I’m Not Dating Anyone Else. Does He Assume We’re Exclusive?

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Written by: Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Known as America's Relationship Expert, Dr. Wendy Walsh is an award-winning television journalist, radio host & podcaster, and the author of three books on relationships and thousands of print and digital articles. More than 1.5 million people follow her sage advice on social media. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and teaches in the Psychology Department at California State University Channel Islands and has been the host of "The Dr. Wendy Walsh Show" on iHeart Radio's KFI AM 640 since 2015. Walsh is also a former Emmy-nominated co-host of "The Doctors," as well as former host of the nationally syndicated show "EXTRA." She was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2017 after speaking out about harassment at a major news network.

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Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of journalism experience to ensure DatingAdvice articles have been edited for overall clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Gwinnett Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun covering lifestyle topics.

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Reader Question:

I met a guy last year and we’ve been casual friends (and only friends). We started talking daily and he told me that he hasn’t stopped thinking about me since we met. We’ve been out at least once a week and I’ve met his parents. He keeps talking about future plans, so I’m not sure when to have “the talk.”

Does he just assume that we’re exclusive? I’m not dating anyone else and to the best of my knowledge, he’s not either.

-Melissa S. (New York)

Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:

Melissa, I LOVE the pace of this relationship. And I also love the order of events – friendship, followed by family, followed by dating. This relationship has all the signs of health.

I have some questions for you to consider: Do the future plans he talks about involve you? Or is he making plans alone and giving you a warning that he won’t be around down the road?

And, what do you really want to say in “the talk”? Are you sure you are ready for an exclusive, committed relationship that will involve sex? And, are you ready to talk about sex, STDs, getting tested, and your feelings of love for him?

If so, by all means, have the talk that will spell out your wishes. The time is now.


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