Paul Randak MFT, SUDC

Paul Randak is a marriage and family therapist who lives near Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah and splits his time between seeing clients in Utah and Oregon. Paul has two decades of experience in the mental health and addiction treatment field and has been developing and implementing treatment programs for much of that time. Paul has extensive experience in trauma and grief therapy and is well seasoned in EMDR therapy. Paul has facilitated hundreds of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions over the past five years helping clients develop deeper awareness and understanding of their issues.

Paul has an affinity for a holistic approach combining mental, emotional and spiritual practices to restore health and well being. Paul has facilitated eco-psychology retreats and workshops into the deserts of the Southern Utah. Paul has written books on personal growth and addiction and hosts the illusive podcast “Just Another Bozo on the Bus” that is available on most podcast platforms. He also has taught psychology at local colleges.

Paul has a broad educational experience with a MFT Masters from Northcentral University, a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology from ITP (Sofia University), and a BSW in Social Work along with a Certification in Addiction Counseling from the University of Utah. Paul also has substantial experience and training in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP).

“Just Another Bozo on the Bus: Healing a Disconnected Planet by Finding our Common Threads” is a holistic self-help book by Paul Randak, MFT, that explores how disconnection lies at the heart of addiction, suffering, and societal division. The title metaphor represents the book’s central philosophy: we’re all fellow travelers on life’s journey, each with our unique struggles but bound by common threads of humanity.

Published in 2025, the book is structured into fourteen interconnected chapters that build a comprehensive framework for personal and collective transformation.

In the introduction, Randak shares his personal journey, describing how his early connection with nature—particularly the ocean—became a sanctuary that taught him about belonging and connection. These formative experiences shaped his understanding of human nature and the fundamental need for authentic connection.

The book’s core premise is that addiction and suffering stem from disconnection—from ourselves, others, and something greater than ourselves. Randak challenges traditional views of addiction as a moral failing or simple disease, reframing it as a symptom of deeper psychological, emotional, and spiritual disconnection. “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety,” he argues, “it’s connection.”

Key themes throughout the book include:

• Connection as the Antidote to Suffering: The book’s foundation is that genuine connection—to ourselves, others, and something larger—heals addiction and suffering, whereas disconnection creates fertile ground for these struggles.
• Our Common Humanity: Recognizing that we’re all “just bozos on the bus”—fellow travelers with shared struggles—reduces isolation and shame while creating the foundation for authentic healing.
• Beyond Blame to Accountability: Taking personal responsibility for our choices and narratives without falling into shame or blame liberates us from the victim stance that keeps us stuck.
• The Neuroplasticity of Patterns: Understanding how repeated behaviors create neural pathways that become automatic, and how these patterns can be rewired through conscious awareness and practice.
• Integration of Light and Shadow: Learning to hold seeming opposites—joy and grief, control and surrender, certainty and doubt—as part of wholehearted living rather than seeking one-dimensional experiences.
• Multiple Pathways to Wellness: Moving beyond binary thinking to embrace various approaches to healing, from traditional to cutting-edge, acknowledging that different paths work for different people.
• Building Bridges Across Divides: Finding common ground in a divided world by practicing genuine dialogue, curiosity, and the willingness to see beyond polarized positions.
• The Courage to Be Imperfect: Embracing play, humor, and self-compassion as essential elements of healing, recognizing that transformation comes not from perfection but from authentic engagement with life.

The book weaves together neuroscience, psychology, personal anecdotes, client stories, and wisdom traditions to offer a holistic approach to recovery and personal growth. Randak includes practical exercises throughout, making the concepts accessible and applicable.

The final chapter, “The Journey Home,” integrates these themes into a cohesive framework for transformation, emphasizing that healing isn’t about achieving perfection but embracing our shared humanity with all its messiness and marvel.

Throughout, Randak maintains that sustainable wellness emerges through authentic connection, self-compassion, and the courage to be imperfectly human together on our shared journey.