By Sarah Louise Ryan, Relational Psychotherapist, Professional Matchmaker ex-New Yorker. New York has always been a city of possibility. Ambition. Energy. Reinvention. It attracts people who are building something - careers, identities, futures. It is unsurprising, then, that dating in New York mirrors the city itself: fast-moving, opportunity-rich, endlessly stimulating, and often emotionally overwhelming. For many singles, the experience of dating here is not a lack of choi

In the early days of online dating, success seemed to belong to those with the best photos, the wittiest bios, or the boldest opening lines. But as we enter 2026, something quieter and far more decisive is shaping romantic outcomes. Emotional intelligence. Not just chemistry. Not just attraction. But the capacity to understand oneself, to read another accurately, and to navigate connection with psychological maturity rather than instinct alone. EQ has become the hidden differ

by Sarah Louise Ryan, Psychotherapist & Relationship Expert. As the year comes to a close, many of us feel a quiet pressure to “sum it all up.” To decide whether the year was good or bad. Productive or disappointing. A success or something to move on from as quickly as possible. But most years don’t fit neatly into those categories. They hold complexity. Growth and grief. Moments of strength alongside moments of exhaustion. And often, we move straight from one year into the n

The end of a year often arrives quietly. The calendar changes, routines resume, and yet most couples never pause to ask what the year actually did  to them — or what it revealed about how they relate, cope, and connect. In couples therapy, I often say that reflection is not about fixing the relationship; it’s about listening to it . As this year comes to a close, here is an invitation to slow down together - to take stock of where you’ve been, and to consider how you want to

Intimacy is a core element of healthy relationships, but it can be uniquely shaped by the presence of ADHD. While ADHD is often described in terms of attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, its influence expands far beyond those traits. It affects emotional regulation, sensory processing, communication, and how individuals experience closeness. Understanding these layers allows couples and individuals to approach intimacy with greater compassion and clarity. Intimacy is no

There is a particular urgency that creeps into dating during the winter months. A quiet pressure that isn’t always obvious, but is deeply felt. It’s driven by shorter days, colder weather, social messaging around togetherness, and an underlying biological urge for emotional safety. This is what has become known as cuffing season  — a time of year when people are more likely to pursue connection out of loneliness, seasonal vulnerability, or the instinct for comfort, rather tha

Every December carries a particular emotional texture. There’s a quiet intensification to it - lights in the dark, familiar music, the repetition of rituals, and for many people, especially those who are single, that atmosphere can magnify feelings that sit just beneath the surface the rest of the year. Christmas often becomes difficult not because you are alone, but because of what “aloneness” is framed to mean. Our culture quietly equates the festive season with romantic pa

When The Economist  recently described a “relationship recession”, it struck a chord with many of us who work with singles and couples every day. Around the world, people are dating less, marrying later, and spending more of their lives single than ever before. It’s not a passing trend. It’s a social shift reshaping everything from housing to happiness. In some ways, this rise in singlehood is a triumph. Millions of people are free to choose relationships from desire rather t

At The Love Collective Global, we understand that successful singles don’t have time to waste. Finding love shouldn’t feel like a second...

(And How to Finally Break Free) So many brilliant, beautiful, intuitive women find themselves stuck on repeat in love. You meet someone...

Dating in today’s world is both exciting and complex. With endless digital options and shifting cultural norms, it is easy to feel...

Have you ever noticed how dating sometimes feels less like fun and more like a full-body stress test? Your chest tightens when you wait...

In today’s world of endless swiping, ghosting, and superficial connections, dating can feel more like a full-time job than a fun path to...

International Dating with Intention Love Collective Global Matchmaking Expanding Your World, Deepening Your Connections At Love...

Your twenties. The decade everyone claims is for “finding yourself,” making questionable decisions, trying oat milk for the first time......

Modern dating for some can sometimes feel like an unhealthy habitual process of swipe, match, delete, repeat. For others it can feel like...

Tired of constantly swiping and getting nowhere? You’re not alone. So many people feel like they’re putting in a lot of effort into...

Dating these days can be exhausting, but it doesn't have to be. You wouldn’t believe how many times we hear that in any one day. We hear...

Starting a new relationship is a thrilling and transformative experience that can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Often we can get...