Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. He has worked as a clinician for 27 years in many direct care service roles, including as an outpatient therapist, a clinician in a physical rehabilitation hospital, in mobile crisis intervention and critical incident stress, as a prison clinician and as an adjunct psychology professor at Bay Path University.

Throughout his career, Paul has also served in a variety of executive roles including as the Neuropsychology Manager in an acute care hospital and outpatient clinic, the Division Director of Mobile Crisis Services for an 8-county area, as Executive Director of youth and family services organizations, and as the Executive Director of Academy at Swift River Therapeutic Boarding School. Paul is currently Vice President of Service Operations at the Brien Center, where he also serves as director of the Behavioral Health Community Partners program.