San Diego Institute for Couples & Families

San Diego Institute for Couples & Families Repairing, Rebuilding and Restoring Relationships. Our mission is to help our clients, whether it be individuals, couples, family or children.

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Located in Mission Valley & Scripps Ranch Repairing, Rebuilding and Restoring Relationships

Relationships are our focus at the San Diego Institute for Couples and Families. Our mission is to help our clients repair, rebuild, restore and revitalize their significant relationships. We know it is better not to be alone and connection with others makes us stronger and hea

lthier. We work with children, adults, couples and families using proven, effective methods which help decrease relational distress and deepen connection. Our therapists also provide educational workshops, retreats and training. We have offices in Mission Valley and Scripps Ranch.

04/26/2026

The San Diego Institute for Couples and Families recognizes that building strong relationships creates happier individuals and families leading to stronger communities. Our research-based therapeutic approaches are successful in assisting individuals and couples find a number of workable solutions. Each therapist is specifically trained, on an ongoing basis, in couples counseling as well as individual and family therapy.

Learn about our therapy services at sdicouples.com

We know how to help you!

04/19/2026

“Spiritual direction is the sacred practice of meeting with someone (a spiritual director) who seeks to help you explore the spiritual dimension of your life. In Christian spiritual direction, the goal is to help you see, hear, and recognize the voice and movement of God in your life. Spiritual direction distinctly focuses on a relationship with God - discovering, deepening, and responding to that relationship in the various seasons of your faith journey.”

- Melanie Wolf, LMFT

Read more the benefits of seeking spiritual direction at sdicouples.com/sdicblog/2019/7/25/could-spritual-direction-be-for-you

We know how to help you!

04/12/2026

Imprints of our family last forever!

Families are surrounded by different pressures and challenges; attempting to manage these unique difficulties can be overwhelming. Our therapists have extensively trained in the best family therapy training and love to come along side of families to support and guide each member so that healthier interactions and stronger attachments can occur.

Topics include:
• Parenting
• Life Adjustments
• Child Centered Play Therapy
• Adolescent and Peer Group Problems
• Launching and Empty Nest Issues
• Self-Harm and Cutting
• Depression and Anxiety
• Grief and Loss
• Caring for the Elderly
• Sickness
• Divorce

Learn all about our therapists and services at sdicouples.com

We know how to help you!

“Do not feel sad for your tears, as rocks never regret the waterfalls.” – Munia Khan“Trauma and grief are always complic...
04/05/2026

“Do not feel sad for your tears, as rocks never regret the waterfalls.”
– Munia Khan

“Trauma and grief are always complicated. For this reason, it can be incredibly scary to face the past but you will be surprised as to what happens to you when you do. When traumatic memories come to you, it is your body's way of asking you to please organize and make sense of the memory. When you repress this, your body and mind will continue to ask.”

- Marlee Cornue Therapy, LPCC

Read more about healing trauma with therapy at sdicouples.com/sdicblog/2021/5/13/example-of-healing-childhood-trauma-through-therapy

We know how to help you!

03/29/2026

“What we know matters, but who we are matters more.”
- Brené Brown

The San Diego Institute for Couples and Families never forgets that couples and families consist of individuals! Individuals come to us for a variety of difficulties encompassing emotional issues, relational problems, spiritual issues, addictions, trauma, life transitions, and abuse issues. We want you to know that you are not alone, we are here to help you start to heal and feel like yourself again.

Schedule an appointment with us at sdicouples.com/individual-therapy

We know how to help you!

03/22/2026

“Build a ritual into your day, week, or month that invests in your marriage. It’s challenging to find time if you haven’t planned it. Just like anything else, we build habits by developing rituals and repeating them. Build the habit of caring for your relationship in small ways. Prepare him/her coffee or tea, ask how you can be praying for him or her today, spend a few minutes before bed listening to a podcast and discussing it.”

- Bucky Bateman, LMFT

Read more about habits that connect couples at sdicouples.com/sdicblog/2019/3/31/habits-that-connect-couples

We know how to help you!

03/22/2026

“Build a ritual into your day, week, or month that invests in your marriage. It’s challenging to find time if you haven’t planned it. Just like anything else, we build habits by developing rituals and repeating them. Build the habit of caring for your relationship in small ways. Prepare him/her coffee or tea, ask how you can be praying for him or her today, spend a few minutes before bed listening to a podcast and discussing it.”

- Bucky Bateman, LMFT

Read more about habits that connect couples at sdicouples.com/sdicblog/2019/3/31/habits-that-connect-couples

We know how to help you!

03/15/2026

The window of tolerance refers to the optimal range of arousal in which a person can function effectively and cope with stress. When within this window, individuals can process emotions, think clearly, and respond to challenges without feeling overwhelmed. If stress pushes someone outside this window, they may experience hyperarousal (feeling anxious, panicked) or hypoarousal (feeling numb, disconnected). Understanding one’s window of tolerance is important for emotional regulation and mental health, as it helps recognize when support or coping strategies are needed to return to a balanced state.

For support on effectively coping with stress, reach out to us at sdicouples.com/contact

We know how to help you!

03/08/2026

Couples Therapy is at the heart of what we do! Utilizing the model Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, we help couples find that place of refuge with one another where reconnecting can begin. Our well-trained Marital Therapists will create a unique treatment plan designed specifically for each couple’s needs.

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, also known as EFT, a model founded by Dr. Sue Johnson, uses nine steps and three stages to help couples to:

• To expand and re-organize emotional responses and be able to express them to each other in a safe and non-threatening environment
• To initiate a new cycles of interaction between a couples and teach them how to stay out of the one that leaves them disconnected and alone
• To mend deep wounds created in the relationship or from wounds in one’s past that find themselves appearing or impacting the relationship
• To foster the creation of a secure bond in the relationship
Research studies find that 70-75% of couples move from distress to recovery and approximately 90% show significant improvements.

Learn more about Couples Therapy at SDICF here: sdicouples.com/couplestherapy

We know how to help you!

03/08/2026

Couples Therapy is at the heart of what we do! Utilizing the model Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, we help couples find that place of refuge with one another where reconnecting can begin. Our well-trained Marital Therapists will create a unique treatment plan designed specifically for each couple’s needs.

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, also known as EFT, a model founded by Dr. Sue Johnson, uses nine steps and three stages to help couples to:

• To expand and re-organize emotional responses and be able to express them to each other in a safe and non-threatening environment
• To initiate a new cycles of interaction between a couples and teach them how to stay out of the one that leaves them disconnected and alone
• To mend deep wounds created in the relationship or from wounds in one’s past that find themselves appearing or impacting the relationship
• To foster the creation of a secure bond in the relationship
Research studies find that 70-75% of couples move from distress to recovery and approximately 90% show significant improvements.

Learn more about Couples Therapy at SDICF here: sdicouples.com/couplestherapy

We know how to help you!

03/01/2026

Spring is almost here! For those of us who are still dealing with seasonal depression, remember to take advantage of the longer days. Step outside your house or office and enjoy the sunshine! If that isn’t possible, consider using a light therapy box. Stay active, eat healthy, and keep a consistent sleep routine to boost your mood. Staying connected with friends and doing things you enjoy can make a big difference.

If you're struggling, therapy or even a vitamin D supplement can help. Prioritizing self-care and a steady routine can make the darker months feel a little brighter.

Learn more about individual therapy and our other services at sdicouples.com

We know how to help you!

02/22/2026

“Secure relationships are not the icing on the cake but are integral to our well-being. We cannot escape that it is a core part of our nature to need other people - to long for a secure attachment with another, to reach out to another for acceptance, to love another person in return. All human beings are looking for a safe relationship where we know our partner has our back, and science is showing us this is true from the day we are born until the day we die!”
- Mary Cipriani, LMFT & Owner/Director of SDICF

Learn more about The Scientific Case for Marriage & Couples at sdicouples.com/sdicblog/2019/2/22/the-scientific-case-for-marriage-and-couples

We know how to help you!

Address

2831 Camino Del Rio South, #201 And 10065 Old Grove Road, #102
San Diego, CA
92108

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 9pm
Tuesday 7am - 9pm
Wednesday 7am - 9pm
Thursday 7am - 9pm
Friday 7am - 9pm
Saturday 7am - 5pm

Telephone

+16195421052

Website

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Repairing, Rebuilding and Restoring Relationships Relationships are our focus at the San Diego Institute for Couples and Families. Our mission is to help our clients repair, rebuild, restore and revitalize their significant relationships. We know it is better not to be alone and connection with others makes us stronger and healthier. We work with children, adults, couples and families using proven, effective methods which help decrease relational distress and deepen connection. Our therapists also provide educational workshops, retreats and training. We have offices in Mission Valley and Scripps Ranch.