In this episode of The Intentional Clinician podcast, host Paul Krauss MA LPC interviews Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona about her personal and professional expertise in anxiety and panic attacks, exploring how her own experiences with fear-based struggles have shaped her compassionate, research-based approach to helping others. Dr. Z candidly shares her journey of being someone whose behaviors were shaped by anxiety-from overthinking relationship decisions to second-guessing everyday choices like purchases and wardrobe selections-and how these experiences give her unique insight into working with overachievers and overthinkers who get stuck in "playing-it-safe" behaviors. The conversation delves into her Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) framework, which provides actionable skills to help people recognize how fear and anxiety can hijack their daily lives in unlimited ways, teaching them to stop avoiding discomfort and instead take value-driven action toward what truly matters to them, transforming anxiety from a barrier into a catalyst for courageous living.
Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona known as Dr. Z, is a psychologist originally from Bolivia who has been living and practicing in the Bay Area for over 20 years, with more than 18 years of clinical experience specializing in anxiety-based struggles. She is the Director of the East Bay Behavior Therapy Center and was nominated as a Fellow of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science in 2019, recognition for her expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Z has delivered a TEDx talk titled "Stop Playing-it-Safe and Start Living!" that has garnered over 265,000 views, published seven workbooks on anxiety, and developed the Playing-it-Safe Questionnaire to help individuals identify their fear-based behavioral patterns. She works primarily with overachievers and overthinkers across all age groups, helping them break free from ineffective playing-it-safe actions so they can engage in what works, what matters, and what they genuinely care about through her therapy practice, online courses, and published resources.
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Paul Krauss MA LPC is a Cofounder of Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids, home of The Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids. Paul is also a Private Practice Psychotherapist, an Approved EMDRIA Consultant , host of the Intentional Clinician podcast, Behavioral Health Consultant, Clinical Trainer, Counseling Supervisor, and Meditation Teacher. Paul is now offering consulting for a few individuals and organizations. Paul is the creator of the National Violence Prevention Hotline as well as the Intentional Clinician Training Program for Counselors. Paul has been quoted in the Washington Post, NBC News, Wired Magazine, and Counseling Today. Questions? Call the office at 616-200-4433.
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Original Music:
”Alright” from the album Mystic by PAWL (Spotify)
“Miss Modular” from Dots and Loops by Stereolab (Spotify)
