Grayson Wallen LPCC
AUTHOR

Grayson Wallen LPCC

he/him/his

Licensing & Certifications:

  • California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor #12135
  • National Certified Counselor #1722710
  • Gottman 7 Principles Leader

Professional Background

I help relationships manage their conflicts and foster friendship that lasts a lifetime. I have been working with relationships my entire career as a therapist and was personally and professionally drawn to the Gottman Institute’s research and trainings to help relationships overcome their deepest disagreements and replace the bitterness of disagreement with friendship. I am currently completing certification track through the Gottman Institute and have completed clinical trainings 1, 2 and 3 as well as Treating Affairs and Trauma training and Couples in Addiction Recovery training courses.

Outside of relationship therapy, I also have significant training in a form of psychoanalytic therapy called, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (IS-TDP). IS-TDP focuses on getting to the heart of issues that make people depressed and anxious. IS-TDP also works very well for people with early childhood trauma or trauma that was in the context of an attachment relationship like parent, caregiver, spouse/partner, or someone in authority. I have been training and reading and applying IS-TDP theory to my sessions for the past 5 years and have various specialized trainings and supervisions. I am also enrolled in the International Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy Association’s Core Training for IS-TDP, which concludes late 2025.

My current focus in therapy is to help those with mood disorders, trauma and relationship distress. I do my best relationship therapy when couples are considering separating and wish to save their relationship. I also have personal and professional experiences helping first responders and military service members.

I generally see significant improvement in individual therapy after the first session; people who work with me tend to have significant symptom reduction within the first 5 sessions. Relationships go through an Assessment process which takes about 3-5 sessions and after that see changes within the next 3-5 sessions as well.

In the past I have also worked with hospice clients, both for those who are dying as well as in the bereavement process. I facilitated a spouse loss support group that met weekly to process and heal from the trauma of losing a spouse and moving forward after loss.

I also have professional experience working with people of faith seeking to work out their feelings with their faith. My master’s training was in a seminary which was a personal decision for me as a person seeking to make sense of faith and psychology together. I do not enforce, imply or suggest religious integration but can help out here if that is what people would like help doing.

Education

  • M.A., Counseling, Phoenix Seminary, 2018
  • B.S., Psychology, Grand Canyon University, 2015

Professional Affiliations

  • American Counseling Association
  • National Board of Certified Counselors

Why I Write for Choosing Therapy

I write articles that promote emotional-relational health for ChoosingTherapy.com because I value research-based content to be accessible and attainable to anyone. In the age of social media experts, I think that the content’s focus should come from a licensed mental health provider, carefully edited, and medically reviewed.

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Area of Focus

Grayson focuses on healing and resilience, addressing relationship challenges such as affairs and substance abuse, and offers trauma-informed care.

  • Relationship therapy, including counseling for those recovering from affairs or substance/alcohol abuse
  • Trauma informed therapy for early childhood trauma including trauma in relationships like parent-child, caregiver, person of authority, incest and abuse
  • Military and first responder resilience support
sexual compatibility

What Is Sexual Compatibility? 7 Signs You & Your Partner Are Sexually Compatible

Sexual compatibility is a popular way to think about sexual connection between partners, and of the overlapping ways the people in the relationship like to give and receive pleasure. The lack of sexual connection is one of the biggest reasons couples seek therapy, so it is important to understand and be confident in your relationship.

March 3, 2024
alcohol use disorder

Alcohol Use Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a brain disease resulting from chronic alcohol misuse. Individuals with AUD cannot stop drinking despite attempts or knowledge of possible consequences. Alcohol abuse may lead to health problems, withdrawal symptoms, or even death in cases of overdose or alcohol poisoning. However, various treatments are available to help those with AUD sustain recovery efforts.

March 3, 2024
Mutual Abuse Is It Real or a Myth

Mutual Abuse: Is It Real or a Myth?

Mutual abuse is the belief that people in abusive relationships can be co-abusive. However, the criteria for abuse include an imbalance of power, meaning one partner has more control over the other. An abuser can weaponize mutual abuse to shift blame onto the victim partner by claiming they were engaging in similar harmful behavior.

March 3, 2024
make up sex

Make Up Sex: What It Is, Benefits, & Drawbacks

Make up sex is intercourse you have after a fight with your partner. The contrast of sexual intimacy replacing relational tension can be harmful to your relationship long term. Having intense lovemaking after a heated or intense disagreement seems intuitive and can be a really enriching reminder of the relationship’s love and passion after separation. But the cycle of repeated conflict leading to passion could perpetuate the conflict as a means to feel close.

March 3, 2024

“For those who are looking to start their mental health healing, I would encourage you to accept whatever you realize about yourself, others or the past.People who have dissatisfying relationships do not have to continue in dissatisfaction. The research is clear that relationship satisfaction is based on respect and feeling like each person has influence in where the relationship is going.Sometimes not knowing what to say is ok. Your mind may not be ready to remember or discuss all that is going on. When you are ready the feelings and the words will come together and make sense. But this can take time.”