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A first date shouldn’t feel like a therapy intake, but if you work in mental health, it can go there fast. We’re joined by guest host Lettie (MSW, mental health clinician) to get real about what dating looks like when your day job is empathy, boundaries, and emotional containment and how that skill set can attract the exact kind of chaos you’re trying to avoid.

We talk about the classic traps: trauma dumping way too early, people fishing for a diagnosis (“What do you think I have?”), and the sneaky shift where you become someone’s problem-solver or “mom role” before there’s even a relationship. We also dig into the other side of the stereotype, like dates who fear being psychoanalyzed, and why courtesy and active listening do not equal attraction. Along the way, we share nightmare dating stories that highlight consent red flags, entitlement, and the awkward reality that therapists can know the right advice and still freeze in the moment.

You’ll walk away with practical language for protecting your privacy (“I work with kids” is a great middle ground), strategies for keeping work from bleeding into romance, and a clear reminder we swear by: don’t date for potential, date what’s real and consistent right now. If you’ve ever dated a therapist or are one yourself, hit play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review. What’s the fastest dating red flag you’ve learned to trust?

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