Since relationships are the fundamental building blocks to our lives, there is often a lot of stress associated with meeting new people and maintaining harmony in our already established bonds. Recently, AP ran a story detailing the increasing business for “dating coaches”, who are individuals that aid single folks in their dating skills and help them find potential mates. It importantly notes that the American Psychological Association makes a clear distinction between dating coaches and psychologists (and other folks who are licensed to deliver psychotherapy), and does a decent job covering the gray area that coaches occupy in terms of mental health. My view is that people who have minor etiquette difficulties related to dating and relationships can probably benefit from a fresh perspective, whether that be a coach, a book, a counselor, or a friend. However, for people that have more deep rooted relationship problems or social skills difficulties, a licensed professional would probably be a better choice. Finally, in my work, I’ve found that the keys for finding success in dating are to maintaining an optimistic view of the situation, improving who you are as a partner, and improving skills in meeting potential mates. The challenge is discovering what those mean for each individual.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 18 Jul 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.