Clients struggling with trauma, anxiety, and life’s inevitable hardships – and organisations seeking to build genuine employee well-being rather than superficial wellness programs – can need more than traditional approaches to create lasting positive change. Jonah Paquette has dedicated his career to translating cutting-edge research from positive psychology and well-being science into practical tools that help individuals and organisations not just recover from difficulties, but actually thrive in their aftermath.
As Assistant Regional Director of Mental Health Training at Kaiser Permanente, where he helped oversee large mental health training programs spanning 20 medical centers, and co-host of “The Happy Hour” psychology podcast, Dr. Paquette represents the unique combination of clinical expertise and accessible communication that makes complex research immediately applicable. His four books – including Awestruck: How Embracing Wonder Can Make You Happier, Healthier, and More Connected and Happily Even After: Practices for Finding Well-Being After Trauma and Hardship – demonstrate his exceptional ability to distill decades of happiness research into evidence-based practices that create measurable improvements in both individual and organisational well-being.
Dr. Paquette’s expertise spans positive psychology, well-being science, awe and wonder research, post-traumatic growth, anxiety disorders, PTSD treatment, CBT, resilience training, and organisational well-being. His approach recognises that true mental health goes beyond symptom reduction to encompass the cultivation of positive emotions, meaning, engagement, and connection. He specialises in helping clients and organisations move from merely surviving difficult circumstances to discovering how challenges can become catalysts for growth, meaning, and deeper well-being.
What sets his training apart is research rigor combined with practical accessibility. Paquette doesn’t just teach theoretical concepts – he shows practitioners and organisations how to implement specific, evidence-based interventions that measurably increase happiness, resilience, and connection. His international keynote presentations and workshops demonstrate his exceptional ability to make complex well-being science immediately actionable for diverse audiences.
For your practice, expect to gain specific interventions from positive psychology research, tools for helping clients discover post-traumatic growth, and frameworks for integrating well-being science with traditional therapeutic approaches. His methods particularly benefit clinicians wanting to move beyond symptom-focused treatment, those working with trauma survivors, or practitioners interested in preventive and strength-based interventions.
Quick Win: Paquette’s “awe walk” technique helps clients shift from rumination and anxiety to present-moment awareness and positive emotion – which can provide significant mood improvement while building long-term resilience.
Qualifications
- PsyD, Clinical Psychology, PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, Palo Alto, CA (APA-accredited)
- BA, Psychology and History, Columbia University, New York
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, California
- Over 10 years healthcare leadership experience at Kaiser Permanente
Authored Books
- Happily Even After: Practices for Finding Well-Being After Trauma and Hardship (2022)
- Awestruck: How Embracing Wonder Can Make You Happier, Healthier, and More Connected (2020)
- The Happiness Toolbox: 60+ Evidence-Based Activities for Greater Joy (2018)
- Real Happiness: Proven Paths for Contentment, Peace & Well-Being (2015)
Leadership & Training
- Assistant Regional Director, Mental Health Training, Kaiser Permanente, Northern California
- Training Director, APA-Accredited Postdoctoral Residency Program, Kaiser Permanente
- Clinical Psychologist, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco Bay Area
- Co-host, “The Happy Hour” Psychology Podcast, current
Professional Experience
- Author & International Speaker, Keynote Presentations & Workshops, 2015–present
- Clinical Psychologist, Veterans Affairs hospitals
- Psychologist, Community mental health clinics and outpatient medical centers
- Counselor, College counseling centers
- Private Practice Clinician
Clinical Specialties
- Positive psychology and well-being science applications
- Post-traumatic growth and resilience building
- Awe, wonder, and positive emotion cultivation
- Anxiety disorders and PTSD treatment using strength-based approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) integration with positive psychology
- Trauma therapy with focus on growth and meaning-making
- Organisational well-being and emotional fitness programs
Research & Innovation Areas
- Translation of happiness research into practical interventions
- Evidence-based activities for joy and well-being enhancement
- Integration of awe and wonder into therapeutic practice
- Resilience training for individuals and organisations
- Post-traumatic growth facilitation techniques
Ready to help clients not just recover from hardship but discover new levels of well-being and meaning? Discover how Dr. Paquette’s evidence-based positive psychology methods can help transform your ability to cultivate lasting happiness, resilience, and growth in both individual and organisational settings.