“In working with you, I gained total clarity on what it is I want (and need) in a relationship and what a healthy relationship for me will look like (or not look like) when I come across it. I was able to put together a clear go-to list of requirements (“must haves” or “it’s the highway”) and needs (“let’s see how we can make this work and if it can’t meet the need – it’s the highway”!)
You are a warm and kind person. It made it easier to confide in you about such a private aspect of my life. You are generous with your time and with your exercises (thank you for sending me all the documents and recordings that you did!)
I could feel the impact of my work with you in my dating/relationships very early on. I now feel empowered instead of drained like I did before. Dating with my head and my heart is guiding me towards the relationship that I want…not a relationship where I settle for what I almost want.
I now know that I am not going to pass over what I’m looking for – I will know when I see it. So I no longer have to second guess myself about cutting bait right away or with continuing on in a relationship – I am clear on what will fulfill me and make me happy!
I decided to share my thoughts about being exclusive with the guy I’ve been seeing (we’ve been on over a dozen dates in the past 2 months). I’m so glad I did. I told him I really enjoy what we have and that I think this really could be something (you helped me phrase this!) – what did he think about me taking down my dating profile? What he said next shocked me… he said “I took mine down a month ago”. He didn’t tell me because he wanted me to come to him when I was comfortable and ready rather than me feeling cornered into doing it too.
So here I am in a new, exclusive relationship with someone who lives in the same city as me. I’m very happy dating just him and focusing on getting to know him better and seeing how he fits into my vision. I feel we are in a great “next level”. Many thanks, dear dating coach!
–Elyse D.
After achieving several major life goals in a matter of months, I found myself on a bit of a plateau; I wasn’t sure of what to do next.
I also met a great, very recently divorced man around the same time, and I was experiencing some challenges in our dating relationship, including insecurity and clinginess/attachment on my part.
Dating a newly divorced man was new territory for me. I came across Melissa’s site when I was looking for answers to difficult questions. I really enjoyed reading Melissa’s articles and listening to her podcast ‘The Smart Girls Guide to Dating a Divorced Man’, so it was an easy and natural step to contact her for private coaching.
Melissa came into my life at just the right time. Working with Melissa has had a huge impact on my life in general and on my relationship.
Before working with Melissa, I was stressed, anxious, attached, and clingy.
I had another private life coach a couple of years ago, and had done a lot of ‘inner work’ since then, so I truly surprised myself when I realised just how attached and clingy I was being! I thought those days were behind me.
Melissa has helped me onto the path I want to be on. We worked together on turning my life dreams and goals into reality.
I am now on my way to becoming a certified yoga teacher, I am volunteering with an animal adoption organisation, my corporate job is getting better every day, and I am tuning in more and more to my true purpose, which will become my day ‘job’ and replace corporate life eventually.
And in regards to my love life, my I am calm, relaxed, and enjoying every moment of it…I feel like a goddess again 🙂
Melissa is like a cheerleader for your love life, and just your life in general! She has such a beautiful personality; she is fun, smart, and inspiring. I looked forward to every session 🙂
-Katie
“Thank you so much! Your ideas resonated deeply to my heart and I feel some promise in moving forward. I love how you unpacked the needs, relationship requirements etc. Everything you said was clear and easy to understand AND most of all, without judgment. I love that you made me feel like it’s perfectly normal to have made mistakes when with my dating, providing reasons why I made those mistakes, key to not making them again. Guidelines for dating smarter – wow – game changer! Thank you!!!”
—A.S.
“Melissa was extremely helpful to help me figure out what was keeping me from enjoying my relationship and relaxing. I feel like I have more tools now to feel better. I also feel more confident in my capacity in making choices and own them, and stop denying my needs and speak up without fear when necessary.”
–AAM
“I don’t have dating experience until my early 30th and the first relationship is very challenging. Before I worked with Melissa, I was totally confused by the complicated situation and by my random thoughts. Melissa is very insightful. She sent me many deep questions before our phone call to help me look at my own needs and what I want in the relationship because that’s the most important part I overlooked. During our phone call, Melissa helped me further clear my head and refine my action plans. After that she sent me some articles and a book that are what exactly I need! She just gets it!
Melissa is definitely a very mindful and insightful coach. Sometimes we are confused and blind in our relationship, and we need a good coach like Melissa to support us to find our way.”
–R.W.
“I was able to truly take an emotional inventory of myself and apply it to my current situation with my partner. Beforehand, I was not being vulnerable. It was difficult to be honest with myself and my partner about my feelings for him. I was afraid of being hurt. But after working with Melissa, I was able to see that being vulnerable opens so many more doors than closing myself off did.
Melissa was so honest and encouraging. I felt at ease discussing my personal relationship with her and never felt like she was just “telling me what I wanted to hear”. She even followed up with me a few days after our conversation via email! Melissa is very genuine and insightful. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with her!”
–K.N.L.
“I just wanted to take a moment to give you another thank you for taking the time to speak with me today it was truly helpful and I came away with some good insight I appreciate your understanding and your expertise thank you again.”
–S.C.
“Your emails have been SO insightful for me!!! I can’t thank you enough, Melissa! I’ve already learned so much and feel more empowered about my role in this relationship. So much of what you’ve said has deeply resonated with me. I totally appreciate all the links you provided for extra help. It really means a lot to me that you took the time to do that for me. Your last couple of emails have been great eye openers for me. I love that you pointed out that even though I can’t control the situation, there are other things I can control. I’m a big control freak and now that I know where to let go and where to focus, I can be much more productive! I really do want to better myself and that relationship, so that when the divorce is over we can have an even more fulfilling relationship. I’m so thankful I reached out to you! This is totally something I never do, but I’m beyond happy that I did! Thank you again for everything! You have been a huge help!”
–K.A.
Wow!! Thank you, Melissa, what a great reply!! I tried to do the friends thing with him but it was too hard so I’ve stopped contact with him to allow me to move on, he still doesn’t want a relationship nor will change his mind so I need to stop moping and get on with my life, as hard as it is at times. Thanks again for a really amazing reply!
–S.A.
“Thank you so much for responding back to my email. I really appreciate your time in answering my questions! I read everything on your blog over the weekend and found it very helpful, not only in giving me insight for the situation I was in, but also giving me insight into my own self. You’re really great at being empathetic, gracious, and truthful in your communication, as well as avoiding extreme judgments or assigning blame. You also are clear that the reader takes full responsibility for their own actions and make powerful decisions in the process. It’s very empowering. Thank you so much again!”
–W.H.
“Melissa, You have this way of cutting through all of the madness to make it all come together so clearly. I was reading this nodding my head and then I got to the part at the end about changing what it means to love and I was blown away by the realization that in my 2-month relationship with my recently divorced man, I basically kissed his butt constantly out of fear that if I didn’t, he would walk away. I made him dinner, I stocked his favorite soda in my fridge, I swallowed my anger when he cancelled plans on me — yet he really didn’t do all that much for me. While I did enjoy doing nice things for him and I loved his company, I realize now that I was essentially trying to earn his love and attention. I knew that something just didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was — and now it all feels so clear.
I don’t want to be in a relationship where I have to earn love! I don’t want to have to tiptoe around my true feelings or sacrifice my relationship requirements to keep a man in my life. I want to be real and authentic, and I will wait to find a man who can give that to me.
Thank you for everything you do, Melissa. You are amazing!”
–Paige
“Hello Melissa, As I am in a relationship with a divorced man, I’ve read SO many articles about it. It was very difficult for me to accept that he has a son and an ex wife,but at the same time he is the most wonderful person in the world and he made so many sacrifices for me. You are the only one who truly made me realise how to behave in that kind of a relationship. I can’t be more thankful ,you saved my relationship with this great man , and made me realise how happy I actually am.
THANK YOU, you are really amazing.”
-Maria
“I never thought I would do something like [taking Melissa’s course on Empowered Dating] but I really enjoyed it and found it very valuable. I found it empowering, and it gives me hope that I can take the steps I need to have the life, the special relationship, that I truly want. The course gave me different ways and tools to look at myself and previous relationships that helped me understand better what I need and expect from a successful relationship and how to better achieve that. As well, it enabled me to look inward and evaluate myself with more clarity. With clearer understanding and expectations, the road may not be without bumps but there is a destination at the end.”
–C.R.
“Melissa launched an amazing Dating Course!! What she created should be taught to everybody. Unfortunately, none ever teaches us how to love, what it takes to have a successful relationship and why some people are just not compatible. Even if the idea of “love is all you need” sound very romantic and comforting, we should not forget that there is more than only one component in a relationship. If we’d all know who we are, what we want for ourselves and what is important to us, we would be able to avoid a lot of pain. I highly recommend Melissa’s Empowered Dating Course, not only to someone who is not sure about their relationship but to everyone who either had, has or is planning on having a romantic partner. It really is not only about Love and relationships but about getting to know yourself a lot better.”
–Katy T.
“Melissa is so thoughtful, thorough, and receptive. She created a wonderful safe space to explore truly important issues. I was surprised by how much I had been taking for granted. The things I want are so real and deeply felt, but I had not taken the time to ask myself the simplest questions about the details. I found that it was really a combination of everything that made [the course] so valuable – the one on one sessions, the visualizations and other exercises, and the varied resources Melissa provided and tailored to my needs.”
-E.B.
“Melissa, Just want to thank you again for your amazing coaching. You REAAALLY helped me. I’ve been so stuck on how to progress with the web copy. You asked me all the right questions to help me come up with a plan of action that I can actually manage. In the process, you reinvigorated my excitement about launching my business. You’re a brilliant coach, and my personal go-to resource for getting “unstuck.”
Thanks again!”
–Tiffany