Galen Cole, PhD, MPH, LPC, NCC, ABCP, is a Master of Public Health, licensed professional counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, American Board Certified Psychotherapist, and a nationally certified hypnotherapist. Galen’s private practice consists largely of treating high conflict couples and adult clients referred with a history of trauma, mood problems and/or anxiety conditions. In addition to relying heavily on Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and Trauma-Centered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Galen has been recognized for his innovations around an emerging “3rd Wave CBT” psychotherapy known as Life Script Restructuring, which is described in his book by the same title (www.lifescriptrestructuring.com). 

Galen has taught counseling psychology, equine assisted mental health, behavioral and evaluation research, and a number of other counseling and health-related courses at the university level. He's been on the undergraduate and/or graduate faculty at Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University, Pennsylvania State University, and Emory University. Galen has extensive experience practicing what he teaches, including working on staff and as a consultant at numerous clinics, hospitals, and community based organizations; consulting on a number of popular television series (e.g., The Young and the Restless, Private Practice, The Big C, 90210, Chasing Life, Hostages) — He is currently the psychotherapist on the 7th and 8th seasons of the popular TLC reality show “The Seven Little Johnstons”; serving as the Executive Director of two different 501(c)3 Foundations; working as an Associate Director of the county public health department in Phoenix, Arizona; and working for 23 years as a research psychologist, behavioral scientist, and director of research, evaluation, and strategic communication activities in various centers, institutes, and offices at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2003, Galen was appointed by the Governor of Georgia to serve on the Georgia Human Resources (DHR) Board. In this capacity he served as chair of the DHR committee that provided policy guidance to the state Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases. After leaving CDC in 2014, Galen took a position as a Senior Mental Health Strategist and Thought Leader at the American Institutes for Research (AIR), headquartered in Washington, D.C. In this position he led the development of AIR’s vision and creative strategies to address the mental health needs of the nation. Galen has served on numerous local, regional, and national boards of directors, including the Board of Professional Counselors at the American Psychotherapy Association. He recently served as President of the Georgia Association of Licensed Professional Counselors. In addition to his private practice, Galen is the CEO of the Alive and Well Foundation (www.aliveandwellfoundation.org). He also currently travels throughout the U.S. conducting intensive continuing education workshops on “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques for Everyday Clinical Practice.” 

Galen has been a trainer and consultant in the Central Asian Republics, Nigeria, China, Thailand, Kenya, Switzerland, Australia, Peru, Germany, Uganda, and the Middle East, where he has consulted and conducted trainings with the Palestinian Health Authority, the Israeli Ministry of Health, and many other NGOs. He has also provided technical support to a number of prominent international organizations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); the World Bank; Hollywood, Health and Society (HH&S); and the World Health Organization (WHO). Galen has published numerous books and scientific papers and made presentations at conferences and training seminars across the world. In recognition of his many accomplishments, Galen has received distinguished alumni awards from two of the universities he attended. He and his wife Priscilla have been married since 1975 and are the parents of 5 adult children.