Dr. Zapata is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. He is a Certified Threat Manager and authorized to provide telehealth services across PSYPACT-participating states. With over a decade of clinical experience, he has worked across a wide range of settings, including community clinics, hospitals, military installations, correctional facilities, law enforcement, and private practice.

He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University, where his dissertation focused on eliciting false confessions. His clinical work includes treating adults involved in the criminal justice system due to issues related to anger and aggression. His background in both active duty and reserve military service enhances his expertise, particularly in conducting specialized evaluations. These include assessments for special duty assignments, security clearance, FAA Air Traffic Control Specialists, psychological injury, military medical evaluation boards, and fitness to carry a firearm or specialty roles such as drill sergeant, instructor, or recruiter.

He also performs a wide range of criminal forensic psychological evaluations, including competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility (insanity), diminished capacity, mitigation, and violence/sexual risk. His specialized expertise in behavioral threat assessment and management spans multiple contexts, including workplace , intimate partner, school and ideologically motivated targeted violence. This investigative-operational skill is further supported by his prior experience as a police officer in the diverse city of Union City, New Jersey.