THERAPY FOR WOMEN IN SAN DIEGO & ACROSS CALIFORNIA
The next chapter deserves as much care as the ones before it.
You've been the capable one for a long time: the one who gets things done, the one everyone leans on. Midlife brings a lot of change at once, and somewhere in it your own needs got small. You deserve a place to sort through it that's actually yours.
Individual therapy and couples counseling for women navigating midlife, identity, and what comes next.
Midlife is a real transition. It deserves real support.
You've spent years being the one who gets things done, at work, at home, and for everyone who leans on you. From the outside, your life works. Inside, a lot is shifting at once: kids growing up, parents growing older, a career or an identity that's asking to be looked at again. And somewhere in all of it, your own needs got quiet.
This is a space to slow down and make sense of what's changing, on your own terms, and to decide what you want this next chapter to actually look like. Every part of who you are is welcome here, whatever your background, identity, or family looks like.
At Common Ground, you can work with Melanie Wolf, LMFT or Leila Savage, AMFT — two therapists who make space for the full picture. The work is thoughtful and collaborative, grounded in evidence-based methods like the Gottman Method, EFT, IFS, and EMDR, with room for every part of who you are. Clients of all backgrounds, identities, and family structures are welcome here.
Midlife transitions — Renegotiating roles, relationships, and identity as life shifts — on your own terms and at your own pace.
The weight of holding it all together — For the capable, high-achieving woman who's quietly running on empty. Space to set down some of what you've been carrying alone, and to reconnect with what you actually want.
Relationships and identity — Understanding the patterns you carry, the boundaries you want, and the version of yourself you're growing into.
Grief and loss — Aging parents, an empty nest, the endings that come with midlife. Support for the losses that don't always get named as grief.
LGBTQ+ individuals and couples — Affirming therapy for clients of every identity and relationship structure, from navigating identity and relationships to the everyday work of a partnership.
Building a blended family or step-parenting? We’ve got you. See Therapy for Stepparents
AREAS OF FOCUS
Working together can help you…
Navigate change with steadiness — Move through transitions with more clarity and less second-guessing.
Set down what you've been carrying alone — Loosen the grip of always being the capable one, and make room for your own needs.
Set boundaries that hold — Practice saying yes and no in ways that reflect what you actually want.
Feel understood in the room — Work with a therapist who makes space for your full story and experience.
Who you’ll work with
Leila Savage, AMFT Leila is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #160286) with particular focus on midlife transitions, relationships, and blended families. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and affirming, and she welcomes clients of every identity and family structure. Read Leila's bio · Schedule with Leila.
Leila Savage, AMFT #160286, is supervised by Melanie Wolf, LMFT #124745.
Melanie Wolf, LMFT Melanie is the founder of Common Ground Therapy Group and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #124745). She works with high-achieving women navigating midlife, identity, and the hidden cost of always being the one who gets things done, drawing on EFT, the Gottman Method, EMDR, and Complicated Grief Treatment. For clients who want it, she also integrates faith and meaning into the work. Read Melanie's bio · Schedule with Melanie
Ready to start?
The first step is a free 15-minute consultation — a chance to share what you're hoping to work on and find the right fit, whether that's Melanie or Leila.
FAQs
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Yes. You're welcome to request Melanie or Leila directly, or tell us a bit about what you're looking for in your consultation and we'll help you find the best fit. The two also differ in rate and availability, which can help you decide.
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Yes. Both Melanie and Leila see couples and are trained in the Gottman Method, a research-based approach to strengthening communication and connection. You can learn more on our Couples Counseling page.
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Yes — Therapy is available in person in Mission Valley, San Diego, and via telehealth throughout California.
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Melanie is a fully licensed LMFT. Leila is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, meaning she has completed her graduate training and is accruing her clinical hours for full licensure under Melanie's supervision. Both provide thoughtful, structured care; associate sessions are offered at a lower fee, with the added benefit of two clinical perspectives supporting your work.
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Fees vary by clinician. Individual sessions are $150 with Leila (AMFT) and $220 with Melanie (LMFT). Couples sessions are $170 with Leila and $220 with Melanie. Common Ground Therapy Group is a private-pay practice — we don't bill insurance, but we can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement. A Good Faith Estimate is available before you begin.
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It's a relaxed 15-minute phone call. You'll share a bit about what brings you to therapy and what you're hoping for, we'll describe how we work, and you'll get a feel for the right fit. There's no obligation to continue.