, skill-building approach that focuses specifically on developing self-awareness and authentic communication skills through flexible, solution-focused sessions that center on real situations you're currently navigating—whether that's crafting an authentic dating profile, handling mixed signals, improving communication with your partner, or understanding your impact on others—to address immediate dating challenges, communication struggles, and relationship patterns you want to change now.

Online dating anxiety is completely normal—you're putting yourself out there in a very vulnerable way, and it can feel overwhelming when you don't know what to expect. The key is starting with a foundation that feels authentic to who you are, rather than trying to figure out what you think other people want to see. We'll begin by creating a dating profile that genuinely reflects your personality, using photos and bio content that feel true to you instead of generic or overly polished. This authentic approach actually makes online dating less stressful because you're not trying to maintain a persona that isn't really you. We'll also work on developing a messaging strategy that feels natural and reflects how you actually communicate, so you can start conversations without feeling like you're following a script. One of the biggest sources of dating app anxiety comes from not knowing how to navigate common scenarios or when to suggest meeting in person. Most importantly, we'll help you stay connected to what you're actually looking for in a relationship, so you can approach online dating as a tool for finding genuine compatibility rather than just trying to get as many matches as possible. With the right foundation and communication skills, online dating becomes much more manageable and actually enjoyable.

The pattern of attracting emotionally unavailable people is incredibly common and usually stems from a combination of how you're showing up in dating and what you're unconsciously accepting as normal. The first step is developing self-awareness around your own dating patterns—what draws you to certain people, how quickly you invest emotionally, and what signs you might be overlooking early on. Often we're attracted to emotionally unavailable people because there's something familiar about the dynamic, or because we've learned to mistake intensity or intermittent attention for genuine connection. In our work together, we'll explore what's driving these attractions and help you recognize the difference between someone who's genuinely interested in building something real versus someone who's only available when it's convenient for them. You'll also learn to trust your own instincts about people's availability and develop the communication skills to have direct conversations about what you're both looking for. Most importantly, we'll work on helping you stay connected to what you actually want in a relationship, rather than accommodating unavailable behavior because you're hoping someone will change. When you become clearer about your own needs and boundaries, and more skilled at recognizing authentic interest versus mixed signals, you naturally start attracting people who are genuinely available for the kind of connection you're seeking.

Yes! While my primary focus is working with individuals—whether you're single and dating or currently in a relationship—I also offer couples coaching for partners ready to do deeper work together. For those in relationships, I often support you individually in developing better self-awareness and communication skills that you can bring back to your partnership. When couples are interested in working together, I start with individual sessions with each person first to understand your unique perspectives and communication patterns. This allows me to assess whether couples coaching would be a good fit and gives each partner space to explore your own experience before we have conversations together as a group of three. My couples coaching is for partners who want to be more open and vulnerable with each other but find yourselves stuck in patterns that make connection difficult. Often couples come to me when you're caught in cycles of miscommunication or find yourselves having the same arguments repeatedly. Together, we work on developing the self-awareness to recognize what's happening in these moments and the communication tools to express your needs and feelings in ways that invite your partner closer rather than create more distance. Whether you're working through a rough patch or wanting to deepen an already strong relationship, the focus is on helping you stay connected to what's true for each of you while learning to communicate from that place in ways that create connection rather than defensiveness.

This is one of the most common concerns I hear, and you're definitely not alone in facing this challenge. Individual coaching can be incredibly powerful even when your partner isn't ready to participate, because when you change how you show up in the relationship, it often shifts the entire dynamic. By developing better self-awareness and communication skills on your own, you can break cycles of miscommunication, respond differently to conflict, and create space for more authentic connection. Sometimes when your partner sees positive changes in how you communicate—less defensiveness, clearer expression of needs, more genuine curiosity about their experience—they naturally become more open to working on things together. Other times, the work you do individually helps you gain clarity about what you actually need in the relationship and whether it's sustainable long-term. Either way, you're not powerless just because your partner isn't ready to actively work on communication skills. The changes you make in how you approach conversations, handle conflict, and express yourself can have a significant impact on your relationship satisfaction, regardless of where your partner is in their own growth process.

It really depends on what you're looking to accomplish and where you are in your dating or relationship journey. Some people find that just a few sessions give them the clarity and tools they need to move forward more confidently—whether that's getting unstuck on a specific dating challenge, gaining insight into a recurring pattern, or learning how to navigate a particular relationship situation they're facing. Others benefit from working together over a few months at a time to build deeper self-awareness and communication skills, especially if they're looking to make more significant changes in how they approach relationships overall. For example, if you're working on recognizing and shifting longstanding dating patterns, developing authentic communication skills, or navigating the complexities of a current relationship, having that focused time together allows us to work through situations as they arise and build on insights from session to session. I work with each person to determine what makes sense based on their specific goals and circumstances. Some clients come back periodically when they're facing new challenges or transitions, while others prefer to work intensively for a concentrated period. The beauty of this approach is that it's flexible and responsive to what you actually need, rather than following a predetermined timeline or program.

Yes, but not in the traditional "homework" sense. The most valuable work happens when you're navigating real dating and relationship situations, so rather than giving you generic exercises, I focus on helping you apply what we discuss to your lived experiences. This might look like encouraging you to practice a specific communication approach in your current conversations, trying out profile changes we've discussed, or paying attention to certain patterns as they come up in your dating life. The goal is to build your self-awareness and communication skills through real-world practice rather than theoretical exercises. Sometimes I'll suggest reflecting on specific questions between sessions or noticing particular dynamics in your interactions, but these are always tailored to what you're currently experiencing. Since my approach centers on helping you stay connected to what's true for you and communicate authentically, the "practice" is really about applying these principles in your day-to-day relationship experiences. This practical application is where the real learning and growth happens—when you can recognize patterns in the moment, communicate more effectively in conversations, and make choices that align with what you genuinely want rather than what you think you should do.