You want your date to be a dreamboat, but often he turns out to be a dud. NBC 10 medical reporter Cherie Bank talked to a local therapist for some tips on how to avoid dating a loser.

Many women have had bad date experiences like these:

"He cheated on me with my best friends."

"I ended up having to move, change my phone number my e-mail address."

"He broke the door down."

Sisters Alexa and Jessica Shupik said they have had some bad luck with men and Alexa said she is not too confident that she will find Mr. Right the next time.

"I just don't think I have the self- confidence to stay away from these guys once I am in the relationship," Alexa Shupik said.

According to therapist Dorothy Brocco, you can avoid falling prey to what she called "unhealthy hook-ups."

Brocco said it mainly comes down to knowing what you want.

"Sit down and get a checklist. When we go shopping for a car or a home, we usually do some comparative shopping, we try to be the best consumer we can and we sit down we go and see whether we want this, that or the other. What's wrong with sitting down and listing characteristics that we want?" Brocco said.

Brocco said once you make your list, don't compromise your standards and don't ignore any personal uneasiness you may have. She said you should not rely on the initial things that attract you, such as the sight, sound and smell of someone you meet.

Brocco said women should stick to their checklist and beware of extremes, such as someone who is too charming, too attentive, too complimentary or too familiar too soon.

Most importantly, according to Brocco, is to have a good sense of yourself.

"So that person who is coming toward you, who wants to game you, they will say, 'Oh no, this girl is so confident that I can't go there,'" Brocco said.

Brocco said that knowing and appreciating what you have to offer is the surest way to make sure your date is never a dud.

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