Dear Anna,

I've been dating a coworker (we're both in our early 30s) for two months, and for the past month, I've been trying to end things. Every time I attempt to break up, he argues until I'm exhausted and emotionally shut down, then convinces me to stay by promising he'll change or telling me I'm misinterpreting his behavior. Things have ...Read more

The story starts the same. You like someone. They like you. You continue liking this person. This person stops liking you (or never did?) and pulls back. You like this person more. This person, feeling smothered, continues to pull back. You continue to obsess more.

Why is this, though? Why should a person’s feelings actually grow the less and...Read more

BOISE, Idaho — While visiting Flying M Coffee, one of their favorite downtown Boise haunts, Chelsea Gaona-Lincoln pretended to go to the gift shop before returning to her table with Van Beechler-Lincoln carrying a personalized flipbook that told the story of their love. On the table between them was a ship in a bottle that Van’s friend had ...Read more

Dear Anna,

I'm at my wit's end with my partner’s extreme focus on achieving FIRE (financial independence, retire early). What started as a healthy interest in personal finance has turned into an all-consuming obsession. We're both 29 and have lived together the last year. My boyfriend has become fixated on retiring by 35, which means saving ...Read more

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The weddings were initially supposed to cost $100 a pop. They ended up being free.

Y’all-Mart, a quarterly Columbia art fair advertised as a “flea market for Southern eclectic folks,” hosted eight free gay weddings Sunday as a fundraiser for the Harriet Hancock Center’s name change and gender marker fund.

Stoked by an...Read more

As a dating coach, I get questions that run the gamut from first date to the early stages of a relationship. Let's look at a few of those recent questions today.

Question: I’m a head taller than him. I enjoy his company, but I’m worried I won’t get over the height difference. What do I do?

Answer: There’s really nothing I can say here....Read more

Dear Anna,

I’m a 29-year-old single woman, and lately, dating has become more stressful than exciting. Every day, I’m bombarded with news about global challenges — climate disasters, political unrest and economic uncertainties — which leaves me feeling anxious and overwhelmed. When I go on dates, I often find myself distracted and ...Read more

Online dating has come a long, long way since its inception (I’m looking at you Match.com… which came out in the mid-90s!).

The online dating sites have evolved significantly (Tinder, the first major app that you only use on your phone, launched in 2012), offering new features designed with the hope of improving people’s experiences and ...Read more

For years, I’ve worked with clients who come to me saying the same thing: “I just can’t find the right person.” When I dig a little deeper, a common theme appears — they’re clinging to a very specific idea of who their “type” is. (It often starts with a physical attribute, but it goes beyond that, too.)

And here’s the kicker:...Read more

Dear Anna,

My partner of three years absolutely despises Valentine's Day. He calls it a "commercialized scam" and refuses to participate in any way. I understand his perspective — yes, it's commercialized. All holidays are! And yes, we should show love year-round. But here's the thing: I genuinely enjoy having this day dedicated to ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Togetherness can be a mixed blessing.

As the Palisades fire raged, every member of the Cullen family — deeply rooted in Pacific Palisades since the 1960s — found themselves displaced. 10 family members from multiple households there were forced to flee the homes they owned as the inferno swallowed up their neighborhoods.

Six...Read more

Online dating can be a wild ride full of unexpected situations, awkward moments, and yes, the occasional cringe-worthy encounter. But you know what? So can face-to-face dating... and life in general. Whether you’re meeting someone online or in person, there’s no escaping the occasional bump in the road.

It happens all the time: Someone ...Read more

Dear Anna,

I'm a florist, and every Valentine's Day I help hundreds of people celebrate their love while working 16-hour days. This year, for the first time, I'm actually in a relationship, but I'll be too exhausted to celebrate. My boyfriend is understanding but disappointed. How do I make Feb. 14 special when I'll be covered in rose thorns ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Chat, as everyone refers to it, started with just a handful of moms. It was for the terrifying, thrilling moments of new motherhood: for grappling with breastfeeding, venting about in-laws and partners and sex, tracking milestones. It was especially for 3 a.m., when even in a city of 1.5 million people, it could feel like no...Read more

As a dating coach, I sometimes have mixed feelings about what I learn in my job: On the one hand, I’m glad people feel comfortable enough with me to ask the questions they may not want to share broadly or ask their friends/family. And, on the other hand, well, sometimes I wish I didn’t know what goes on in the darkest depths of someone’s ...Read more

Dear Anna,

I recently started dating someone who's polyamorous. I've always been monogamous but I find myself intrigued by the possibility of exploring this with her. However, I'm worried about jealousy and whether I'm considering this for the right reasons. How do I know if I'm genuinely open to polyamory or just afraid of losing her? — Mono...Read more

Dear Anna,

I moved to a new city for work last month, leaving behind a "situationship" that never quite became official. Now he’s texting wanting to try long distance, saying the new year made him realize what he wants, which is, evidently, me. I'm torn between giving this another chance and making a completely fresh start in my new home. ...Read more

After 13 years of helping people find love (and sometimes dodging a few bullets along the way), I’ve seen the dating landscape evolve dramatically.

Let’s look at five tips for navigating the dating world this upcoming year.

1. Curate your dating profile like it’s a first impression (because it is)

Your dating profile is your personal ...Read more

Question: “I have been dating someone for three months, and we’re exclusive (not seeing other people). I’m ready to define the relationship (DTR) but don’t want to lose him if he’s not ready. How to have the talk?”

My response:

“For better or for worse (and I hope better, of course!), that's a risk you're going to have to take. I...Read more

I received this text from a client I started working with recently: “I really want to solve this issue of people mentioning their exes! Or maybe that’s just normal if you’re divorced? Is it me? Or does that happen to other clients on every single first date? It’s so uncomfortable!”

And then this week, after a different client went on ...Read more