How do I Get Started with Dating coaching or therapy?
Apply for a free intake phone consultation. One of our trusted intake specialists will answer your questions and get a sense of your dating struggles and goals. They will then match you with the best service and provider for your needs.
What's the difference between coaching and Psychotherapy?
At Bay Area Dating Coach, we see coaching and therapy as similar yet distinct services.
Private dating coaching focuses on setting and achieving concrete goals. Like an athletic coach, a dating coach helps a client take their skills to the next level. In weekly, 1-on-1 sessions, our coaches utilize deep listening, challenging questions, honest feedback, role-playing, skill-building exercises, and homework assignments to help clients make steady progress toward their goals. Private coaching sessions are held via video chat or phone.
Our specialty dating coaching services aim to provide out-of-the-box support. These include:
Private dating therapy provides a safe space for clients to uncover and heal deeper emotional issues. While therapy uses many of the action-oriented approaches seen in coaching, it also attends to the emotions, past experiences, and mental health issues that may be blocking dating success. Private dating therapy sessions are via secure video chat or phone.
Group coaching or therapy offers much of the above in addition to connecting you with supportive, like-minded peers. Group work can be more affordable and provide opportunities to practice dating and social skills with a wide variety of people. Many of our clients experience results more quickly when they combine individual and group therapy or coaching.
Which Service is right for me: coaching or therapy?
Our free intake consultations are designed to help clarify which service would best support you in reaching your relationship goals. Apply for your consultation here.
We also recommend reading Our Approach to learn about the 4 Keys to Dating Success in addition to taking our “Why Am I Still Single?”Quiz, which will clarify which area of dating is your greatest obstacle. As you'll see, our coaching services address Dating Strategy and Dating Skills and our therapy services address Dating Confidence and Dating Wisdom.
If you would like to work on all areas of dating, we suggest working with a therapist. As described above, therapy can include both action- and insight-oriented approaches.
how long will it take to see results?
As you can imagine, this varies based on individual needs.
If you decide that you'd like to go forward after your initial session, we recommend attending at least eight sessions to give the process a fair chance and start to see results. Some of our clients reach their goals within that time period while others need support for longer.
Consider what you are willing and able to commit to this process and feel free to further discuss with an intake consultant or your coach or therapist at your first session.
how frequently will I meet with my coach or therapist?
In short, most of our clients attend on a weekly basis, while a handful attend every other week.
After getting to know your goals, needs, and challenges in your first few sessions, your coach or therapist will make a recommendation regarding session frequency. More often than not, they will recommend weekly sessions, as we’ve found that cadence supports our clients to reach their goals in a timely manner.
Some clients start with weekly sessions, then shift to bi-weekly when significant progress has been made and they’ve reached a "maintenance" phase.
Do you work with clients located outside of California?
Our coaching services are available to clients located across the U.S. and globally.
Our psychotherapy services are available year-round to those in the San Francisco Bay Area and across California.
We can provide a limited number of telehealth (i.e., online therapy) sessions annually to those located in Florida (15 sessions per year), Arizona (90 days per year), or Colorado (20 sessions per year).
Those outside the United States may also be eligible to receive psychotherapy; this depends on the strictures of your country.
If you are outside of California, please apply for a free consultation. Our Care Coordinator will help you determine your best-fit service and clarify whether your location allows you to work with our team.
What is your cancellation policy?
We require at least 48 hours’ notice when canceling or rescheduling an appointment. If less than 48 hours’ notice is provided, you will be charged for the session regardless of the reason for the late cancellation, even if you are able to meet at a different time that day or week.
How can I get started?
If you’re ready to improve your relationships, please fill out an application and request a time for a free 30-minute consultation. Our Care Coordinator will discuss your challenges and help you determine whether our team is an excellent fit to help you reach your goals. If so, they’ll help you choose a therapist and schedule your first session.
