As AB Psych enters a bold new chapter with a refreshed brand and new online presence, we sat down with Dr Anthony Benigno (aka Dr. B) to talk about what drives his work and how he and his team support families navigating mental health challenges.
Q: Dr. B, there's a lot happening at AB Psych right now. Why the relaunch and why now?
Dr. B: We’ve grown a lot since AB Psych started, and families' needs have grown too. The brand refresh, new site, podcast and eBook all reflect our goal to meet people where they are. Whether parents, educators or fellow practitioners, they’re looking for more than services. They’re looking for answers, for empathy and for hope. That’s what we want to provide.
Right now, too many families are stuck waiting. They see their child struggling and don’t know what it means. Is it ADHD? Anxiety? Autism? A learning issue? And when they finally reach out for help, they face months-long waitlists, rushed assessments or generic advice. That’s not good enough. At AB Psych, we believe clarity is powerful. It’s the first step toward real support.
That’s why we’ve built our practice to prioritize thoughtful, in-person evaluations and rapid follow-up. We specialize in conditions like ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, learning differences, and more. But beyond labels, what we’re really helping families do is understand what’s going on and what they can do next.
Q: You write that “different doesn’t mean broken.” Why is that message so important today?
Dr. B: Because we live in a world that often labels differences as deficits. If a child doesn’t learn the same way, speak the same way, or behave the same way, there’s this rush to see it as a problem that needs fixing. But difference is part of the human story. When we say ‘different doesn’t mean broken,’ we’re reminding families and professionals that our job isn’t to erase the difference, it’s to understand it. That’s how we build connection, self-worth and real growth.
Q: Your new book is called Make Friends with Your Child’s Brain. What inspired the title?
Dr. B: I’ve sat across from so many parents who say, "I just don’t understand my child." And that pain is real. The title is really an invitation to stop fighting the brain and start learning from it. Your child’s brain isn’t the enemy. Once you see how it works, you can guide them with more connection and less conflict.
Q: The book introduces six emotional ‘friends.’ Why?
Dr. B: Emotions guide how we interact with the world, especially for kids who don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling. The six friends: Joy, Fear, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Surprise all help give a voice to those feelings. They're based on extensive psychological research and they give kids and adults a way to talk about what's happening inside, without shame.
Q: How has your own life shaped your work?
Dr. B: Like many in this field, part of my story involves family. A loved one has a severe mental illness and lives in a care facility. Having first-hand experience of this has shown me the weight families carry and the strength it takes to keep showing up. Now, as a dad myself, I’ve learned how much parenting stretches your worldview. When your child needs something different than what you expected, your whole path changes. That’s what I try to help families with.
Q: How has being a father influenced your approach to working with families?
Dr. B: It’s changed everything. Before I had kids, I could understand behavior through the lens of psychology and theory. But parenting teaches you about patience, fear, joy, and the unpredictability of life in a way nothing else does. It humbled me. It reminded me that every parent is doing their best. When I work with families now, it’s not from a place of expertise looking down, it’s from beside them, saying, “I get it. Let’s figure it out together.”
Q: You share a story in the book about a boy who was obsessed with toy trucks. Why did that stick with you?
Dr. B: Because it showed me how easy it is to misinterpret a child’s passion as a problem. This boy barely made eye contact, didn’t like group play, but give him trucks, and he lit up. That interest gave us a way in. And that’s what parents often need: not to change the child, but to change how they connect.
Q: Your podcast, Dr. B and Friends, has also just launched. What can listeners expect?
Dr. B: Real talk, real stories and tools people can use. It’s not just expert opinions. It’s conversations with parents, educators, even kids. We want people to know they’re not alone. That their challenges are shared, and their story matters.
Q: What kind of topics can listeners expect in the first season of your podcast?
Dr. B: We’re starting with the real stuff, the things that families are dealing with day to day. So that means episodes on how to handle a child’s meltdowns, what to do when your child is being misread at school, how to navigate a new diagnosis, and how parents can take care of their own mental health too. We’ll also talk to teachers, clinicians and parents to share insights and stories. It’s not just about strategies, it’s about showing people they’re not alone.
Listen to Dr. B & Friends.
Q: You’ve talked about parents needing to adjust their idea of happiness for their child. What does that look like in real life?
Dr. B: It means letting go of the picture you had in your head and embracing the child you have. Maybe you dreamed of them being outgoing or athletic and instead, they love bugs and need quiet. Maybe they struggle in traditional classrooms or don’t hit milestones at the same time as others. That shift, grieving one dream so you can fully love a new one, is hard. But when it happens, families start to see joy in new ways. And that joy is real.
Q: What do you say to parents who are overwhelmed right now?
Dr. B: You don’t have to have it all figured out today. Take the next step. Ask the next question. There is a path forward, and you don’t have to walk it alone.
Q: Finally, what’s your vision for AB Psych in the next few years?
Dr. B: I want AB Psych to be more than a clinic. I want it to be a hub for families and professionals who are serious about doing this work with heart. That means more clinics, yes, but also more training, more resources, more voices. I want our team to grow, our tools to evolve, and our impact to reach families who might never have found this kind of care before. Ultimately, it’s about creating a ripple effect, when one family gets the right help, it changes their whole future.
