As February leads to thoughts of love, it may be well to remember that any successful long-term relationship begins with smart dating. That is the message that husband-and-wife psychology team Judith Sherven, Ph.D., and Jim Sniechowski, Ph.D. will bring to Pittsburg State University on Feb. 10. Sponsored by the Sexual Assault and Safety Awareness Committee of Pittsburg State University, the free Smart Dating presentation will take place at 7 p.m. in the Overman Student Center’s Crimson and Gold Ballroom.

As best-selling authors, Judith & Jim say the most common mistake that men and women make is that they approach dating with their focus on the other person. Consequently, dating is burdened with a good deal of insecurity and questions like, “Will I be funny enough? Will I have enough to say? Will I make a fool of myself? etc.” That focus is exactly backward, they claim.

“Smart dating only occurs when the focus is on being who you really are,” say Judith & Jim. “It revolves around taking good care of yourself and making sure you are physically and emotionally safe. It means taking time to learn who the other person is before deciding whether or not to become emotionally committed. Smart dating guarantees that every date will be a success because the goal is never to land the next date, but rather to be the most responsible, real-life you that you can be.”

Judith & Jim have shared their advice on healthy relationships from coast to coast. They have appeared as guest experts on more than 800 television and radio shows, including “Oprah,” “The O’Reilly Factor,” “48 Hours,” “MSNBC,” and “CNN.” They are the best-selling authors of three books: “Be Loved for Who You Really Are,” (St Martin’s Press, 2003); “The New Intimacy,” (Health Communications, Inc., 1997); and “Opening to Love 365 Days a Year (Health Communications, Inc., 2000).

A clinical psychologist, Judith worked in private practice for 22 years. Jim holds a doctorate in human behavior and is a co-founder of the Men’s Health Network in Washington, D.C.

Along with their regular relationship work, Judith & Jim have been actively involved in counteracting domestic violence and helping to educate both men and women about the causes for and behaviors involved in abuse in dating, between domestic partners, and between parents and children.

Their program, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 10,  is open to the public. Parents and teens are especially encouraged to attend.

For more information, please contact the Office of Violence Response and Prevention at 620-235-6067.

Kenneth R. "Ron" Womble
Director, News Services & Media Relations
Pittsburg State University

(Editors/Directors – I have a small, low-resolution digital photo of Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski. The authors may be able to provide a larger one, if you wish. You may contact them at ShervSniec@aol.com. You may also visit the couple’s Website at <http://www.themagicofdifferences.com>. It is possible to arrange interviews during the day on Feb. 10, should you desire to do so. Just let me know and I will help facilitate that.)