By Eryn | Meet Cute Club
Most people have a rough idea of what a matchmaker does. A dating strategy session is more difficult to picture. Is it therapy? Is it a pep talk? Will someone just tell you to update your profile photos?
Here is what it is, what we actually work on in the 60 minutes and who it helps most.
What a Dating Strategy Session Is (and Isn't)
A dating strategy session is a one-on-one working session. It is practical, not clinical. We are not digging into your childhood or processing a breakup. We are looking at how you date right now and figuring out what to change.
It is not therapy, and it is not matchmaking. I don't find you matches in a strategy session. I help you get clear on what you want and how you are showing up so that whatever you do next, whether that's apps, events or matchmaking, works better.
What We Work On
Every person is different, but most sessions come back to four things.
Your profile. If you are on dating apps, we look at what your profile actually communicates. Many profiles say a lot about what someone is doing and very little about who they are.
Your patterns. Do you keep ending up in the same kind of situation? Do first dates go well and then stall? Patterns are easier to change once you can see them.
How you show up on dates. This covers the small things: how you open a conversation, what you ask, how you read the room and what you do when you are nervous.
What you want versus what you have been settling for. This is often the most useful part. Many people have a checklist that doesn't reflect what actually makes them happy, or they have stopped asking for what they want at all.
What You Leave With
The goal is a plan, not just a good conversation. You should walk away knowing what you are going to change, what you are going to try next and how you will tell whether it's working. After each session I send a follow-up email, and when it helps, some homework to try before we meet again.
Who It Helps Most
A strategy session tends to be a good fit if:
You are dating but not getting where you want to go, and you can't quite say why
You are coming back to dating after a long break, a divorce or a loss and want a plan before you start
You have a lot of first dates and few second dates
You are curious about matchmaking but aren't sure you are ready for it
It may not be the right fit if you want someone to find and introduce you to matches. That is matchmaking, and it's a different service. And if you are working through grief or a painful experience that needs more than a practical plan, a therapist is the better place to start.
Coaching or Matchmaking: Where to Start
If you are not sure which one you need, you are not alone. Coaching is a good first step if you want to understand your own patterns and sharpen how you date. Matchmaking is a good fit if you already know what you are looking for and want me to do the searching and introducing. Many people move from one to the other, and the two work well together. Some start with coaching and decide they are ready for matchmaking. Others start with matchmaking and add coaching along the way.
What It Costs and How to Start
Sessions are $125 each and are booked in sets of three, so there is time to work on something, try it and come back. You can start with a free consultation to see whether it is a good fit before you book.
Eryn is a certified matchmaker and the founder of Meet Cute Club, a Richmond, VA-based matchmaking, dating strategy and singles events company.
