Dr. Ben Tabak

Dr. Ben Tabak, licensed clinical psychologist at Welcome in Psychology Group in Newport Beach.

Areas of Focus

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Everyday and relationship stress

  • Parental and mid-life stress

  • Sleep

My Role as your Psychologist

Following 20 years conducting research and teaching about mental health, I shifted careers from academics to private practice so that I could make a more direct impact on people. I work alongside clients using research-backed psychological methods with a focus on real-world strategies that can help you achieve meaningful change. People I work with value honesty, structure, and strategies they can use. In therapy, I take a down-to-earth, client-centered approach and emphasize collaboration to ensure that the support you receive is both effective and tailored to your needs. Whether you are coping with anxiety in social situations, the stress of being a parent, or difficulties sleeping, I draw on proven techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy to help you reach your emotional and mental health goals.

A Little About Me

I grew up in Upstate New York — closer to Toronto than Manhattan — where sunshine was scarce and much of life happened indoors. My childhood revolved around indoor sports, music, and finding humor in our gray surroundings. From an early age, I saw how much our relationships shape our well-being. I’ve always been fascinated by how we connect and understand one another. When I discovered psychology, it felt like the perfect fit — a way to explore those questions more deeply while helping others live healthier, more fulfilling lives. From the moment I started college, I knew I wanted to become a psychologist — ideally practicing in a warm and sunny place.

Education and Training that Informs my Practice

I received my BA in Psychology from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY where it is very cold. I then earned my MS and PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami in Miami, FL where it is very hot. As a part of a Clinical Psychology PhD program, doctoral students complete a one-year residency in their final year of the program that is referred to as a clinical internship. My APA-accredited clinical internship was in the Psychiatry Department at the Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center. I then received additional advanced training in evidence-based psychotherapy research and neuroscience-informed psychological treatment during a five-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in the UCLA Psychology Department, which is the #1 ranked clinical psychology department in the United States.

Before moving to Orange County, I was an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at SMU in Dallas, TX where I directed the Social & Clinical Neuroscience Research Lab. Throughout my academic career I published numerous papers particularly focused on social factors that influence anxiety and depression, served as a consulting editor for leading journals, and won a teaching award. My research has been cited over 3,000 times. In addition to my work in private practice, I am also a Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Sciences at UC Irvine.

Education

  • BA Psychology, Skidmore College

  • MS Clinical Psychology, University of Miami

  • PhD Clinical Psychology, University of Miami

Training

  • APA-accredited Pre-doctoral Clinical Internship, Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, UCLA Psychology Department

Faculty Appointments

  • Associate Professor of Psychology with Tenure, SMU

  • Assistant Professor of Psychology, SMU

License information

  • License Number PSY35798

  • NPI #1265224158

FAQs

  • Dr. Ben Tabak charges $255 for a 50 minute therapy session.

    You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost.

  • We accept credit cards, debit cards, and direct ACH bank transfers.

  • As Out-Of-Network Providers, we do not accept insurance. However, we are happy to provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance if you receive any benefits from Out-Of-Network providers.

  • We require 24 hours notice for cancellations to avoid being charged.

  • We do not prescribe medication, but can provide you with referrals to exemplary local psychiatrists.

Let’s get going. Welcome in.