The internet is full of people talking about relationships, promoting some of the most toxic ideas about dating and relationships, ultimately helping no one. So many of these ideas encourage the worst aspects of dating behavior, leaving audiences more lonely at the end, than when they started. In response, I have combed my inbox on instagram, compiling some of the most toxic messages and themes that I have received over the past several months. And we are going to tackle each of them one by one in this multipart series. In this edition of the DNA of Love, we break down exactly what many of these ideas are (i.e., women are all feminists, men are trash, I deserve king/princess treatment), and dispel many of the myths about dating in these areas. Then, as always, we dive into some listener feedback for those who have been brave enough to write in with questions. Tune in to discover how to navigate the battle between men and women in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Emotions are tough enough when you’re dealing with them alone, and things only get more complicated when balancing said emotions with a romantic partner. The spectrum of emotion is broad, and jealousy stands out on that spectrum as an emotion that can heavily influence your relationship, for better or worse. If we are not careful, this emotion can even begin to steer the relationship down a path of no return. So where does that leave us? This episode will answer that question. In this edition of the DNA of Love, we break down exactly what jealousy is, how it can either hurt or help a relationship, and how best to understand where your own feelings of jealousy may be coming from. Then, as always, we dive into some listener feedback for those who have been brave enough to write in with questions. Tune in to discover how to understand jealousy and its influence in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Dating is hard enough once you're in a relationship, but getting there seems to be a battle in itself. When dating apps fail and our social circle is limited, it can appear impossible to meet the person of your dreams if said person is someone you know of but don't know personally. Then, if you're lucky enough to run into them randomly in life, you're faced with a completely different challenge altogether. How to initiate the courtship process with a complete stranger, when that stranger may be the one. This is called the cold open, and in this edition of the DNA of Love, we break down exactly how to initiate the romantic process with a crush you may not know, and how to overcome rejection if your approach fails. We then dive into some listener feedback for those who have been brave enough to write in with questions on the subject. Tune in to discover how to break the ice in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Many people speak about trauma, but few truly understand it. It is conceptually complex and it bleeds through all aspects of a person's life. It hinders emotional expression, connection, and selection when it comes to discerning who is safe and who is not. And this remains true as survivors of trauma begin to date in hopes of finding true love. Trauma is an impediment to healthy intimate connection, and it can make a person feel hopeless in the pursuit for lasting intimacy in the end. In this edition of the DNA of Love, we thoroughly define trauma, and explore how trauma impacts emotional development, relationship formation, and habits of partner selection. We then dive into addressing how survivors of trauma can begin to fight back against this phenomenon. Tune in to discover how to overcome trauma in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Since the beginning of time, there has always been pressure to form companionship. Whether it be for safety, security, company, or surety...humans have always been driven to connect with others. This has not changed in the modern era. However, due to the perception of many options in the ever-shrinking dating pool, many people have drifted away from dating for the emotional and interpersonal connection needed for survival, and have instead begun selecting their mates along shallow lines of social, aesthetic, and/or financial status. In this edition of the DNA of Love, we explore how this harms your ability to find true love, before addressing some skills that will help safeguard against this phenomenon. Tune in to discover how to date for the right reasons in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Finding true love is hard enough as it is, and doing so as a single parent adds another layer of difficulty to consider when seeking the person you are meant to be with. That being said, single parents deserve to find love just as much as the next person, and this episode will help make that journey a little easier. In this edition of the DNA of Love, we explore best practices in dating while raising one or many children, in addition to tackling how to focus on finding love without devaluing the needs of your children at the same time. Tune in to discover how to build a healthy foundation in your love life while prioritizing the family you have always desired in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

In the modern dating environment, it is nearly impossible to avoid the allure of online dating. The idea of having a resource that exponentially increases your chances at finding true love (or whatever other romantic pursuits you desire), almost seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, the advent of online dating has not been a 'cure-all' for loneliness and heartbreak. In fact, some would argue that it may have even directly contributed to more instances of failed romantic endeavors over the past decade or so. So where does that leave us, as we continue to seek love? I argue that it leaves us with a beautiful opportunity to begin to learn how to effectively use the tool of online dating as such; a useful tool that can build a foundation worth standing on if utilized skillfully. Tune in to learn just how to masterfully use the tool of online dating, so that you may capitalize on modern dating technology in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Valentine's Day can be one of the more stressful holiday experiences for many in relationships, as you toil over finding the perfect gift or experience for you and your partner. No one wants to select the wrong gift, or convey the wrong message with some poorly choreographed grand gesture of pronounced love for your significant other. Yet no matter how pure your intentions may be, the pressure may still feel rather intense as the fourteenth of February falls upon us. But the question still remains, how does one select a meaningful gift? How do we effectively show the love we feel during a consumer holiday that is largely made up in the first place? If these questions have entered your headspace at any point in the past or present, this episode may be just for you. Tune in to learn how to navigate cupid's holiday for both, couples and singles alike,  effectively surviving Valentine's Day once more in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

As we are find ourselves well into the holidays, many of us will be exchanging gifts over this winter season. Giving gifts to the people we love can often be a stressful experience, however, receiving gifts can be difficult as well depending on the person and context. What if someone takes a gift the wrong way? What if you're giving a gift to someone as a friend, and they take it as something more romantic? Or what if you are afraid to give a gift to someone you're dating, because of what it may mean to the relationship (i.e., making things more serious than not). These are all real and valid questions, and they are absolutely topics for consideration before we open our hearts, and our wallets.  This episode breaks down how to effectively decide on the right gift for the right person, in addition to exploring how to receive gifts in a way that shows appreciation over entitlement. Tune in to find out how to give the gift of love with both presents and presence in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Many of us date just to date. Solely because it feels better than being alone. Sometimes the relationships we are in aren't even good relationships. But a relationship  sometimes feels better than no relationship. Unfortunately, this is not sustainable, and these shallow relationships often fail because they are without true purpose. Healthy and long lasting relationships exist with purpose, both for the individuals, and for the couple as a whole. If we are with someone, we need to have a clear understanding as to why  we've chosen that particular person, and what we are hoping to get out of the relationship. If these two boxes are not checked, we have no way of knowing if the relationship is even going the way we originally wanted it to go. This episode breaks down how to effectively identify and define one's purpose within the relationship, as well as the overall purpose you want the relationship to serve in your life when it's all said and done. Tune in to find out how to ensure your love has meaning in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.