People use the TV-inspired phrase "the new normal" like we will all just naturally adapt to whatever changes are coming, like changing the channel. I don't like being the negative one (ever), but I don't think people shift that easily. Here are some things that could hold some of us back from reengaging in the world. And I'm totally willing to ...Read more

I have an app that tells me the keywords people use to get to my website. When I checked the list of keywords recently, the top results (excluding the name of the business and my name) were:

- Text before first date

- Text after date

- How much texting is too much

- Texting before the first date

- Texting before meeting in person

- When to...Read more

It turns out that your beloved kitty does not make the purr-fect dating profile picture.

There have been countless studies on what makes people more attractive in their online dating profiles, but new research from Colorado State University suggests that men should leave their pet cats out of their photos if they want to increase their "date-...Read more

Q: With stay-at-home orders lifting in some areas, how can you have safe sex with someone outside of your home during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A: If you are thinking of having sex with someone you know or someone you have been in a relationship with, and you trust that this person has practiced social distancing and hand-washing, then great, go ...Read more

If nothing else, 2020 has shown us that we can all do better. We can be better citizens, more understanding of those who seek equality and of those who are feeling the pain of the past and the present. We must learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. Here are some ideas to help make that happen.

1. Be more tolerant. To mask or not to ...Read more

As a dating coach, I get daily questions from clients surrounding the entire dating process. This week, I have chosen three recent questions, all very different, and my responses, which express honesty and a bit of tough love.

Question: Could we brainstorm some more about what I can do differently to meet Mr. Wonderful? I know we may have ...Read more

I just received an advertisement for a new app that allows you to make anonymous harassment reports in just three minutes over the internet, and that seems like a reactive abuser's dream. Reactive abusers are people who abuse other people by accusing them of abuse, and in our current culture, it has become all too common. It is also a way that ...Read more

Dating can be hard. There's no disputing that. But, it doesn't have to be as hard as you make it. Let's look at these 25 dating tips to make the world a better place. Some are intuitive, and some may make you scratch your head. Regardless, even if you pick up a few new pointers, it'll be worth it:

1. Focus on today, not tomorrow.

So many ...Read more

Having to put your personal dreams on hold is hard, even emotionally painful, but not as difficult or painful as the lack of equality people of color, the elderly, the homeless, and others endure every day. What we are doing by peacefully supporting the cause of equality is creating more opportunity for everyone.

My personal goals are going to ...Read more

There's an important period in a relationship that's often overlooked in online dating: the point between finding an interesting profile and actually meeting in person. While there is an art to crafting an interesting opening message -- although anything more exciting than "Hey" or "How's it going?" will often suffice -- keeping the conversation...Read more

Anyone in the world of dating today, especially online and in apps, will tell you that there are a few words you may have to add to your vocabulary. By now, everyone knows about catfishing -- A.K.A. pretending you're somebody online who you're not. But did you know there's also practices called benching, breadcrumbing, and even kittenfishing? ...Read more

Both questions below deal with people reaching out to my clients online who don't fit into their search criteria. The answers are quite different but both useful.

Question:

I am frustrated. It seems like no one is even reading the online dating profile I put out there. Men are sending me messages from all over the country even though I ...Read more

In the April issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers issued a dire warning about the mental health effects of the coronavirus that "immediate efforts focused on prevention and direct intervention are needed to address the impact of the outbreak on individual and population-level mental health."

According to a survey conducted in early ...Read more

Let's say we're in a room full of 100 people. (Well, OK ... a Zoom call of 100 people these days.) We look around, and everyone seems fairly different, right? But before knowing a thing about anyone else, we are all basically the same... just people in a Zoom room together. Now, what if we try to split the 100 people into categories? For example...Read more

Understanding that everything has a life cycle makes it a lot easier to deal with endings that we all have to face, even our own mortality. Do you remember record stores? I used to spend hours in them. What about 8-track tapes? I believe that there is one Blockbuster Video still open somewhere in Alaska, but whatever happened to answering ...Read more

Whether you're new to the dating apps (hello, isolation dating) or it's old hat, it never hurts to refresh your knowledge when it comes to the dating apps with these seven quick tips:

1. Pictures, pictures, pictures... numbers matter

Some dating sites and apps allow too many pictures (I'm talking to you, Match), and some are more on the right ...Read more

When you wake up crying and feeling hopeless, it does not bode well in terms of "having a good day." When you are really depressed, there are no good days -- only OK, or relatively pain-free, moments. Depression sucks all of the joy out of your life, and there is no room for actually feeling good.

I have had several bouts with depression in my ...Read more

Coronavirus has been a double-edged sword when it comes to online dating. Pro: You suddenly have plenty of time to read profiles, swipe and message with potential matches. Con: No one is sure when meeting in person will be possible again -- and even when restaurants and bars reopen, it could be longer until you feel comfortable hugging a ...Read more

Being locked in the house together means couples have to find creative, intentional ways to spend quality time with one another. Whether it's a game night, movie night or something more romantic, nurturing your relationship and cultivating meaningful connection, especially in the midst of a world crisis, is critical.

Michelle Herzog, a licensed...Read more