Biography
Paul Peel practiced Clinical Psychology in British Columbia for over 45 years (1980–2025) as a Registered Psychologist (CPBC Registration #644 & CACFT #2017847). Now retired from clinical practice, Paul continues to offer consulting and training services, bringing his signature integration of mindfulness meditation and evidence-based therapeutic approaches to his work with professionals.
From the beginning of his career, Paul studied and practiced with leading pathfinders and founders of family therapy, group psychotherapy, couples' and individual therapy, and organizational development.
His early teachers and inspirations include Virginia Satir, John Wallen, Nancy Rogers (Carl Rogers' daughter), Esalen's Michael Murphy (Fritz Perls' sponsor), David Burns, Allan Marlatt, Stanley Krippner, Dennis Jaffe, Marvin Weisbord, and other NTL Trainers. Throughout his career, Paul continued to study and was deeply influenced by Francine Shapiro, John Gottman, Les Greenberg, Sue Johnson, Stephen C. Hayes, Jeffrey Young, and Christine Padesky.
Profoundly influenced by both Satir and Wallen, Paul travelled to India in 1973 to study and experience a variety of approaches to meditation. He returned four more times, and in 1976 co-developed a month-long program integrating meditation and counselling. This program evolved into Canada's first university credit course: the Psychology of Meditation and Consciousness.
In the late 1980s, Paul co-developed Experiential Systemic Therapy with UBC faculty. He designed the curriculum to train psychotherapists throughout BC and research the efficacy of marital therapy with couples where alcohol abuse was present. This project grew into numerous theses and dissertations completed by UBC graduate students.
Paul began his EMDR training with Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1993 and is an EMDRIA Approved Therapist and Consultant. He pioneered the Teleclass format with the first EMDRIA-approved program, Mindfulness and EMDR, enabling him to offer training to professionals around the world.
In 1996, Paul attended the first course Dr. John Gottman offered to professionals on his evolving approach to couples therapy — now known as Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Paul became a Certified Gottman Therapist in 2006, bridging his previous training and experience with the latest research on relationship dynamics.
Paul lives with his wife in Vancouver, BC and has two adult children who live in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta.