Dating services often use a bit of psychology to lend credibility to their matchmaking purposes. After all, how can they create an accurate profile or assess the compatibility of a twosome without delving into past traumas, repressions, self-esteem issues, and desires? Then again, do you really want these secrets divulged to a potential date? How can psychologists use their insight amongst hundreds of dating services while maintaining confidentiality?

Donald Kieffer doesn't allow clients from his psychological practice to use his dating service, known as Match Quest, but he does believe that his professional insight gives his service a competitive advantage. Because he's a trained clinical psychologist, and has practiced as a therapist in Rhode Island for the past seven years, Kieffer believes he's an accurate judge of compatibility.

As someone who tried some "alternative dating stuff" himself as a twenty-something single in Boston, Kieffer has some experience at the frontlines. "I went on a lot of first dates," he concedes, before meeting his wife on a blind date. "People need a lot of push, coaching, encouragement to take risks," Kieffer explains, and this is where he hopes to play a role.

During a consultation, Match Quest clients fill out a compatibility questionnaire covering the basic background and interests. Kieffer looks for "overlaps between people" that might serve as "a point of discussion for them." The psychologist-matchmaker meets with clients personally and takes their picture, because, as he notes, "People lie." If people can determine beforehand that they aren't interested in someone else, he says, "Why waste a whole date?"

Kieffer says his customers are "ready to find the right person," and just need some help. Rhode Island, being a small state, can be a difficult place to meet singles because, he says, "there aren't as many options." Not that there aren't single people. Kieffer estimates there are "close to 200,000 single people over 21 in Rhode Island." However, he says, "people have got to get out there -- Mr. Right is not going to come knocking on the door."

So far, Match Quest has produced "mixed results." After all, as even Kieffer acknowledges, "Chemistry does matter."

Issue Date: March 1 - 7, 2002