Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Small Brooklyn Psychology, Mental Health Service, 68 35th Street Building 4, C-556, Brooklyn, NY.
Small Brooklyn Psychology is a group practice of experienced psychologists and neuropsychologists who offer evidence-based therapy and neuropsychological assessment to people of all ages.
12/02/2025
December is upon us, and the book for this month comes from Small Brooklyn's founder, Dr. Mandi White-Ajmani––Turtles All The Way Down by John Green.
Dr. Mandi says:
"Consider Turtles All The Way Down in your gift-giving this month. It's a fictional novel, ostensibly about the disappearance of a fugitive billionaire, but it’s also a realistic and absorbing look at the inner mind of a teen with OCD. The protagonist, Aza, is a typical high schooler with friends, aspirations of college, and a blossoming romance. But she also has irrational fears that suck her into ever-tighter thought spirals that make her question the definition of “self” and her own reality. Aza is a thoughtful and nuanced character, the plot and supporting cast are intriguing and funny, and the writing is artful and easy to read. I found it to be a great story on its own, but it was also super interesting to me as a way to try to understand the experience of intrusive thoughts from the inside out. So many people without OCD say, 'Just stop thinking like that!' and the book shows why that’s not so easy. This could be a great way to spark conversations with your tween or teen about some inner thoughts they've been having and to spark a new perspective for adults too."
11/18/2025
Small Brooklyn's next webinar with Park Slope Parents is December 10th!Register to attend live and ask your questions or receive the recording afterward.
Beyond High Standards: Helping Kids Manage Perfectionism
Many kids and teens struggle with perfectionism—they feel intense pressure to excel, avoid tasks when success isn’t guaranteed, or melt down when things aren’t “just right.” Society makes us and our kids feel they have to do more and more to succeed, and social media amplifies the comparison and achievement culture. Families are seeing more anxiety, procrastination, and self-criticism tied to these high standards. Yet it can be hard to know when your child’s motivation is healthy striving and when it’s tipping into patterns that hurt their wellbeing. It can also be hard to recognize when parents are unintentionally contributing to the sky-high expectations and stress.
In this webinar, Dr. Gabby Marton of Small Brooklyn Psychology will break down how to identify perfectionism in kids and teens and what makes it different from typical motivation. She’ll share evidence-based strategies used by clinicians—including exposure, flexible thinking, and challenging automatic negative thoughts—along with practical guidance for shifting language and habits at home to help break perfectionistic cycles. Dr. Gabby will offer clear principles, real-life examples, and take-home tools so parents can support kids’ resilience, confidence, and healthier expectations. A Q&A session moderated by Dr. Mandi White-Ajmani will follow.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10
12:00 – 1:00 PM
This webinar is held in partnership with Park Slope Parents! Registration is free for PSP members and $25 for non-members.
Any registrants who are unable to attend the webinar live will receive the recording afterward.
11/03/2025
Our November book of the month comes from neuropsychologist Dr. Danielle diFilipo. She recommends: Raising a Kid Who Can: Simple Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Adaptability and Emotional Strength by Catherine McCarthy, Heather Tedesco, & Jennifer Weaver.
Dr. Danielle says: "I love this book because it offers a grounded, compassionate look at how we help kids grow into capable, resilient humans. The authors translate developmental research into concrete ideas and strategies that actually work in daily life--simple shifts in how we talk, problem-solve, and respond when things get messy. It also lines up beautifully with what I try to support in my work with families. It’s not about fixing kids or managing behavior; it’s about teaching flexibility, self-understanding, and the confidence to handle hard moments."
10/21/2025
WEDNESDAY! Register to receive the recording if you can't make it live.
With new phone bans in schools, bestselling books like The Anxious Generation, and growing concerns from mental health experts, the effects of screens and social media on developing kid & teen brains are under more scrutiny than ever. Experts like Jonathan Haidt (The Anxious Generation), Jean Twenge (iGen, 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World), and Children and Screens Institute have recommended reduced exposure, but parents are left trying to reset habits at home—often facing strong pushback and big emotions from kids.
In this webinar, Dr. Rebecca Abbott-Sinclair of Small Brooklyn Psychology will share clear, practical strategies for navigating these challenges. You’ll learn how to manage kids’ emotional reactions, ease your own worries, and set healthy boundaries around screen time. Dr. Abbott-Sinclair will offer guiding principles and real-life examples to help you feel more confident and calm in tackling screen-time struggles. She’ll also participate in a Q&A session with participants, moderated by Dr. Mandi White-Ajmani.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22
12:30 – 1:30 PM
This webinar is held in partnership with Park Slope Parents! Registration is free for PSP members and $25 for non-members.
Any registrants who are unable to attend the webinar live will receive the recording afterward.
10/09/2025
With new phone bans in schools, bestselling books like The Anxious Generation, and growing concerns from mental health experts, the effects of screens and social media on developing kid & teen brains are under more scrutiny than ever. Experts like Jonathan Haidt (The Anxious Generation), Jean Twenge (iGen, 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World), and Children and Screens Institute have recommended reduced exposure, but parents are left trying to reset habits at home—often facing strong pushback and big emotions from kids.
In this webinar, Dr. Rebecca Abbott-Sinclair of Small Brooklyn Psychology will share clear, practical strategies for navigating these challenges. You’ll learn how to manage kids’ emotional reactions, ease your own worries, and set healthy boundaries around screen time. Dr. Abbott-Sinclair will offer guiding principles and real-life examples to help you feel more confident and calm in tackling screen-time struggles. She’ll also participate in a Q&A session with participants, moderated by Dr. Mandi White-Ajmani.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22
12:30 – 1:30 PM
This webinar is held in partnership with Park Slope Parents! Registration is free for PSP members and $25 for non-members.
Any registrants who are unable to attend the webinar live will receive the recording afterward.
10/07/2025
Our October Book of the Month is Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy!
Recommended by Dr. Rebecca Abbott-Sinclair, PhD, a specialist in child and parental anxiety, Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy is a smart, empowering antidote to today’s culture of parental fear.
Dr. Rebecca says:
"After being labeled “America’s Worst Mom” for letting her 9-year-old ride the NYC subway alone, Skenazy sparked a movement that has influenced leaders like Jonathan Haidt (The Anxious Generation), Camilo Ortiz (Independence-Focused Therapy), and Jean Twenge (iGen).
With humor and practical advice, this book helps parents take small, meaningful steps toward raising confident, independent kids—while learning to manage their own anxieties along the way. It's a must-read for families seeking freedom from fear. Beyond practical strategies, it offers a reassuring perspective grounded in psychology: when parents step back, children gain resilience, competence, and courage, while parents themselves often feel more calm, capable, and connected. The result is a healthier family dynamic where independence and trust replace worry and control."
09/04/2025
Here we are, September again! For this month's Book of the Month, Dr. Megan Moxey recommends My Body Sends a Signal, written by Natalia Maguire and illustrated by Anastasia Zababashkina.
Dr. Megan says:
My Body Sends a Signal is a beautifully illustrated book that helps children ages 3–7 connect the signals their bodies give (such as a racing heart, tight tummy, or fidgety hands) to the emotions they’re experiencing. Through short stories, calming strategies, and hands-on activities such as emotion cards and coloring pages, kids learn to recognize, name, and manage their feelings in healthy ways. It’s a wonderful tool for parents to spark conversations about emotions and support their child’s self-regulation and empathy at home. While reading this book together, parents can pause to ask their children if they’ve ever felt their body send the same signal as the character in the story. This helps them make personal connections and practice putting words to their feelings.
Here are some tips that parents can use to help their children better understand and express their emotions:
Tip #1: Create a “feelings check-in” time each day (like before bed or after school). Ask, “What signal did your body send you today?” and help your child connect it to a feeling word.
Tip #2: When your child shows a strong emotion, gently remind them: “What is your body telling you right now?” This builds awareness in the moment and gives them a chance to practice calming strategies from the book.
Tip #3: Use the emotion cards or coloring pages from the book as a fun family activity. Take turns picking a feeling and acting it out, this helps kids recognize emotions in themselves and others.
Tip #4: Model it yourself! Share your own body signals out loud, like, “My shoulders feel tight, so I think I’m a little stressed. I’m going to take some deep breaths.” Kids learn best by seeing you do it too.
08/06/2025
For our August Book of the Month, therapist Maddy Clark, LCSW recommends The Way of Play by Tina Payne Bryson and Georgie Wisen-Vincent.
Maddy says: "Play is the way that children communicate, but it can be really challenging for parents to engage in play. So many times in coaching sessions, I have to remind parents to sit down on the floor, pick up a toy, etc. And that's really normal! We're not used to playing, and most of us haven't had to do it in a long while! But Dr. Tina Payne Bryson's book, The Way of Play, helps break down some tangible strategies for how to engage children in their language of play while also providing research-based rationale for the skills. She does a good job explaining the power of play, parenting, and positivity. A strong and intentional parent-child relationship is the crucial foundation for so much of the hard work that we do as therapists with our amazing families, and this book helps guide the way for that. Plus, the illustrations are super cute!"
07/01/2025
For our July Book of the Month, Dr. Amira Hanna recommends The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.
Dr. Amira says:
"If you’ve ever felt confused or frustrated by your child’s behavior, this book will help you make sense of what’s happening beneath the surface. It breaks down the science of how a child’s brain develops and shows you how to respond to challenging moments in ways that support emotional growth and long-term resilience. Using simple explanations and real-life examples, it gives you 12 practical strategies to help your child manage emotions, build resilience, and develop a more connected, balanced brain. With clear explanations and practical tools, it empowers you to parent with more confidence, patience, and connection."
06/02/2025
Happy June, and Happy Pride Month! For our June book of the month, our therapist Cecilia Barbosa, LCSW recommends Self-Care for Autistic People by Dr.Megan Anna Neff.
Cecilia says: "Self-Care for Autistic People, 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask! written by Dr. Megan Anna Neff, provides a clear and accessible road map to taking care of yourself as an Autistic person. As a late diagnosed Autistic woman, psychologist and parent of two neurodivergent children, Dr. Neff offers deep insight into several helpful entry points for self-care that make a real difference when managing everyday life in a landscape largely designed for needs other than Autistic ones.
By exploring specific areas such as Sensory Safety, Physical, Emotional, Social, Mental and Professional Self-Care, this book addresses areas of real importance to maintaining balance and well-being for Autistic people in a way that is concise, direct and pragmatic. People of all ages can benefit from learning from Dr. Neff, who lays out a foundation for Autistic well being that supports growth and connection first to self, then to other living beings and experiences, in ways that Autistic people of all ages need to thrive. Dr. Neff manages to offer ideas and tools for self-care in a manner that is respectful and compassionate without feeling like yet another demand!
Dr. Neff's work can also be found on her podcast, Divergent Conversations, which she co-hosts with clinician Patrick Casale https://www.divergentpod.com/
In addition, Dr. Neff's extensive website offers a wealth of free, research based, neuro-affirming psychoeducation supported by her graphic arts talent, Neurodivergent Insights https://neurodivergentinsights.com/"
05/13/2025
Last week, we welcomed about 85 professionals from many disciplines to Small Brooklyn Psychology. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and to meet so many new ones––thanks to everyone who braved the rain to join us!
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68 35th Street Building 4, C-556 Brooklyn, NY 11232
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Small Brooklyn Psychology is a team of psychologists who strive to help people learn deep, dynamic, and actionable information about themselves and then use that information to make the changes and achieve the growth they want to see in their lives. We work with people of all ages, all cultures, all identities, and all histories, who might be struggling with all kinds of problems. We know that there’s no need to go to Manhattan for good treatment when high-quality services are here for you, in Brooklyn.
We are scientifically minded: We know the best research-backed practices for psychological and neuropsychological treatment, and we are well-trained to use them. We are also individually focused: We know how and when the best research-backed practices might or might not work for you and your family right now, in this moment. Our depth of experience means we can adapt mindfully and nimbly, providing the best services for you, as you need them.
We offer neuropsychological assessment for people from 12 months through older adulthood. We take a very comprehensive and thorough approach, where we collect as much data from as many different sources as we can, to form a full 360° picture of who someone is, with all their interconnected pieces. We understand that everyone has unique strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies that interact in a dynamic system to make them who they are today. We will communicate that information to you in a very clear and accessible way. If diagnoses are needed, we will make them, but we’re also focused on how you can use this information in real-world ways to bring about change.
Click here to learn more about our neuropsychological assessment services.
When you’re ready to make steps toward change, we also offer several different kinds of therapy, for children, adolescents, and adults, in individual, group, parenting, and family sessions. Our therapists are well-trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps clients learn about the thoughts and feelings that underlie their behaviors. CBT and its variants are very effective for treating many kinds of problems.
Click here to learn more about our therapy services.
If you’re not sure how to get started, we can work with you in shorter-term consultation sessions. Consultation is designed to be 1-3 sessions to gather information from you, make general recommendations, and point you in the direction of the best kinds of help. It can be hard to know what’s worth worrying about, where to turn for help, and how to prioritize services. We use these sessions to get you started on the right path. We can also provide a second opinion about previously given advice or data, provide trainings to schools or corporations, and speak to researchers and the media about various issues.
Click here to learn more about our consultation services.
