Our coaches trained for years to help you find love.
Masters in Counseling Psychology, we know how relationships work.
we offer support, honest feedback, and exercises designed to hone your dating intelligence.
Jessica Anne Engle, MA, LMFT, RDT
dating coach & Therapist, Director-Owner (she/her)
I've had the great pleasure of helping hundreds of singles find love. What a joy it is to watch my clients move from isolation to first kisses, new relationships, and blissful engagements.
I enjoy helping perfectionistic introverts build confidence and overcome dating anxiety. Many of my clients are "adult children" who learned to take care of others before themselves while growing up in dysfunctional homes. I utilize trauma-informed, attachment-oriented, relational approaches to help my clients find greater ease and authentic connections in the modern dating landscape.
Jessica Engle founded Bay Area Dating Coach in 2009 while receiving her Master's in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is a licensed MFT (#81850) and a Registered Drama Therapist with the North American Drama Therapy Association.
Caitlin “Cat” Elyse Fillmore, M.Ed., LPCC
dating Coach & Therapist (She/her)
Cat Fillmore specializes in helping chronically single people break free from their dating Groundhog Day. She has a particular passion for supporting BIPOC and multiethnic individuals, survivors of childhood trauma, late-in-life virgins, and anyone who has ever felt like a misfit — because she knows firsthand what it's like to live between two worlds and still find your way to love.
Cat brings big energy, radical warmth, and a refreshing directness to her sessions. She won't dodge your questions or leave you guessing — she'll give you a clear roadmap, concrete dating skills, and the confidence boost you need to find your person, even if you have little or no relationship experience.
With a rich toolkit of evidence-based approaches, Cat draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and trauma-informed methods to help clients untangle the patterns keeping them stuck. She is also trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and has specialized expertise in OCD-related concerns, including Relationship OCD (ROCD) — making her especially skilled at helping clients who get caught in anxious thought spirals around dating and relationships.
Cat holds licenses in California (LPCC #7654), Maryland (LPC #LC15082), Michigan (LPC #6401223964), Missouri (LPC #2024006501), New Mexico (PCMHC #CTB-2025-0440), and Pennsylvania (LPC #PC017280).
Daniel Cody Gould, MA, LMFT, P-RDT
dating Coach, Therapist & Care Coordinator (he/him)
Daniel Cody Gould helps anxious singles develop the confidence needed to find love. He has a special interest in working with singles who’ve struggled with chronic physical and mental health conditions as well as women who want to improve their relationships with men.
Cody excels at balancing goal-directed coaching with deeper therapeutic exploration. He uses creative, action-based approaches such as drama therapy as well as structured, skill-based approaches like dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help his clients see results quickly. Cody’s enthusiasm, warmth, and frankness make him an exceptionally trustworthy guide through all stages of dating, from creating a compelling online dating profile to nurturing satisfying long-term relationships.
Daniel Cody Gould holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He is a California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#161895).
Nicole Cassandra Penrod, MA, AMFT
DATING COACH & THERAPIST (She/They)
Nicole Cassandra Penrod specializes in helping shy singles build self-confidence and find a partner who loves them, flaws and all. They excel at supporting singles who struggle with dating anxiety, including late bloomers who feel self-conscious about their limited relationship experience (looking at you, late-in-life virgins!) and LGBTQ+ singles.
As a queer, nonbinary, biracial (Peruvian-American & White) clinician, Nicole understands how challenging it can be to put yourself out there when society at large continually rejects you. They employ a warm, collaborative, social-justice-oriented style to help you overcome anxiety and develop meaningful connections. Nic combines practical approaches (such as online dating help) with narrative, creative, and somatic therapies to help you disidentify from your struggles and get on more high-quality dates.
Nicole holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sonoma State University. They are a California-registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#138161) supervised by Jessica Anne Engle (LMFT #81850).
Nancy Shae Baer Burnette, MA, AMFT
dating Coach & Therapist (They/She)
Nancy “Shae” Baer Burnette is passionate about helping chronically single clients build the confidence and clarity they need to date successfully. They specialize in supporting neurodivergent, queer, and highly sensitive singles to break frustrating dating patterns and find authentic, lasting love.
Shae brings warmth, creativity, and a collaborative spirit to their sessions. Using action-oriented approaches, they help clients overcome their fear of rejection, communicate more authentically, and develop a dating life that reflects their true values and desires. Shae draws from mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic approaches in addition to their own experiences building authentic relationships as a genderfluid ADHDer.
Shae holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute. They are a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#151126), supervised by Jessica Engle, LMFT (#81850).
Josh Van Vliet, PCC
dating coach, style coach, & CHIEF OPERATIONS ORCHESTRATOR (he/him)
Josh Van Vliet recognizes the courage it takes to reach out for help, particularly for shy introverts. As such, he’s honored to guide clients through our intake consultations and via dating coaching and style coaching.
Josh brings a compassionate, gentle, and forthright presence to every interaction thanks to years of experience as a professionally-trained coach and mental health case manager.
As our resident style coach, he excels at helping shy individuals build confidence by finding clothes that make them feel unequivocally awesome.
And as our COO, a lifelong systems enthusiast, and dedicated detail wrangler, Josh delights in finding the place where exceptional client care meets ethical business practices.
Josh is the co-host of our podcast, I Love You, Too, a show about how to build and sustain meaningful relationships. (In fact, there’s a good chance he’s currently editing the next episode while snuggled up under a blanket, cat in lap.)
Josh Van Vliet holds a Professional Certified Coach credential through the International Coaching Federation. He is also a songwriter, tea enthusiast, happy husband, and proud papa.
