After earning a degree and a lifetime of experience, Susan Gross is back in her hometown shooting Cupid”™s arrows with an eye toward long-term relationships for those venturing back into the dating jungle.
Gross, who grew up in Stamford, worked as a licensed clinical social worker for 15 years and began her business, Relationship Results, at the end of 2008.
 “It”™s more for people re-entering the dating world,” said Gross. “At 35 you probably will have been in some sort of relationship. It”™s doesn”™t necessarily mean that you”™ve been married but it could be. What I”™m not geared to is toward people in their early 20s. This is really for people seeking committed relationships.”
According to Gross, her service is perfect for its timing: a down economy when people are working harder and longer hours.
Gross said by making dates focused for her clients she is able to narrow the chances that they would be wasting money and time.
“I think that a lot of people aren”™t willing to be out there scouring,” said Gross. “It costs a lot of money to do that. They”™re saving because they”™re not out there spending money in the bars.”
According to Gross, bars are a place where many singles throw money away that could be put toward more easily achieving the ultimate goal of a meaningful relationship.
“The reality is for many men that at least for the first date they”™re going to pick up the tab,” said Gross. If as a guy you keep going out on these dates and spending anywhere from 50 to 100 bucks, that can get very pricey and halfway through the date you might find the person to be boring.”
Gross said the first step in her service is to take part in a confidential data-gathering interview. “It”™s to understand who you are, what you”™re about, what you”™re looking for, your expectations and time frames,” said Gross. “Each and every client will participate in this step, ensuring that matches are made based not on superficial profiles, but on core aspects of who you are and what you want from a relationship.
All Relationship Results clients agree to a thorough background check.
“Your values, family background, emotional and physical needs, life priorities, and relationship readiness will all be explored so that matches have a stronger possibility of developing,” said Gross. “I can”™t guarantee chemistry, but what I can guarantee is that you”™ll at least be able to have an interesting discussion and they”™ll be common things that you can relate to,” said Gross.
Gross first arranges meetings that are low in stress and cost, like getting-together for coffee, in order to give her clients a chance to make a decision before much money is spent and removing a strong fear of rejection.
Said Gross, “I draw people out and get to know them.”
According to Gross, another benefit of being a sole practitioner is that individuals who might otherwise be on the fence about such a service feel more comfortable and personal with her.
Gross said she chronicles each client”™s progress in order to work on weak aspects of dating technique and create stronger matches as the search for a match continues.
“At 35, 45, 55 years old, there are a lot less people out there,” said Gross. “They”™re out there but between work and kids a lot of people don”™t know how to get out there and find the right person. I don”™t say to people they should settle, but what I do say is approach getting back into the dating world as an opportunity.”
Gross currently charges $500 per client guaranteeing at least five introductions over a 12 month period.
