Who's behind the program
Kids don't need to be fixed. They need to be taught, and then trusted to practice.
The BRICK Lab was developed and is overseen by Sally Minkovich, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist.
Sally Minkovich, Psy.D.
Licensed clinical psychologist ยท Founder of The BRICK Lab
- Doctoral-level training in child psychology
- Years spent teaching kids coping and social skills
- Designs and oversees every BRICK Lab group
I'm Sally Minkovich, a licensed clinical psychologist. In my work with children and families, I kept seeing the same thing: kids who were doing fine on paper but quietly overwhelmed, anxious about mistakes, flooded by frustration, unsure how to handle a friendship that had gone sideways.
The skills that help most aren't complicated. They're just rarely taught explicitly, and almost never practiced with other kids in a room that feels safe and a little bit fun. That's the gap The BRICK Lab exists to fill.
I built this program to be the thing I'd want for my own child: small enough that every kid is known, warm enough that they want to come back, and rigorous enough that what they learn actually holds up on a hard Tuesday.
Evidence-informed, parent-friendly
Serious science, translated into kid.
The activities in every session draw on approaches that researchers have studied extensively with children. Your child won't hear a single acronym. They'll just be playing, talking, and practicing. Here is what sits underneath.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helping kids notice the thought behind the feeling, then test whether it is true, helpful, or just loud.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Practical tools for riding out intense emotion, tolerating discomfort, and asking for what you need without blowing up or backing down.
Positive psychology
Building on strengths, gratitude, and effort rather than only fixing problems, so confidence grows from evidence rather than praise.
An important distinction
The BRICK Lab is an educational skills program, not therapy, treatment, or a substitute for mental health care. Kids aren't clients, there's no diagnosis or treatment plan, and no clinical records are kept.
Think of it the way you'd think of a great music teacher: expert instruction, consistent practice, and real progress, in emotional and social skills instead of scales.
If your child needs individual therapy or more intensive support, we'll say so honestly and help you think through where to look next. Being clear about that boundary is part of taking your child seriously.
Ready to save your child's spot?
Groups are small on purpose. Waitlist families hear everything first: dates, times, pricing, pickup logistics, and the window to enroll.