Psychology of Dating Podcast

What if the skills that create strong, lasting marriages are the very ones you should be using while you’re still dating?
In this episode, I’m joined by certified Relational Life Therapist and Sex Therapy practitioner Monica Tanner to explore how “marriage skills” can transform the early stages of dating.
Too often, dating is driven by chemistry, anxiety, or unspoken expectations. Monica shares how tools like clear communication, emotional responsibility, healthy boundaries, and repair skills aren’t just for long-term couples — they’re essential for assessing compatibility and building secure connection from the beginning.
We discuss:
Why common marriage advice can keep people stuck
How to spot relational patterns in the first few dates
The balance between agency and compassion in love
How to communicate needs without over-functioning
Why waiting for problems before learning skills is a mistake
Monica is the author of Bad Marriage Advice and host of Secrets of Happily Ever After, where she shares practical, evidence-informed tools to help couples build thriving relationships.
If you want to date with more clarity, confidence, and emotional maturity — this conversation is for you.
Connect with Monica:
Learn more about her work, community, book, and podcast through her platforms online: https://www.monicatanner.com/
If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to follow The Psychology of Dating Podcast and leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it helps more people build healthier relationships.
Thanks for tuning in to The Psychology of Dating Podcast.
If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share it with someone navigating the dating world.
Want more support? Download my free guide: “Top 3 Mindset Shifts in Dating” – link in the show notes.
For 1:1 sessions or to join my group program Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach, visit nadineneukirch.com
Connect with me for tips, insights, and encouragement on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadine_clinpsych_datingcoach/
or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadineneukirchpsychology

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Anu Verma, UK-based trauma therapist and coach, who shares her lived experience of childhood sexual abuse, abusive relationships, and her journey of healing that inspired her work in trauma-informed care.
We explore how trauma shapes the nervous system, the “not good enough” belief, and why many people find themselves drawn to unhealthy relationship patterns. Anu discusses the role of somatic, body-based and alternative therapies, and how coaching and therapy can support long-term healing and self-worth.
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse and suicidal thoughts. Listener discretion advised.
Support is available 24/7 — Lifeline (AU) 13 11 14, Samaritans (UK) 116 123.
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If you’d like to learn more about Anu’s work or connect with her further, you can visit her website at victim2victor.net — I’ve linked it in the show notes.
You can also find her on Instagram at @victim2victor_anuverma, where she shares trauma-informed reflections and resources.
Thank you again, Anu, for your honesty, courage, and all the important work you do supporting healing after trauma.
Thanks for tuning in to The Psychology of Dating Podcast.
If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share it with someone navigating the dating world.
Want more support? Download my free guide: “Top 3 Mindset Shifts in Dating” – link in the show notes.
For 1:1 sessions or to join my group program Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach, visit nadineneukirch.com
Connect with me for tips, insights, and encouragement on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadine_clinpsych_datingcoach/
or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadineneukirchpsychology

In this episode, I’m joined by Tim Molnar, US-based dating strategy coach, author, and former university lecturer, for a grounded and practical conversation about what it actually takes to date smarter — not harder.
Tim brings a unique blend of academic research and real-world coaching experience, helping people move beyond vague dating intentions and into clear, actionable steps that create lasting change.
Together, we explore how evidence-based insights can be translated into everyday dating decisions, and why sustainable progress in dating often comes from small, intentional actions rather than dramatic overhauls.
In this episode, we discuss:
How Tim integrates academic research into his dating coaching work
The difference between having dating goals and working towards them effectively
How to break big dating goals into manageable, achievable steps
The role of accountability in creating momentum and follow-through
Why small behavioural changes often lead to the biggest long-term results
How the tools you build in dating can become lifelong skills for relationships and self-trust
This conversation is especially valuable if you’re someone who understands dating concepts intellectually but struggles to apply them consistently in real life.
About Tim Molnar
Tim Molnar is a dating strategy coach, author, and former university lecturer who helps people approach dating with clarity, structure, and evidence-based tools. His work bridges academic research and practical application, supporting people to make smarter decisions and build sustainable dating habits.
🔗 Learn more about Tim’s work here:
 https://timothymolnar.com/

Want more support applying these tools in your own dating life?
If today’s episode resonated and you found yourself thinking, “I understand this, but I want help actually implementing it,” my group program Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach may be a great next step.
It’s a small, supportive group where we work on:
Managing emotions in dating
Building self-trust and clarity
Breaking patterns and practicing skills in real time
The next group starts soon: 3rd February 2026, and you can find all the details at:
👉 nadineneukirch.com
As always, take what’s helpful from today’s episode, go gently with yourself, and I’ll see you next time.
Thanks for tuning in to The Psychology of Dating Podcast.
If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share it with someone navigating the dating world.
Want more support? Download my free guide: “Top 3 Mindset Shifts in Dating” – link in the show notes.
For 1:1 sessions or to join my group program Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach, visit nadineneukirch.com
Connect with me for tips, insights, and encouragement on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadine_clinpsych_datingcoach/
or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadineneukirchpsychology

Many people don’t struggle with dating because they don’t know what to do — they struggle because of the emotions that show up along the way.
Fear, anxiety, rejection, uncertainty, longing, disappointment…
 For many, dating becomes an ongoing attempt to avoid uncomfortable feelings rather than move toward meaningful connection.
In this episode, I explore:
Why fear of emotions keeps you stuck in unhelpful dating patterns
How emotional avoidance shows up as overthinking, people-pleasing, pulling away, or staying too long
What it actually means to be with your emotions without suppressing or being overwhelmed by them
How developing self-compassion creates emotional safety within yourself
Why you don’t need to feel confident or calm to navigate dating effectively
As a Clinical Psychologist and Dating Coach, I share a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach to building emotional resilience — so your feelings no longer run the show or dictate your dating decisions.
✨ If this resonates, these are the exact skills we practise in my group program, Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach.
The group is designed to help you:
Build emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills
Develop self-trust and self-compassion in dating
Navigate uncertainty, rejection, and vulnerability with more clarity and confidence
Make values-based dating decisions rather than fear-based ones
🔗 The next group starts Feb 2026 and places are limited.
 You can learn more and join via nadineneukirch.com
🎧 Listen now on The Psychology of Dating Podcast
Thanks for tuning in to The Psychology of Dating Podcast.
If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share it with someone navigating the dating world.
Want more support? Download my free guide: “Top 3 Mindset Shifts in Dating” – link in the show notes.
For 1:1 sessions or to join my group program Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach, visit nadineneukirch.com
Connect with me for tips, insights, and encouragement on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadine_clinpsych_datingcoach/
or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadineneukirchpsychology

What If There’s No Wrong Answer? A New Way to Navigate Dating Choices
As a Clinical Psychologist and dating coach, one of the most common things I see is clients wanting the “right” answer — who to date, what boundaries to set, what feelings are acceptable, and what steps to take next. But here’s the truth: giving prescriptive advice doesn’t build long-term confidence.
In this episode, we explore a new way of approaching decision-making in dating — one rooted in psychological principles, self-awareness, and trust in yourself. I walk you through four strategies to help you develop your own internal compass, make choices that align with your values, and move through dating with clarity rather than fear of getting it wrong.
If you’re ready to date with more confidence, insight, and emotional clarity, join my next round of Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach — an online group program starting February 2026. This is my final group before maternity leave, and spots are limited.
Learn more and save your place at nadineneukirch.com.
Thanks for tuning in to The Psychology of Dating Podcast.
If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share it with someone navigating the dating world.
Want more support? Download my free guide: “Top 3 Mindset Shifts in Dating” – link in the show notes.
For 1:1 sessions or to join my group program Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach, visit nadineneukirch.com
Connect with me for tips, insights, and encouragement on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadine_clinpsych_datingcoach/
or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadineneukirchpsychology