Ben Gao, Social Worker, Psychotherapist

Sex/Gender: Male
Pronouns: He / Him
Ethnicity: Chinese

I came to psychotherapy practice after a long legal career motivated by seeking external validation, which left me prideful, lost, and lonely. My journey to self-love, connection, and meaning was enabled by psychedelics, community, therapy, and wisdom practices from both the East and West. Drawing on my therapy training and experience, as well as lessons from my own transformation, I would be excited to accompany and support you as you build toward a life with more meaning, agency, vitality, connection, and peace.

 

Theraputic modalities I work with regularly include: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for treating OCD.  Inspired by my own healing through psychedelics, I am certified in psychedelic harm reduction and integration, and I have training and experience providing ketamine assisted psychotherapy.  Along with these modern techniques, I also offer my clients wisdoms and helpful practices I have personally benefited from, particularly from Stoicism, Buddhism, and Carl Jung’s teachings.

 

I specialize in helping clients who are going through life transitions, seeking to increase vitality and connection, trying to regain personal agency and sense of purpose, suffering from OCD or intrusive anxiety, wanting to explore psychedelic medicine, or struggling with common men’s issues such as masculinity, success, loneliness, and intimacy.

 

License Number: 28887
License State: Maryland
Sliding Scale / Reduced Fee Accepted: Yes
Types of Insurance Accepted: Out of Network
Location
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
English
Individuals
In Person Therapy, Telehealth/Teletherapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Life Transitions, Men's Issues, Stress, Relationship Issues, Personal Growth, Narcissistic Personality, Divorce, Family Conflict
Last modified: September 13, 2024

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