Relational, compassionate, and trauma-informed.

Hi! I’m Jeff Paulez (he/him),

I’m a Licensed Psychologist and passionate about supporting people on their life journeys. I believe each of us is deeply worthy of love and belonging. I also know we are each deserving and capable of living meaningful lives. Being human is messy. You don’t have to do it alone. See more below and check out my approach to therapy.

Human Credentials

Husband, papa, friend, queer / LGBTQ+ community member, book lover, nerd, hiker, skier, music enthusiast, traveler, coffee lover.

I am a white, cisgender queer/gay man. I was raised in conservative religious circles (Evangelical Christian) and had to fight for my dignity and self-worth. I also had to make space for myself and find community and relationships where I could be truly seen. I am now spiritual and practice rituals of grounding and healing through nature, movement, music, solitude, and community.

My relationships teach me—daily. I have been shaped, moved, and inspired by the people in my life. I deeply know we are wired for meaningful connection and belonging.

I grew up in the Midwest and went to college in the South of the United States. I have also lived in South Africa and India and especially grew from experiences of being in the minority racially and culturally. In 2013, I moved to Colorado for graduate school and have been rooted here ever since. Opportunities to travel have both expanded my understanding of the world and helped me learn to carry an internal sense of home wherever I go.

My experiences, travels, and relationships have made clear how real the impacts of social privilege and oppression are in our lives. They have also made clear how much I love the diversity of humanity — people, cultures, ways of being. We have so much to offer each other and so much to learn from each other.

I have felt the pain of judgment, discrimination, isolation, and internal turmoil around struggling to accept parts of me because of how I am treated and how society stereotypes those like me. Personally and professionally, I love people and fight for justice, equality, and dignity for each of us.

Mental Health Credentials & Higher Education

  • Licensed Psychologist in Colorado

  • PSYPACT Authorized

  • Former Trauma Psychologist at Colorado State University

  • DBT-Informed Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship at Colorado State University

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counseling Psychology, University of Northern Colorado (American Psychological Association [APA]-Accredited)

  • Pre-Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology (APA-Accredited) at Colorado State University

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology, Minor in English Literature, Union University

  • Member of the American Psychological Association (APA)

  • Elected Member-at-Large for Division 44 (Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity) of the APA

  • Co-Chair of the Religion and Spirituality Committee for Division 44 of the APA

  • Former Co-Chair of the Clinical Issues Committee for Division 44 of the APA

Professional Affiliations

Commons reasons people contact me

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Trauma, including PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)

  • Experiences of discrimination and oppression (including racism, sexism, heterosexism, cisgenderism, sizeism, and other identity-based prejudice)

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Grief & loss

  • Familial and relationship trauma

  • Spiritual and/or religious trauma

  • Queer / LGBTQ+ community healing and support

  • Sexual identity exploration

  • Gender identity exploration

  • Spiritual exploration

Questions?

Contact me.

Find your

Wander Haven.