Hiring a dating coach could rev up your love life | members only

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT DATING COACH GET RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHECK ONLINE REVIEWS. Try to parse out legitimate dating coaches from money-hungry marketers who pretend to be coaches, advises

relationship expert Susan Winter, by getting a recommendation from a friend. Winter, who hosts a series of YouTube videos called "Dating Games," also suggests checking online

reviews on sites like Yelp, Google and the Better Business Bureau to vet potential coaches. Both these steps are key, she says, as dating coaches aren’t required to have any specific

training or qualifications. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT DATING COACHES EMPHASIZE. Winter, who has worked with about 6,500 clients and is based in Manhattan, says when you meet with a potential

coach, the good ones will ask questions about yourself such as “Have you observed underlying patterns that are working against your romantic goals?” and not put the focus on why you might

need someone by your side with questions like “Aren’t you tired of dinners alone?” MAKE SURE YOUR EXPERIENCE IS PERSONALIZED. A lot of dating coaches have started working with groups to

scale their business, says Barrett. But he believes that one-size-fits-all model doesn’t adequately address people’s individual struggles. "Singles don't need one recipe—they need

a cookbook," says Barrett. WHAT’S THE COST?  First thing to note, if price isn’t readily available, that’s a red flag, says Winter, who also suggests avoiding any place that asks for

your income before they give you a price. "The lack of transparency is a strong indicator that this is a marketer who is more interested in selling their product than on your

results." Winter charges $500 for a 45-minute Zoom/cell meeting, $650 for an hourlong Zoom/cell meeting, and $2,100 for a three-hour, in-person meeting including lunch. Rinaldi-Braund

says her six-week program with Palmer was $1,000. Palmer says she charges anywhere from $49 for online self-study programs to $6,000 for one-on-one private coaching sessions. Rinaldi-Braund

says she had to go on a budget for a while — stop going out to dinner with friends, buying new outfits. But she says it was worth it for her “whole different life,” adding that it

"really played off beautifully for me." Barrett charges between $5,000 and $12,000 for one-on-one coaching, over eight to 12 weeks. Clients pay more if they want in-person,

real-time coaching.  Copeland has do-it-yourself programs ranging from $47 to $997, as well as one-on-one and group coaching programs that she prices based on an individual's specific

needs, she says. IT’S ULTIMATELY ABOUT YOUR EFFORT Paying someone to help point out your weak spots in the romance department is "not a magic pill" for finding a partner, says

Edford. It’s about putting in the work. "You still have to go out there and do the thing to hopefully get the results." But knowing where to put that effort can help. "No one

teaches us how to date, especially in a way that leads to love and healthy relationships,” says Palmer. A dating coach helps you look at yourself and your potential partners in new ways,

[calling] out your self-sabotaging patterns, and [teaching] your tangible communication and connection skills.