What if the skills that create strong, lasting marriages are the very ones you should be using while you’re still dating?

In this episode, I’m joined by certified Relational Life Therapist and Sex Therapy practitioner Monica Tanner to explore how “marriage skills” can transform the early stages of dating.

Too often, dating is driven by chemistry, anxiety, or unspoken expectations. Monica shares how tools like clear communication, emotional responsibility, healthy boundaries, and repair skills aren’t just for long-term couples — they’re essential for assessing compatibility and building secure connection from the beginning.

We discuss:

• Why common marriage advice can keep people stuck
• How to spot relational patterns in the first few dates
• The balance between agency and compassion in love
• How to communicate needs without over-functioning
• Why waiting for problems before learning skills is a mistake

Monica is the author of Bad Marriage Advice and host of Secrets of Happily Ever After, where she shares practical, evidence-informed tools to help couples build thriving relationships.

If you want to date with more clarity, confidence, and emotional maturity — this conversation is for you.

Connect with Monica:
Learn more about her work, community, book, and podcast through her platforms online: https://www.monicatanner.com/

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to follow The Psychology of Dating Podcast and leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it helps more people build healthier relationships.

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If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share it with someone navigating the dating world.

Want more support? Download my free guide: “Top 3 Mindset Shifts in Dating” – link in the show notes.

For 1:1 sessions or to join my group program Dating with Confidence & Clarity: A Psychological Approach, visit nadineneukirch.com

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