Brian Jacobs, LPC

Brian Jacobs is a licensed professional counsellor in McLean, Virginia, who offers psychedelic integration and harm reduction therapy alongside depth psychotherapy for trauma, OCD, depression and anxiety. He sees clients in person in McLean and by telehealth across Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC.

Approach

He works mainly with Internal Family Systems, ISTDP, AEDP and EMDR, aiming at what drives a problem rather than only its symptoms. In two FDA-regulated psilocybin trials he has worked as a research therapist, some of it with patients facing terminal cancer, and he holds Fluence certification in psychedelic therapy and integration. He also trained in MDMA-assisted therapy with MAPS and has an M.Ed. in clinical mental health counselling from George Mason University. In integration work he uses AEDP to follow emotion closely and IFS for the parts that psychedelic experiences often bring up.

Who it is for

His integration clients are preparing for a psychedelic experience, working through one that left them overwhelmed or confused, or considering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. More broadly, he describes his clients as worriers, overthinkers and high achievers who never feel good enough.

Practical details

His standard fee is $225 for a 50-minute session, with a few sliding-scale places. He is out of network and gives monthly superbills for reimbursement, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted. The first consultation is free.

Care and safety

Preparation begins with a thorough assessment of whether psychedelic work suits the person and what could affect safety, then covers intentions, readiness, what substances do and the support around the experience. For ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, which he notes is the only legal psychedelic therapy in Virginia, Maryland and DC, he helps judge whether it fits, points to reputable prescribers and books a follow-up within 24 to 48 hours of each session. He does not prescribe or provide any substance.