Picture this: You’re living your life and doing everything you need to do.

You work, care for your family, and have a decent social life; overall, life is pretty good, and you don’t have many complaints.

You also feel lonely.

You know people, but you don’t truly know them, and you feel like people don’t truly know you.

Your friendships feel fleeting or superficial, not as deep as you want them to be. A few details about people’s lives come to mind, but nothing significant. 

You’d like to meet new people and make more friends but don’t know how to start. The idea actually feels really awkward and intimidating. 

Maybe you’ve fallen out of touch with existing friends and don’t know how to reconnect.

The advice in the “how to make more friends” articles you read doesn't stick, especially when life gets busy. 

If this sounds familiar,
you aren’t alone.

Many people find themselves in this complicated social terrain™ and don’t know how to navigate it.

Everyone needs connection, but cultivating it can be challenging. I'm here to guide you in finding and nurturing deeper, more meaningful human connections with a compassionate and evidence-based approach.

Hi, I’m Dr. Kimberly Horn!

I am a professor, research psychologist, and author passionate about understanding what makes our lives healthier and happier.

Read my first book!

Friends Matter, For Life: Harnessing The 8 Tenets Of Dynamic Friendship

A blueprint for cultivating deeper connections with others (and yourself!).

  • “One of the most crucial skills you need as an adult is to know how to make new friends; yet nobody teaches you that. Until now. Dr. Kimberly Horn has the science-backed strategies you need for making real, lasting adult friendships.“

    — Mel Robbins, New York Times bestselling author and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast

  • “As much a call to action as a meditation on the importance of the people we choose to spend our lives with, Friends Matter, for Life is the antidote to modern feelings of loneliness and distance. Dr. Horn prompts us to think critically and emotionally about ourselves and the relationships we build with others, and in a sincere, authentic way.”

    — Charlene Wheeless, author of You Are Enough! Reclaiming Your Career and Your Life with Purpose, Passion, and Unapologetic Authenticity

  • “In Friends Matter, for Life, Kimberly Horn masterfully addresses how crucial friendships are to health, offering a heartfelt, actionable guide to combating loneliness and nurturing the connections vital to our well-being.”

    —Leana Wen, MD, newspaper columnist, television commentator, and author of Lifelines: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health

  • “Kimberly Horn’s book couldn’t come at a better time. We’re facing what many are calling a global epidemic of loneliness and isolation. She reminds us that there are different types of friendships, all of which are important for us to nurture and not take for granted. She gives us leave to mourn but also release ourselves from those relationships that have become toxic. And she couches her suggestions within an actionable framework, coupled with forward-looking positive scenarios and introspective, reflective exercises.”

    — Eileen Drage O’Reilly, former president, National Press Club (2023); science writer; Managing Editor of Standards & Training, Axios

  • “Friendships are the antidote to loneliness. Kimberly Horn’s book, Friends Matter, for Life is an inspiring book that highlights the healing power of having friends. Her 8 tenets of friendship are thought-provoking and a guiding light on how we can nurture our friendships and grow our inner strength and well-being.”

    — Catherine Duncan, MA, BCC, author of Everyday Awakening

  • “Dr. Horn’s compelling arguments over friendship shed light on the cornerstones of a meaningful life. Vital attributes of friendship like empathy illustrate basic human needs well into adulthood. The 8 tenets are a fascinating read and ensure deep meaning for those looking to find understanding and comfort in their connections. Thank you to Dr. Horn for her strong, refreshing, and vital literary contribution.”

    — Najma Khorrami, MPH, author of A Spoonful of Gratitude