COUPLES & MARRIAGE COUNSELING IN SAN DIEGO & ACROSS CALIFORNIA
Every relationship has seasons.
We work with all of them.
Couples therapy and marriage counseling at Common Ground Therapy Group — three therapists, research-based approaches, and a focus on communication, connection, and working as a team.
Relationships take real work. Good tools make the work possible.
Every couple brings its own history, patterns, and goals. Our couples and marriage counseling draws on two of the most researched approaches in the field — Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method — to help partners communicate more clearly, navigate conflict productively, and build the kind of connection that holds up over time.
Whether you're preparing for marriage, adjusting to a new chapter, or simply wanting to strengthen what you have, counseling offers a structured place to do that work together.
One practice. A team built for every stage of a relationship.
Common Ground Therapy Group brings together three therapists whose training and focus areas span the full arc of committed relationships — from preparing for marriage to raising a family to renegotiating a partnership in midlife.
Our couples work is grounded in the two most researched approaches in the field: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method. Every couples therapist at our practice is Gottman-trained, and our team includes a certified educator in the Gottman Institute's Bringing Baby Home program for new and expectant parents.
Premarital counseling — Building strong communication, alignment, and shared expectations before marriage.
High-achieving couples — Support for partners balancing demanding careers and full lives with the relationship that anchors them.
The transition to parenthood — Research-based counseling for new and expectant parents, including the Gottman Institute's Bringing Baby Home program.
Midlife and blended families — Navigating changing roles, second chapters, and the work of building step-families and new family structures.
When you reach out, we'll match you with the therapist whose experience best fits your goals — and your free 15-minute consultation confirms the fit before you begin.
Our team: Melanie Wolf, LMFT #124745 (founder and clinical supervisor); Brandon Wong, ASW #136131; and Leila Savage, AMFT #160286. Associate clinicians practice under the clinical supervision of Melanie Wolf, LMFT #124745.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Couples Counseling can help you…
Communicate more clearly — Say what you mean, hear what your partner means, and get to the real conversation faster.
Navigate conflict as a team — Learn research-based tools for handling disagreement without damage.
Strengthen your connection — Build rituals, habits, and understanding that keep a relationship steady through busy seasons.
Work toward shared goals — Get aligned on the big things — family, finances, future — with structure and support.
Ready to work on your relationship?
The first step is a free 15-minute consultation to find the right fit — for your goals, your schedule, and your stage of life.
FAQs
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The terms are largely interchangeable — both refer to therapy for two partners working on their relationship. Whether you're married, engaged, or in a committed partnership, the work is the same: communication, connection, and navigating life as a team.
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You don't need to decide — that's part of what the consultation is for.
Reach out through our consultation form and let us know a bit about what you're hoping to work on. We'll recommend the best fit based on your goals and each therapist's focus — and the free 15-minute call is a chance to confirm it feels right before you commit. -
Both are research-based approaches to couples therapy. EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) focuses on the attachment and emotional bond between partners and the patterns that shape it. The Gottman Method emphasizes practical, skills-based tools for communication, conflict, and connection, built on decades of research. Many couples benefit from elements of both.
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Couples sessions are designed for both partners, and that's the standard format. Occasionally a therapist may suggest an individual session as part of the process — that's something you'd decide together.
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Yes. Premarital work uses the same research-based approaches to help couples build strong communication and alignment before marriage.
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Yes — we see couples in person in Mission Valley, San Diego, and via telehealth throughout California.