Dr. Viviana Coles is stepping up to help singles address the issues that have kept them single on the new show Unmatchables. Diving deep into what has caused someone to act the way they do and helping that person to change their behavior in order to have a healthier life and happier relationship, Dr. Coles is doing her best to change reality TV contestants' lives for the better. When Screen Rant had the chance to talk with Dr. Coles, we asked what advice she would give women for a first date, and she had some excellent advice.
Dr. Coles was already working as a relationship counselor when she reached out to several different reality shows, eager to use her experience to help people in a new way, eventually landing a gig on Married at First Sight. While she loves making successful families on MAFS, she gets more chances to work one-on-one with people on Unmatchables. Teaming up with Pastor Cal, they only get one week to help people who can’t seem to help themselves when it comes to dating. One of these difficult cases inspired Dr. Coles’ answer.
Expectations can be good or bad. Dr. Coles points out that some expectations when it comes to dating can be more harmful than helpful. As she put it, “Expectations create a lot of pressure and when you’re just getting to know someone, that can be read a way or two.” With a doctoral degree in therapy, the Unmatchables star knows what she’s talking about. While this is good advice for everyone, for women specifically Dr. Coles warned, “Don’t have the expectation that their partner is going to pay. Not saying that they won’t or not to allow it or anything, but that they don’t have the expectation to put all of the onus on going in for a possible first kiss, going in for the hug goodnight, paying for the tab, all of those things." Just because men used to take the lead on dates doesn’t mean it should still be that way, and expecting it may lead to some uncomfortable situations.
This advice was inspired by someone Dr. Coles attempted to help on Unmatchables, which features contestants who were rejected on Married at First Sight. She explained, “We have someone on the show who expects to never pay for anything ever, really. If it’s something that she wants, not that she needs, she pretty much just expects her partner to pay for it. That’s not the world we live in and it’s very difficult for her date if that’s her mentality.” Dating isn’t about one person getting spoiled. “Chivalry isn’t dead, but also you have to be willing to be a partner when you’re dating and in relationships," she added.
Dr. Coles takes all of her own advice, having been happily married for 14 years and with two children. While not every couple she has worked with finds a happily ever after on Unmatchables, her advice is very practical. She hopes viewers will take away as many lessons as the contestants do. Whether or not the relationship experts will be able to help the Unmatchables, viewers will have to tune in every week to see.
Unmatchables airs Wednesdays at 10pm on Lifetime.