Who we are

Hi there! I'm Val. I started my career as a matchmaker in a busy NYC dating service. As I developed a deeper interest in the dating habits of New Yorkers, I went on to earn my Masters of Applied Social Research in Queens College, presenting my thesis project, The Dating Behaviors of Young Adults, under the advisement of Dr. Pyong Gap Min. I then went on to consult as a host for dating-based focus groups, and helped launch 8 Minute Dating in Manhattan.

After moving out of the city, my career goals then switched to Higher Education, where I worked in Academia for several universities in the Northeast, specifically working with the Psychology department at a large research University. My academic work has always been 100% student-facing, with a large portion of my work servicing students who identify as neurodivergent. While the focus of my position centered around fulfilling academic needs, I came to notice that many students in this population were feeling "left out" of the college experience in terms of their social needs. They did not know how to navigate confusing social cues, and they were not interested in attending loud , chaotic college parties, or noisy, stuffy bars. Even online apps were much too overwhelming.

Autism Dating Coach was born out of recognizing a fundamental need for one on one coaching of ASD adults hoping to enter the dating world. We provide virtual sessions where we wish to know everything about YOU- why you wish to start dating, if you've ever dated in the past, what qualities you look for in a mate, how to start and maintain a conversation, and how to set up your second date (or not!)