GREATER HOUSTON · COMMON GROUNDS

Coffee.
Conversation.
Professional
connections.

Common Grounds connects mental health professionals across Greater Houston, along with local school counselors and school administrators, through free, informal networking events over coffee and light bites.

Request Event Invitations

Local connections. Shared purpose. Always a warm welcome.

Common Grounds attendees connecting at a coffee networking event

A little coffee.
A lot of common ground.

900 professionals3 events each year1 city we loveFree to join. Free to attend.

OUR STORY

Meaningful connections
can make a meaningful difference.

Mental health professionals bring a wide range of specialties to their work. Yet busy schedules can leave little time to meet colleagues, learn about their expertise, and build relationships that lead to well-matched referrals.

Evan Weinberger, Liz Ross, and Leah Clionsky founded Common Grounds to make those connections easier.

The idea was simple: create an efficient, welcoming opportunity for professionals to get to know one another, support each other’s work, and connect more often with the clients and areas of practice they find most rewarding.

Today, Common Grounds brings together around 900 professionals across Greater Houston. Our events offer time to step away from a busy day, enjoy coffee, and build relationships with people who share a commitment to supporting our community.

What began as an idea among three colleagues has grown into a community of around 900 professionals filled with love for our city and passion for supporting local families.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND COMMON GROUNDS

Meet the Co-Hosts

Evan Weinberger, Liz Ross, and Leah Clionsky.
Three colleagues bringing Houston’s professional community together.

Evan Weinberger

Founder & CEO

Staying Ahead of the Game

A recognized expert in executive function, Evan Weinberger has spent over two decades helping students become more organized, motivated, confident, and independent. Under his leadership, Staying Ahead of the Game has grown into a nationally recognized academic coaching organization headquartered in Texas and supporting students nationwide.

Evan’s graduate work focused on industrial/organizational psychology, and his connection to mental health began with his father, Dr. Robert Weinberger, a nationally known clinical psychologist and speaker. Today, Evan delivers practical, research-informed presentations to parents, educators, and professionals across the country. He co-founded and co-hosts Common Grounds to help Houston professionals build meaningful relationships and connect more often with the work they find most rewarding.

Liz Ross, Ph.D.

Founder & Psychologist

The Coping Resource Center

Dr. Liz Ross is a clinical psychologist and founder of The Coping Resource Center in Houston. She helps teens and adults navigate trauma, chronic medical conditions, pain, sleep difficulties, and major life transitions, combining evidence-based treatments with practical skills that support resilience and greater independence.

A Houston native, Liz earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Houston and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Her experience spans hospitals, rehabilitation programs, and private practice, including work at TIRR Memorial Hermann. A past president of the Houston Psychological Association, she values collaboration among clinicians and brings that commitment to her role as a Common Grounds co-founder and co-host.

Leah Clionsky, Ph.D.

Founder & Psychologist

The Thriving Child Center & PCIT Experts

Dr. Leah Clionsky is a clinical psychologist and founder of The Thriving Child Center and PCIT Experts. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families, emphasizing treatments supported by research and matching people with the expertise most helpful for their needs.

Leah earned her master’s degree and doctorate at the University of Florida and completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Trained by the developer of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, she is a certified regional PCIT trainer and a certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy therapist. Her work includes clinical care, professional training, and practical parenting education. As a Common Grounds co-founder and co-host, she helps bring Houston’s professional community together.

OUR EVENTS

Good coffee.
Easy conversation.
Room to connect.

Common Grounds hosts three casual, unstructured networking events each year, usually around September, January, and May. We take a summer break, when many professionals travel with their families.

Each event brings colleagues together over coffee and light bites. There is no formal networking agenda: introduce yourself, reconnect with familiar faces, learn about another professional’s specialties, and let the conversation develop naturally.

Joining the invitation list is free, and attending our current networking events is free.

Event invitations are sent through Evite and include the date, location, and RSVP details. Attendance is subject to each venue’s capacity.

Colleagues smiling together at a Common Grounds event — Real connections, over coffee.

01January

A fresh start. Familiar faces.

02May

Connect before summer.

03September

Back together for fall.

JOIN US

Your next connection
starts here.

Interested in receiving Common Grounds event invitations?

If you are a mental health professional based in Greater Houston, a local school counselor, or a local school administrator, complete the form to request a place on our Evite invitation list.

The co-hosts review every request. Joining the list is free.

A FEW HELPFUL ANSWERS

Common questions.

Who are the co-founders and co-hosts of Common Grounds?

Common Grounds was co-founded by Evan Weinberger of Staying Ahead of the Game, Liz Ross of The Coping Resource Center, and Leah Clionsky of The Thriving Child Center and PCIT Experts. All three continue to co-host its networking events.

Who can join the Common Grounds networking community?

The Common Grounds invitation list is open to mental health professionals based in Greater Houston, along with local school counselors and school administrators, subject to co-host approval. Our events are designed to support connections among these professionals. As the community grows, we carefully consider requests to preserve that purpose and respect the capacity of our event venues. General business marketing interest alone does not qualify.

Is there a fee to join Common Grounds or attend events?

No. Joining the Evite invitation list is free, and attending our current coffee networking events is free. At present, “joining Common Grounds” simply means being approved to receive invitations to these events. There is no paid membership program at this time.

What happens at Common Grounds networking events?

Our events are casual, unstructured opportunities to meet colleagues over coffee and light bites. You can introduce yourself, learn about other professionals’ specialties, exchange ideas, and build relationships that support referrals and collaboration. There is no formal networking agenda.

Where are Common Grounds networking events held?

Events are held in Greater Houston. Each Evite invitation includes the venue, address, and other event details.

How often does Common Grounds hold networking events?

We generally host three events each year, usually around September, January, and May. We skip summer, when many professionals travel with their families. Specific dates are provided in event invitations.

Can I guest co-host a Common Grounds networking event?

Eligible Houston-based mental health practices, local schools, and occasionally other organizations may be considered as guest co-hosts for a particular event. Guest co-hosting requires a separate agreement, digitally signed by the guest co-host and all three Common Grounds co-founders and co-hosts. An arrangement is approved only when all required signatures have been completed. To discuss a potential opportunity, contact one of the co-hosts below.

Does Common Grounds hold any other types of events?

Currently, Common Grounds offers three casual coffee-centered networking events each year. Smaller, curated gatherings and events with an educational component have been discussed, but there are no announced dates for additional formats at this time.

Let’s talk.

For questions about Common Grounds or potential guest co-host opportunities, contact:

Coffee.Conversation.Professionalconnections.

Meaningful connectionscan make a meaningful difference.