Helping shy singles build the confidence and skills needed to find love
In-Person &Online dating therapy offered in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California.
For many, dating isn't all roses and romantic kisses in the rain. In fact, for some, dating is just plain painful.
Which is confusing. Isn't finding love supposed to be pleasurable?
Wait, isn’t dating supposed to be fun?
Most of us think of dating as a series of steps - you meet, date, and, if there's a mutual attraction, continue dating with the hopes of "happily ever after." Simple, right?
Ha.
Don't get us wrong. For some, dating is relatively simple. They may be conventionally attractive, naturally charismatic, or downright lucky. Perhaps they received enough love and acceptance throughout life to feel comfortable reaching out for intimacy.
Not all of us have been so fortunate.
Many of us had our hearts broken at some point. Sometimes by an ex, other times by family, peers, or life itself.
Many of us have learned that love is dangerous
Perhaps your loved ones bullied, excessively criticized, controlled, or neglected you. Or an ex — the one who seemed like The One — cheated, manipulated, or even abused you.
Maybe you've gotten the message that you fail to meet society’s rigid standards of beauty.
Dating requires us to face the wounds that have kept us single. It draws out our most vulnerable parts -- those shadowy nooks and crannies that we'd otherwise locked away for safekeeping.
Dating asks us (sometimes very loudly) to tend to our heart wounds
For those of us who've been hurt, dating is much more than making pleasant conversation with cute semi-strangers at a wine bar.
It's a neon sign pointing to what needs healing.
It's a call to grieve and seek self-understanding.
When it comes to dating (and all the stuff it kicks up), the only way out is through.
If you’ve read this far, there’s a good chance you find yourself repeatedly blocked from building healthy relationships.
Perhaps you suspect you’re getting in your own way when it comes to dating, but don’t know how or what to do about it.
You may be fed up with self-doubt, ready to do the hard work of healing your low self-esteem, past relationship traumas, and dating anxiety so that you can actually enjoy dating.
Or perhaps you’re fed up with attracting emotionally unavailable mates. You know you’re the common denominator but don’t know how to change your dating patterns.
Thankfully, you needn't do the hard work of healing your dating difficulties alone. At Bay Area Dating Coach, we are committed to helping you gain self-confidence, break harmful patterns, and heal past wounds so that you can finally find your life partner.
Dating therapy can help you find a meaningful, long-term relationship
Dating psychotherapy provides the support and guidance needed to uncover and address the roots of your dating difficulties. During weekly sessions with a highly skilled psychotherapist, you'll gain the insight and tools needed to overcome dating anxiety, low self-esteem, and heartbreak.
Think of dating counseling as a safe place to learn new relationship skills
We see dating therapy as a relationship laboratory, a safe place to experiment, get feedback, and learn what works. You'll naturally learn and hone your intimacy-building skills as you build and deepen your relationship with your therapist.
Our dating therapists in the San Francisco Bay Area are here to help
Our therapists use a variety of techniques, including talk therapy, drama therapy, and mindfulness techniques. We specialize in helping singles who struggle to date effectively due to anxiety, PTSD, and depression – or who develop those conditions in response to difficult dating experiences. We also provide neurodiversity-affirming support to AHDers, autistics, highly sensitive people, and other neurodivergents as they navigate neurotypical dating expectations.
Dating therapy is right for you if you:
Are motivated to make significant changes.
Want to understand the underlying patterns that keep you single.
Feel that a previous experience is stopping you from moving on and your dating life.
Have good enough dating strategy and skills, yet struggle to build healthy relationships.
Struggle with low self-esteem and dating anxiety.
Are willing to experience discomfort in order to gain self-awareness.
Have not been recently hospitalized for mental illness (within the last year).
Receive effective treatment for any serious mental illnesses, including addiction, personality disorders and major mood disorders.
