Darcy Sterling (born Darcy Smith, September 16, 1969) is an American

clinical social work Clinical social work is a specialty within the broader profession of social work. The American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW) defines clinical social work as "a healthcare profession based on theories and methods of prevention and treatment ...

er, relationship expert and television personality. She co-owns the New York City-based group practice Alternatives Counseling. Sterling is the host and relationship expert on the E! network series ''

Famously Single ''Famously Single'' is an American reality television series that premiered on June 14, 2016, on the E! network. The series follows eight single celebrities who all move in together and try to solve their romantic problems. Production The s ...

'', and the former Global Ambassador for the dating app,''

Tinder Tinder is easily Combustibility and flammability, combustible material used to Firemaking, start a fire. Tinder is a finely divided, open material which will begin to glow under a shower of sparks. Air is gently wafted over the glowing tinder unt ...

''. One of the most widely quoted relationship therapists in the country, Sterling frequently contributes expert advise to national outlets including ''Forbes'', ''Cosmopolitan'', ''Condé Nast'', ''HuffPost'', and many more publications.

Early life and education

Sterling was born in

Livingston, New Jersey Livingston is a township (New Jersey), township in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 31,330, its highest United States census, decennial co ...

. She graduated from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

in 1996 with a master's degree in social work, and received a Ph.D. from

New York University Silver School of Social Work Silver School of Social Work is the social work school of New York University. History 1960–2006 NYU offered its first social work courses in 1934. A 10-year, $420,000 commitment by the Lavanburg Corner House helped establish a Department of S ...

in 2006.Kergan Edwards-Stout
"Move Over, 'Dear Abby': 'Ask Dr. Darcy' Is Straight Talk for the Gay Community,"
''

Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers ...

'', May 1, 2013.Cheryl Burke
"100 Women We Love: Class of 2009,"
'' GO'', June 12, 2009.

Career

Counseling

Sterling began practicing as a clinical social worker in 1996. Two years later, she formed Alternatives Counseling in New Jersey. Now located in New York City, the practice specializes in teaching relationship skills to individuals and couples, with an emphasis on

positive psychology Positive psychology is the scientific study of conditions and processes that contribute to positive psychological states (e.g., contentment, joy), well-being, Positive psychology of relationships, positive relationships, and positive institutio ...

and Imago relationship therapy.

Press

Sterling writes an advice blog, Ask Dr. Darcy, which appears on her website. It was featured in '' GO'' magazine from 2008 to 2015, and in ''

Psychology Today ''Psychology Today'' is an American media organization with a focus on psychology and human behavior. The publication began as a bimonthly magazine, which first appeared in 1967. The print magazine's reported circulation is 275,000 as of 2023. ...

'' starting in 2011. In 2009, she was named one of ''GO'' magazine's 100 Women We Love. Sterling has also written for ''

The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers p ...

'', and her advice has been highlighted in ''

Woman's Day ''Woman's Day'' is an American women's magazine that covers such topics as homemaking, food, nutrition, physical fitness, physical attractiveness, and fashion. The print edition is one of the Seven Sisters (magazines), Seven Sisters magazines. ...

, Experience Life'' magazine, ''Bustle'', ''People'', ''INSIDER'', ''Well + Good'', and more. She has been interviewed on podcasts including "Works for Us with Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman", "Workin' On It with Meghan Trainor & Ryan Trainor", "Viall Files", and Us Weekly's Bachelor Podcast - "Here For The Right Reasons".

Television

Sterling made her national television debut in 2011, providing expert commentary on "When Women Kill", an E! Entertainment special profiling female criminals. She is the host and relationship expert on the E! reality television series ''

'', which premiered on June 14, 2016, and features a cast of eight celebrities living together for a month. Sterling leads the participants in group and individual exercises designed to help them work out personal issues at the root of their romantic problems.

Personal life

In 2009, two months after a civil ceremony in Connecticut, Sterling married Stephanie Koncicki in Manhattan in a Jewish ceremony. Their married name, Sterling, was taken in honor of a family of

Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

victims with no surviving members. They live in New York City.Famously Single Dating Profiles: Dr. Darcy Sterling
E! Online. Accessed August 6, 2016.

References

External links

Ask Dr. Darcy

Alternatives Counseling
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterling, Darcy Living people 1969 births Writers from Livingston, New Jersey Columbia University School of Social Work alumni New York University School of Social Work alumni American advice columnists American women columnists American social workers American relationships and sexuality writers American LGBTQ writers Participants in American reality television series American women non-fiction writers 21st-century American LGBTQ people 21st-century American women