Clinical Psychologist and Director of Therapy
Background and Education
Dr. Rebecca Abbott-Sinclair is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive training in evidence-based treatment across the lifespan. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology from St. John’s University. She completed her internship at Bellevue Hospital and NYU Langone’s Child Study Center, followed by postdoctoral training at the Child & Family Institute. Before joining Small Brooklyn Psychology, Dr. Rebecca served as Director of Psychological Services at Brooklyn Minds Psychiatry.
Professional Experience
Dr. Rebecca specializes in treating anxiety across the lifespan, with a focus on:
OCD and Anxiety Disorders
She uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients manage OCD, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias. She completed the International OCD Foundation’s Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), an intensive program in ERP for pediatric OCD.
Pediatric Anxiety
She also has particular experience in treating anxiety, OCD, and phobias that are specific to children and teens, such as Selective Mutism, school anxiety and resistance, and separation anxiety. She uses PCIT-SM and other behavioral approaches, applied flexibly and creatively, and she also provides Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), guiding parents to reduce their child’s anxiety through adjustments in parenting strategies.
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs)
She applies Habit Reversal Training to assist clients struggling with trichotillomania, excoriation disorders, and other body-focused repetitive behaviors often exacerbated by anxiety.
Dr. Rebecca is licensed in New York, New Jersey, and PSYPACT, meaning she can work virtually with clients in 41 US states and territories.
Current Clinical Focus and Philosophy
Dr. Rebecca takes a collaborative, flexible approach to treatment, designing plans to meet individual and family needs. She frequently involves schools, partners, and other supports in the process to ensure that care is comprehensive and practical. She is sensitive to all forms of racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual diversity.
Individual Therapy for Children
She provides individual therapy for children. She offers evidence-based one-on-one treatment for anxiety disorders, OCD, and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) like trichotillomania and excoriation disorder. Dr. Rebecca integrates scientifically-backed skills with personalized treatment plans, aiming to create a safe, supportive, and effective therapeutic environment where each child can individually develop coping mechanisms, build resilience, and thrive.
Individual Therapy for Adolescents and Emerging Adults
Dr. Rebecca is passionate about helping young adults and older adolescents navigate the complex challenges of transitioning to independence while managing their mental health. She works with clients on issues such as anxiety, depression, identity development, and life transitions, tailoring treatments to their unique needs. Her goal is to empower young adults to build resilience and thrive as they face new responsibilities and relationships.
Parent Coaching and Parent-Only Therapy
She provides both parent coaching and parent-only therapy to address children’s behavioral and anxiety challenges, while also supporting parents’ own mental health needs, including anxiety, depression, and perinatal concerns.
Consultation and Training
She is available for professional consultations and community workshops on OCD, anxiety management, and parenting strategies.
Outside of work, Dr. Rebecca enjoys baking, cooking, and watching Netflix shows, as well as playing puzzle games like Wordle and Spelling Bee. She is the proud mom of two young children and a bichon-poodle named Milo.