I’m glad you’re here.
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist who works exclusively with couples—particularly those with high levels of responsibility, visibility, or professional pressure—who want their relationship to be as strong and intentional as the rest of their lives. In our work together, I pay close attention to both the what and the how. Often, it's not the problem itself that causes the most pain, but how it is discussed (or avoided). My role is to help you slow down and reconnect in ways that feel meaningful and real.
This work is personal to me. My partner is hearing and I am deaf, though I hear and speak with a cochlear implant. Like many of the couples I work with, we both maintain demanding careers and busy schedules. It often feels like a delicate dance—one that requires coordination; flexibility; and intentional, mutual effort. I’d like to say I have a nuanced understanding of intimacy as I know firsthand what it means to love someone across a real divide.
Therapy is not simply about reducing conflict. It is about restoring a sense of partnership, rebuilding emotional safety, and creating a shared vision for the future—one that supports both your personal connection and your professional ambitions. When a relationship is functioning well, it becomes a stabilizing force rather than another source of stress. I’ll help you get there with clarity, structure, and care.
My practice is fully remote, designed with privacy and flexibility in mind. Sessions take place in a secure, confidential setting without waiting rooms, commutes, or administrative friction. This format allows you to engage in meaningful, consistent work while maintaining the discretion and efficiency your professional life requires.
DR. CONNOR MCLAREN, PH.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
FOUNDER, COMMON GROUND PSYCHOLOGY
Credentials & Expertise
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Experience across university counseling centers, community mental health centers, and private practices
Licensed psychologist in Virginia
Specialties include high-achieving couples, affair recovery, partners navigating salient differences, and premarital counseling
Informed by emotionally-focused, cognitive-behavioral, attachment-based, psychodynamic/relational, Imago, and Gottman Method therapies for couples
B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
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As of now, I am licensed to practice in Virginia. This means that all partners need to be physically located in Virginia at the time of the session.
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In addition to English, I am fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). I welcome clients who are Deaf or hard of hearing — including couples where partners use different modes of communication. If you have questions about accessibility or communication in our work together, please reach out.
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Couples work isn't a side offering here — it's the whole practice, which means every session is informed by focused training and experience in relationship dynamics. I also hold a doctorate in clinical psychology, which equips me to recognize and work with more complex clinical presentations. When one or both partners is navigating significant mental health concerns alongside relationship distress, I can address those threads together rather than treating them as separate problems.
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Couples come to me from different places: different communication styles, different histories, and different ways of making sense of conflict. My job isn't to pick a side or hand down a verdict. It's to help you find the common ground where real understanding — and real change — becomes possible.
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I’ll gladly share this with you during our free consultation.
Have more questions?