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PLAYING-IT-SAFE

PLAYING-IT-SAFE

By: Dr. Z. - Patricia Zurita Ona Psy.D.
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I'm Dr. Z., a clinical psychologist and an author. In PLAYING-IT-SAFE I will share with you research based-skills, interviews, readings, insights, tips, and all types of curated info to get unstuck from worries, anxieties, fears, obsessions, and ineffective playing-it-safe actions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patricia Zurita Ona, Psy.D.
Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • 98. The Goal Trap: Why Your Goals are Keeping You Stuck
    Jun 22 2026

    "I want to finish this project" sounds like moving toward something. But, underneath it is often "I'm terrified of what it means if I don't."


    New episode of Playing-It-Safe: the three goal traps and the research on what actually produces commitment, satisfaction, and follow-through.


    What would you do this week if you weren't playing-it-safe?

    _______


    STOP LETTING ANXIETY MAKE YOUR DECISIONS


    WHO AM I?


    My name is Patricia E. Zurita Ona, but my clients call me Dr. Z.


    I’m a psychologist, a passionate behaviorist, and a person that loves to make behavioral science accessible for day-to-day life. I specialize in Acceptance and Commitment skills (ACT), a form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).


    I have significant experience – over 18 years – working with individuals dealing with anxiety-based struggles such as perfectionism, procrastination, chronic indecision, phobias, OCD, panic, worry, and any other anxiety-related difficulties.


    I've published books on ACT, given a TEDx talk with 260K+ views, founded East Bay Behavior Therapy Center, and spent two decades proving one thing: Your anxiety doesn't need fixing. It needs listening to. Because most of the time, anxiety is just trying to keep you safe, the problem is when "safe" becomes "stuck." And once you know the difference, everything changes.


    My website is packed with resources, courses and content that will help you break free from those "playing-it-safe" moves and make the most out of your life!


    GET ACT SKILLS IN YOUR INBOX:


    Sign up to my newsletter to get actionable skills into your inbox! https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-newsletter/


    HERE IS WHERE TO START:


    1. TAKE THE PLAYING-IT-SAFE QUESTIONNAIRE: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-questionnaire/


    2. ONLINE COURSES: https://courses.thisisdoctorz.com/


    3. PODCAST: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-podcast/


    4. BOOKS: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/books/


    5. BLOG: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-blog/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
  • 97. Your Mind is Lying to You About Why You Can't Start
    Jun 15 2026

    Your mind has a highly convincing list of reasons why right now isn’t the right time.


    In this episode, we unpack why those excuses sound so incredibly rational, how your brain uses them to keep you safe (and stuck), and the one behavioral shift that actually moves you forward.

    _______


    STOP LETTING ANXIETY MAKE YOUR DECISIONS


    WHO AM I?


    My name is Patricia E. Zurita Ona, but my clients call me Dr. Z.


    I’m a psychologist, a passionate behaviorist, and a person that loves to make behavioral science accessible for day-to-day life. I specialize in Acceptance and Commitment skills (ACT), a form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).


    I have significant experience – over 18 years – working with individuals dealing with anxiety-based struggles such as perfectionism, procrastination, chronic indecision, phobias, OCD, panic, worry, and any other anxiety-related difficulties.


    I've published books on ACT, given a TEDx talk with 260K+ views, founded East Bay Behavior Therapy Center, and spent two decades proving one thing: Your anxiety doesn't need fixing. It needs listening to. Because most of the time, anxiety is just trying to keep you safe, the problem is when "safe" becomes "stuck." And once you know the difference, everything changes.


    My website is packed with resources, courses and content that will help you break free from those "playing-it-safe" moves and make the most out of your life!


    GET ACT SKILLS IN YOUR INBOX:


    Sign up to my newsletter to get actionable skills into your inbox! https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-newsletter/


    HERE IS WHERE TO START:


    1. TAKE THE PLAYING-IT-SAFE QUESTIONNAIRE: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-questionnaire/


    2. ONLINE COURSES: https://courses.thisisdoctorz.com/


    3. PODCAST: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-podcast/


    4. BOOKS: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/books/


    5. BLOG: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-blog/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • 96. The Second Arrow, Why Being Hard on Yourself is Keeping You Stuck
    Jun 7 2026

    Most high achievers believe being hard on themselves is what keeps them sharp.


    The research disagrees.


    People with higher self-compassion show greater motivation after failure, not less. And they procrastinate significantly less.


    New episode of the Playing-It-Safe Podcast: why the second arrow might be the thing most keeping you stuck.


    What would you do this week if you weren't playing-it-safe?

    _______


    STOP LETTING ANXIETY MAKE YOUR DECISIONS


    WHO AM I?


    My name is Patricia E. Zurita Ona, but my clients call me Dr. Z.


    I’m a psychologist, a passionate behaviorist, and a person that loves to make behavioral science accessible for day-to-day life. I specialize in Acceptance and Commitment skills (ACT), a form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).


    I have significant experience – over 18 years – working with individuals dealing with anxiety-based struggles such as perfectionism, procrastination, chronic indecision, phobias, OCD, panic, worry, and any other anxiety-related difficulties.


    I've published books on ACT, given a TEDx talk with 260K+ views, founded East Bay Behavior Therapy Center, and spent two decades proving one thing: Your anxiety doesn't need fixing. It needs listening to. Because most of the time, anxiety is just trying to keep you safe, the problem is when "safe" becomes "stuck." And once you know the difference, everything changes.


    My website is packed with resources, courses and content that will help you break free from those "playing-it-safe" moves and make the most out of your life!


    GET ACT SKILLS IN YOUR INBOX:


    Sign up to my newsletter to get actionable skills into your inbox! https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-newsletter/


    HERE IS WHERE TO START:


    1. TAKE THE PLAYING-IT-SAFE QUESTIONNAIRE: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-questionnaire/


    2. ONLINE COURSES: https://courses.thisisdoctorz.com/


    3. PODCAST: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-podcast/


    4. BOOKS: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/books/


    5. BLOG: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/playing-it-safe-blog/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
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