In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Loree, who is unsure about how to navigate dating right now. Online dating could be difficult even before the pandemic. Now, trust is even trickier to establish when it comes to things like vaccination status, caution levels, and boundaries. Not to mention how daunting dating again can be after so much social isolation. To help Loree figure it all out, Zahra first consults SELF senior health editor Patia Braithwaite about what she’s noticed in her coverage of dating life since the pandemic began. Then Zahra chats with Traci Medeiros-Bagan, L.M.F.T., a relationship therapist based out of California. They give advice on how to have these tricky conversations with someone you’re interested in, and how to figure out your own boundaries during this time.

You can read Patia’s work at SELF here, and follow her on Twitter @PdorBRaithw8.

You can learn more about Traci’s work on their website: http://compassionaterevolt.com/

Check out these SELF articles about dating during this time and the many questions it brings up:

Pandemic Dating Is Hard--But Hasn’t It Always Been Difficult? (https://www.self.com/story/dating-during-pandemic)

9 Ways Non-Monogamous People Are Dealing With the Pandemic (https://www.self.com/story/non-monogamous-pandemic-dating)

How To Deal If Being Single Has You Worried About “Biological Clocks” and Timelines (https://www.self.com/story/being-single-stress-about-the-future)

16 Quarantine Date Ideas That Are Actually Really Great

(https://www.self.com/story/quarantine-date-ideas)

I Book Club with Bumble Matches--Here’s What I’ve Learned

(https://www.self.com/story/bumble-book-club)

Road Test: I Tried Hinge’s Virtual Date Night Kit

(https://www.self.com/story/hinge-virtual-date-kit)

Is Your Rebound Relationship Actually Harmful?

(https://www.self.com/story/rebound-relationship)

Yes, Your Situationship Breakup Is Real

(https://www.self.com/story/situationship-breakup)

16 Intriguing Dating Apps To Try If You Want To Meet Someone New

(https://www.self.com/story/16-dating-apps)

Everything Isn’t A Red Flag--Here’s How to Tell the Difference

(dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices