Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy in Pittsford, NY

Relationships are not a destination — they are a continuous, living process of connection, disconnection, and repair. When the disconnections start to feel bigger than the reconnections, therapy can help.

I offer couples therapy rooted in Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), a framework developed at the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute that centers the idea that human beings grow through connection, not in spite of it. Rather than focusing solely on communication techniques or conflict resolution skills, our work together explores what happens in the space between you — how each of you experiences connection and disconnection, what gets in the way of mutual empathy, and what it would feel like to truly be known by your partner.

What Brings Couples to Therapy

Couples come to therapy at many different moments. You don't need to be in crisis to begin. People seek couples therapy for all kinds of reasons, including:

• A pattern of conflict that leaves both partners feeling unheard or shut down

• Disconnection that has grown quietly over time — less intimacy, less ease, less "us"

• A specific rupture — infidelity, a major loss, a life transition — that has shaken the foundation of the relationship

• Navigating an eating disorder or other mental health challenge that is affecting the relationship

• Wanting to deepen the relationship before stress or distance takes hold

• Life changes — a new baby, a career shift, a move, an empty nest — that have left you feeling out of sync

Whatever brings you in, you don't have to have the right words for it yet. That's what we're here to figure out together.

My Approach

I work from a relational, trauma-informed perspective that takes seriously the ways that larger forces — family history, culture, systemic inequity, and early relational experiences — shape how we show up in our closest relationships. I am particularly attuned to how issues of body image, food, and eating disorders ripple through relationships, and I have extensive experience supporting couples where one or both partners are navigating eating disorder recovery.

In our sessions, I am not a neutral referee. I am an engaged, curious presence who will work to understand each of you — your histories, your patterns, your longings — and help you understand each other more fully. The goal is not a conflict-free relationship. The goal is a relationship where conflict can be survived, where repair is possible, and where both partners feel genuinely seen.

Sessions are typically 90 minutes and are available in person in Pittsford, NY and via telehealth for clients throughout New York State.

Who I Work With

I welcome couples of all structures, identities, and relationship configurations. I am affirming of LGBTQ+ relationships, non-traditional relationship structures, and partners from diverse cultural backgrounds. I bring an anti-oppressive lens to this work and recognize that the broader world each couple lives in — and the ways they have been seen or unseen within it — matters enormously in the therapy room.

Getting Started

Couples therapy begins with an initial intake session where we get a sense of each other and talk about what you're hoping for. From there, we'll determine together what a regular cadence of sessions might look like for you.

If you have questions before scheduling, you're welcome to reach out directly at connect@daytonwalsh.com or 585-210-2028.

Schedule an Intake Appointment →

Dayton R. Walsh, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist providing couples therapy in Pittsford, NY, serving the greater Rochester area and offering telehealth to clients across New York State.