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Ben Gao, Social Worker, Psychotherapist

Age Group Served
adults
Therapy Format
individuals
Treatment Focus
depression, anxiety, ocd, life-transitions, mens-issues, stress, relationship-issues, personal-growth, narcissistic-personality, divorce, family-conflict
Types of Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-Focused
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
Insurance Accepted
Out of Network
Can Prescribe Medication: No
Offers Sliding Scale: yes
Therapy Fund Provider: yes
Last modified: April 1, 2025

Ben Gao, Social Worker, Psychotherapist

In-Person / Virtual: in-person, tele
License Number(s): 28887
States / Provinces Served: Maryland
Ethnicity: Chinese
Racial Identity / Culture: asian-american
Languages Spoken: English
Sex/Gender: Male

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.