FAQs

Brightline supports kids and teens up to age 18. Teens who turn 18 while in our care will continue to receive support as appropriate and if needed, we will create a transition plan for them.

We provide specialized mental health care for kids and teens up to age 18, and we rely heavily on evidence-based approaches and state-of-the-science care. Everything you need is in one place — as your child’s needs change, their care plan will evolve.

Ask us! We will have a structured, in-depth conversation with you and your child to gather details about your child’s developmental history, patterns or changes you’ve noticed, and any concerns you have. Together, we will decide whether your child could benefit from therapy or another type of support. 

It depends on what your child needs. Your child’s therapist will partner with you to create an individualized care plan. Part of the plan will include an estimated number of sessions. The number can vary based on two things — the program your child is in and how they progress over time. Our goal is to help your child feel better and to move them out of care once they are equipped with the skills they need to thrive long term.

At Brightline, parents are closely involved in their child’s care. Why? Because it’s central to the way we work (and it’s a core part of the evidence-based care we rely on). This is true both for younger kids and for teenagers. Your involvement might look different depending on your child’s age, developmental ability, and program. We’ll keep the discussion of how/why/why ongoing.

For very young children, parents are a huge part of their child’s care. The parent is the one with the fully developed brain — which means you’re also the one with the hindsight, insight, and foresight to integrate what we do in our sessions into the daily life of your young child. The way we train parents empowers them to use the skills that help with all the tiny, day-to-day interventions. This is so much more effective than having a clinician work with a child one-on-one for an hour a week and then just sending them home. During parent training sessions, sometimes kids are present, sometimes not. For example, if you're here because your child is experiencing separation anxiety, we might practice independence or separating from you, the parent, as part of their treatment.

For kids in this middle age group, parents should expect to be involved in every session. In some situations, they might even be more involved than their child. For others, parents will need to check in at the beginning or the end of the sessions. And in some cases, the involvement might be more evenly split or include more shared time. The specifics have a lot to do with why you're coming to care and the care plan you co-design with your clinician.

Even with teenagers, parents should still expect to be heavily involved. If they aren’t part of every session, it’s likely they’ll be part of every other. Typically, this looks like parents checking in at the beginning or the end of the session.

When we say parents are checking in, we don’t mean that we're telling you everything your child said or did when you weren’t there. (People would stop coming to us for care!) Instead, during the check-in time with parents, we’re relying on you for updates about how things have gone over the past week. We’ll ask you what changes you see, about the current symptoms or issues, and your point of view on how skills practice has been going. We’ll also fill you in on any new goals or skills that the child is expected to practice in the upcoming week; the more you know what your child is working on, the more you can support — and not accidentally work against the plan. Lastly, these check-ins are also for you to receive the guidance you need. We know kids don’t come with instructions, so a big part of our job is to teach you the skills you need to rely on during all those hours between sessions.

All Brightline therapists and coaches use evidence-based therapies in their care approach. Some examples include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Parent Management Training (PMT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). All intervention strategies offered at Brightline are supported by research that shows they work for the types of issues you’re looking to address, and are matched to your child’s needs.

Yes. We offer general therapy to support a variety of common mental health challenges, along with four focused programs that specifically address anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and disruptive behaviors. All of our programs can include psychiatry, which means that if medication is recommended as part of your child’s progress, you don’t have to go anywhere else to bring that treatment into the care plan.

Generally speaking, therapy runs anywhere between 8–16 sessions, and a typical course of psychiatry (including medication management appointments) is between 6–10 sessions. But how long your child stays in treatment depends on what they’re going through and how they respond to care. You’ll get an estimated length of care after your child’s diagnostic evaluation.

As evidence-based care devotees, we champion lifelong learning and continuing education. Our training director builds learning programs based on the latest research for our team. We hold weekly team meetings and consultation groups (including one-on-one meetings with managers) during which we discuss our clinical approach. Performance evaluations and quality oversight are both closely aligned with our evidence-based practice approach. Lastly, we invest in learning! Our teams receive professional development funds to make it easier for them to keep learning. 

We help kids with ADHD (and their families!) learn strategies to manage time, belongings, and approaches to tasks that they might find difficult due to their symptoms. This is called organizational skills training, and it combines with our clinical training to handle any other co-occurring mental health concerns your child may be experiencing. Speaking of you — parent support and involvement is a vital piece of the ADHD treatment puzzle. Research shows that kids with ADHD positively benefit from immediate reinforcement, so a critical part of their behavior change is having the people in their life helping to implement these strategies. We also help parents set the child’s environment up for success by reducing distractions and setting clear routines. Parent sessions and consultations with school help the adults in your child’s life promote on task, appropriate, and positive behaviors. Much of how we treat kids with ADHD is the same as or similar to what we offer in our disruptive behaviors program.

Common signs include difficulty focusing, acting before thinking, or constant movement. But ADHD can also look like forgetfulness, daydreaming, or emotional sensitivity. Our clinicians are trained to separate typical developmental behaviors from signs of ADHD that need support.

Not necessarily. In most cases we can determine that through our thorough diagnostic evaluation. With a combination of questionnaires, interviews, and observation, we can evaluate your child’s attention and impulse control. If psychological testing is indicated as a need, we’ll talk it through. Either way, the goal is a clear understanding of your child and how to help them — not just assigning a label.

You’ll receive a detailed explanation of the results and recommendations for next steps — whether that’s school accommodations, therapy, a medication consultation, or practical strategies you can use at home.

That’s common. We gather input from both home and school because ADHD symptoms can vary across settings. Understanding both perspectives ensures a more accurate, individualized diagnosis and care plan.

Our clinicians take time to connect with your child, explain each step, and help them feel comfortable. Our approach is designed to be supportive and encouraging, not intimidating.

Absolutely. Many kids with ADHD also experience other conditions such as anxiety or learning differences. Our care is built to be comprehensive, ensuring no contributing factor is overlooked.

Not at Brightline. We understand that focus and regulation are skills that your child is still developing. Our approach is rooted in empathy and science — not criticism.

You’re definitely not alone. Many parents share that feeling, but what matters most is that you’re here now — taking steps toward understanding, growth, and support.

We use validated, research-backed methods and interpret them in the context of your child’s personality, strengths, and environment — so the picture we provide is complete and right for your child.

It’s important to remember that every person experiences anxiety — it’s a common human emotion. It’s when the anxiety starts to affect everyday life and activities that it needs to be addressed. When anxiety becomes a problem, our expert therapists rely on cognitive behavioral therapy, with a focus on exposures. You can’t eliminate the anxiety (and again, it’s a natural, and at times a helpful, part of life). So, the important thing is for kids to learn to face their fears. Kids are taught how to identify helpful ways to manage their anxiety, and they learn not only how to live with anxiety, but how to do so much more than their anxiety tells them they’re capable of. Each plan created for kids in our anxiety program is individualized — we work closely with parents and the child (and sometimes other important adults like teachers)  to design the plan for them that will work. Much of how we treat anxiety is proven effective for kids with OCD as well.

Kids with anxiety might have frequent anxious thoughts, stomachaches, difficulty sleeping, or avoidance of the things that make them feel worried. Sometimes avoidance can be tricky — kids may avoid an outcome they fear by overdoing a different behavior (e.g., overdoing their homework to avoid failure).

Our evaluation is the first step in care. It identifies what’s contributing to your child’s anxiety and helps us learn what to do about it. It also helps clarify whether the patterns or signs of anxiety you see and your child experiences are indications of anxiety or something else.

When anxiety becomes a problem, our expert therapists rely on cognitive behavioral therapy, with a focus on exposures. Anxiety as an emotion can’t be eliminated altogether — it’s actually a natural, and at times a helpful, part of life. So, the important thing is for kids and teens to learn to face their fears, learn to tolerate anxiety, and retrain their response in these situations. Kids are taught how to identify helpful ways to manage their anxiety, and they learn not only how to live with it, but how to do so much more than their anxiety tells them they’re capable of. Each plan created for kids in our anxiety program is individualized — we work closely with parents and the child (and sometimes other important adults like teachers) to design the plan that will work for them. Much of how we treat anxiety is proven effective for kids with OCD as well.

Sometimes problems managing anxiety improve with minimal support. But persistent concerns often need guidance. An evaluation helps determine whether intervention is necessary — and allows us to understand and recommend what will help the most.

Many anxious children internalize their feelings. Through observation, exploration, and input from adults in their life (like parents, teachers, coaches, and family members), we are able to uncover subtle but common signs others might miss.

It can. Anxiety often masks itself through irritability or avoidance. Our clinicians are trained to look beyond the behavior to understand the emotions — and true causes — driving it.

We help kids and teens reframe their sensitivity and find a way for them to see power in their abilities. Many anxious kids are thoughtful, empathetic, and observant. We nurture these qualities while helping them build the resilience to feel safe and steady inside their own skin.

We approach every child with patience and confidence. Our clinicians are able to slow down the process, explain what’s happening, and create a supportive space — so your child always feels respected, safe, and in control.

Exposure response prevention (ERP) is the most prevalent evidence-based intervention for OCD and the primary one we use at Brightline. ERP can be tough at first, because it asks the person with OCD to get exposure by confronting the things that are provoking their obsessions. The response prevention part refers to learning to be in that “triggered” state and making a conscious choice not to do the compulsive behavior that they’re used to. ERP is done slowly, and under the close supervision of the child’s therapist — we know how hard it is to face the very things that make a child struggling with OCD feel anxious and fearful. It takes time. Eventually though, kids learn how to manage their symptoms at home, school, and anywhere they may occur. Over time, this practice of exposure and response prevention teaches their brain that what they’re obsessing over is not actually a threat or something to fear. Much of how we treat OCD is proven effective for kids with anxiety as well.

Routine is comforting; OCD involves distressing, repetitive thoughts or rituals your child feels compelled to do and that significantly interfere with your lives. Evaluation clarifies whether these patterns are signs of OCD.

We start by helping them feel safe and understood. Our clinicians teach that thoughts and behaviors don’t define who they are. And when kids learn to boss back to that insistent OCD voice, they begin to realize that their worries are manageable.

Yes. With the right diagnosis and intervention, kids can work toward remission of OCD (meaning they no longer meet criteria for the diagnosis).

We help kids identify these thoughts as OCD, not themselves. We remind every child that their thoughts do not define who they are — and their thoughts don’t have to always make sense. Science drives our methods, and we deliver care with compassion, not shame. We help kids understand what is happening safely and help them begin to separate their identity from OCD.

We build trust and confidence through humor, warmth, progress, and genuine connection — so when your child is ready to share, they know they’re in a safe, accepting place.

We see the child and the family, not just the condition. Every session begins with curiosity, kindness, and respect for your child’s courage. Our clinicians balance expertise with heart — because healing starts when kids feel truly understood.

Yes. Our clinicians use proven approaches, open-ended conversations, collaborative behavioral experiments, and clinical observations to identify hidden patterns. Building trust and helping families reach their goals is our priority.

We help kids identify their OCD as thoughts, not as part of their identity or as themselves. Helping them understand what OCD is — and isn’t — reduces shame and fear.

We work to create a safe space from the start, helping kids and teens realize they’re not alone. That trust becomes the foundation for healing and growth.

Parents are often brought into care to address family dynamics that are impacting the ongoing symptoms or care of a child. Sometimes this looks like parent-only sessions and sometimes this looks like parents joining for a part of each session that the child is involved in. We are a family-centered practice — we know that when one child struggles with a mental health concern, it can have a ripple effect on everyone in the family. 

It depends. Not all people (kids included) who experience a traumatic event go on to develop difficulties with coping emotionally or behaviorally. For those that do, Brightline follows evidence-based practice guidelines to offer kids and teens trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) to address symptoms related to the experience of a traumatic event.

Our clinicians are trained to provide evidence-based therapy to support your child, and our psychiatry services (e.g. medication consultations and management) can be layered onto care as needed. One of our relied-upon interventions for depression is cognitive behavioral therapy with a focus on behavioral activation.

Even though we talk about serious things, we want kids to have fun and be engaged while we do it. We are trained to bring play and a child’s interests into care while staying rooted in evidence-based interventions. For example, if a child is practicing talking to new people because of social anxiety, we might practice trick-or-treating, do a scavenger hunt, or play a game of “guess who” with other staff members in the office.

Persistent sadness, irritability, loss of interest, or withdrawal from loved ones can signal depression. Your child may also be sharing thoughts that make you concerned for their safety. An evaluation helps identify whether your child’s symptoms are within a typical range or represent a deeper emotional struggle.

Trauma can affect sleep, emotions, concentration, and relationships. Our evaluation will help us understand if experiences or other symptoms might be connected to your child’s current symptoms.

Understanding is the first step. The evaluation step allows us to have deep conversations with both you and your child or teen. What we learn brings clarity and direction so the right interventions — like therapy or school supports — can help your child experience relief.

It’s common for kids to have difficulty opening up to a new person. Our therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists are skilled at building rapport and demystifying the treatment process. We often work closely with parents to identify patterns and ways in which they can support the improvement of current symptoms, even if your child isn’t ready to engage in therapy.

We create a calm, flexible environment and move at your child’s pace, while challenging them at a level that allows them to grow and enjoy small wins along the way. Each part of the process is explained so your child feels in control and secure.

Our trauma-informed approach prioritizes safety and trust. We never push for details before your child is ready; we listen, validate, and build connection first.

We recognize that watching your child struggle is painful, and that bringing up difficult subjects or experiences can open old wounds for everyone, no matter their age. We support parents too — through open communication, education, skill-building for resilience, and reassurance that you’re not facing this alone.

Our clinicians are experienced with addressing difficult emotions and behaviors calmly, carefully, and safely. Every conversation is guided by empathy, professionalism, and what will keep your child safe.

Treatment that will help your child progress sometimes happens even when painful emotions are present. As we move forward together, your child will build trust, and we’ll learn which communication tactics will resonate with them. We invest in trust and a shared relationship as we do the work collaboratively — it’s a combination of opening up, feeling safe, and gaining strength that works.

We pair clinical expertise with deep empathy — and root everything we do in evidence. We rely on science, data, and methods that work, and that deep, sturdy knowledge informs our care. Where science is imperfect, we adapt care thoughtfully to meet the needs of families. Our clinicians understand that concerns like depression and trauma are not simply conditions to treat — they’re human experiences that require warmth, patience, and respect. We focus on connection as the foundation for progress, and therapeutic approaches that work to enable your child’s growth and your family’s healing.

Nope! If you want to have your child with ADHD treated at Brightline, and they’ve already completed psychological testing, you don’t need to do another round with us. What we will do is start care with a diagnostic evaluation — even if you had one elsewhere already. Why? Think of it as a clinical getting-to-know-you — it includes in-depth, structured conversations that involve both you and your child. This evaluation allows us to understand your needs, concerns, and goals so we can develop a clear treatment plan that is individualized for your child. 

(For example, let’s say you stumbled off a curb and hurt your ankle. If you went to one doctor and were told you had a sprained ankle, then went to a different doctor for a second opinion, that second doctor wouldn’t just take the other person’s diagnosis and treat you. They would want to see the injury, learn how it happened, understand your pain level, and learn about anything else you’re experiencing before treating the ankle. It’s the same with mental health care — gaining a deep understanding of each child is integral to being able to treat them appropriately. It’s also ethically required.)

Yes, we can certainly test and/or evaluate an individual for intellectual disability. We can provide the evaluation to a school to support your child’s IEP application. Note: schools are the owners of IEPs and they may prefer to do their own evaluation rather than accepting an outside evaluation.

Yes, we can evaluate a child for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For some kids, this includes a thorough diagnostic evaluation that involves their parents, and additional information gathering, such as school records, medical records, talking to teachers, etc. The evaluation may also include specialized testing (e.g., ADOS). Testing isn’t required to diagnose ASD in all situations, but can be helpful in some situations when additional information is needed.

Psychological testing provides a clear picture of your child’s patterns — including cognitive, emotional, executive functioning, social, academic, memory and behavioral — helping you see what’s behind their struggles and where their strengths truly shine. It supports academic recommendations, and at times, is used to rule diagnoses in or out. Testing is often the bridge between uncertainty and progress.

You can (and we can help you decide). Early insight can make a big difference. Even mild difficulties with attention or learning can benefit from clarification and support. Testing can either confirm your hunch or give you peace of mind, while identifying strategies that make everyday life smoother for your child.

Psychological testing is distinct from neuropsychological testing in two ways. One, neuropsychological testing is completed by a neuropsychologist — a psychologist who has completed additional specialized training after receiving their doctoral degree. And two, neuropsychologists are able to test functioning within the context of more complicated concerns, including brain injuries and syndromes. If a school or doctor has recommended neuropsychological testing for your child, it is very possible that our psychological testing would be sufficient. This is part of what we assess in our initial meeting.

Absolutely. We’ll walk you through every result and its meaning in clear, parent-friendly language. You’ll leave with a practical plan and specific recommendations — so you know exactly how to help your child thrive, both now and in the future.

We cater testing to their attention span. If they start to lose focus, we can schedule a follow-up testing session. We also have specialists trained in working with all levels of focus.

When we meet with you during our first appointment, we’ll be sure to walk you through what to expect and to prepare you for testing days.

Interpreting your child's testing results is perhaps the most important step of the process. Our psychologists take all of the information gathered during the testing and put it together to form a clear picture of your child’s unique strengths and challenges. Tests like IQ and academic assessments give scores that compare your child’s performance to thousands of other kids their age. These scores tell us how they performed in areas like reading, math, problem-solving, and memory. Observations from the testing session, notes from parents and teachers (like rating scales), and the child's own history help explain why the scores are what they are. For example, a child may have a lower score on a task because they rushed through it, not because they lack the ability. The psychologist connects the dots between the scores, the behaviors, and your child's life history to paint a complete picture and develop personalized recommendations.

We work with you to co-develop a treatment plan that is individualized for your child and their goals.

We believe excellence means more than data — it means understanding the person behind the results. Our clinicians are highly trained in psychological assessment and in empathy. We pair evidence-based tools with genuine care, ensuring your family feels respected, informed, and uplifted every step of the way.

Never. Our approach centers on understanding, not labeling. We view every diagnosis as a starting point for support — not a definition of who your child is. Our goal is to help you and your child see strengths clearly and challenges compassionately.

That’s completely normal. Learning more about your child can bring relief, validation, or even grief — and we’re here to hold space for all of it. During the feedback session, we take time to answer every question, talk through next steps, and ensure you leave feeling supported, hopeful, and empowered.

Every child’s mind is different. That’s why we begin by listening — to you and to your child’s story. From there, we carefully select tests that reflect their unique profile, whether that means assessing focus, processing, learning, or emotional regulation. No two testing paths are ever the same.

Definitely. If previous results exist, we review them alongside your current concerns to avoid duplication and ensure a complete picture. Children grow and change, so sometimes additional testing helps clarify what’s new or what’s evolved. Our goal is to give you the whole story, not repeat what’s already been done.

We take a warm, strengths-based approach. Instead of focusing on what’s “wrong,” we highlight what’s right — what motivates your child, how they learn best, and where they shine. Our team builds rapport before diving into tasks so each child feels safe, supported, and capable throughout the process.

Every child is different. Testing highlights your child’s strengths and challenges in ways that enable us to personalize treatments and academic recommendations for them.

Absolutely. We hope your child sees marked improvements with treatment, enabling us to modify and adapt treatment as they grow.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely-used form of psychological treatment that is proven to effectively help with a range of mental health concerns. Some of the core principles of CBT include the belief that psychological issues are partly based on unhelpful ways of thinking and learned patterns of unhelpful behaviors. Kids, teens, and adults who have mental health concerns can learn strategies to address those thoughts and behaviors that relieve the symptoms they’re experiencing. Some things that help change these unhelpful thinking patterns include learning to recognize and reevaluate thoughts, using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations, being able to accept what is outside of our control, building self-confidence, and gaining an understanding of behaviors. Strategies that target behavior include facing fears and reducing avoidance tendencies, learning to calm the mind and body, engaging in rewarding activities, and role-playing challenging interactions. At Brightline, we work with families to determine what parts of CBT will be helpful given their child’s diagnosis, and then we work together to set goals and create a strategy for growth. Through the work in (and between) sessions, the goal is for the child to get to a point where they feel ready to “graduate” out of therapy, knowing that when a future challenge needs support, they can come back.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a kind of cognitive behavioral therapy that can be especially helpful for people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The exposure part is where you practice confronting the very thoughts and situations that cause anxiety or provoke compulsive behaviors. And the response part is learning to make a conscious choice not to respond with compulsive behaviors once the anxiety or obsessive thoughts have started. Over time, and with the help of a therapist, the practice of exposure and response prevention teaches or retrains the brain to no longer see those thoughts and situations as a threat.

Parent management training (PMT) is a highly-studied and supported intervention that teaches parenting skills, practices, and responses in order to reduce unwanted disruptive behaviors from a child. When a parent is able to be consistent in learning and applying their new skills, it encourages positive parenting, empathy, patience, and engagement with the child. Part of PMT is acknowledging and validating the challenges that parents face while emphasizing the importance of bringing what they’re learning into practice in the home. PMT helps parents remove frustration, labels, and reactions to their child’s behaviors, and replace them with quality time, rewards systems, limits, and long-term positive reinforcement. (And yes, this can feel really hard for a parent — it takes work — because it often goes against instinct.)

Many kids with ADHD struggle with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity; they also tend to have a hard time with things like planning, time management, staying organized, and study skills. Organizational skills training (OST) specifically helps kids overcome these challenges and can be used successfully starting as young as age six. Strategies include supporting the child or teen to more effectively budget their time, break large tasks into many smaller and more achievable components, organize their environment and essential materials, and use active study skills, among others. 

Stemming from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an approach that teaches people to accept their feelings and make a commitment to act in accordance with their values. When someone stops struggling with, avoiding, or denying their emotions, and instead accepts that their feelings are appropriate in certain situations, it helps them move forward even while they experience these emotions. For example, negative emotions don’t need to be “fixed” or changed — they can just be accepted as part of a human life. Once a person is able to accept how they feel, they learn to commit to making necessary changes in their behaviors (despite the existence of those feelings). This expands one's psychological flexibility and emotional openness. ACT is a proven approach to helping with anxiety, depression, OCD, and other mental health disorders.

Brightline’s psychiatric approach follows a biopsychosocial model. It’s an approach to understanding the whole person being treated when considering their mental health. The “bio” part refers to the body — physical health, genetics, and organ functions. The brain is an organ, too, and mental health is linked to physical health. The “psycho” part refers to the mind — psychological well-being, including moods and emotions, affect mental and physical health. And the “social” part refers to community and relationships — these are the external factors that have an impact on one’s mental and physical health. All of these systems overlap and interact, so it’s important to consider a child or teenager’s environment, their physical health, and their mind, in order to treat them successfully.

Our associate therapists have earned their master's degree in social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or counseling. They have a limited license to practice under supervision, and are completing their supervised hours at Brightline to work toward their independent licensure. That means that all of the work they do with your family will be supervised by one of Brightline's psychologists. Their supervising psychologist will review all session notes, care plans, conversations, and recommendations to ensure the approach to your child's treatment is aligned with our standards of providing high-quality, safe, and ethical care. Associate therapists will share with you who their supervisor is at the start of care.

Our therapists have earned their master's degree in social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or counseling. They are independently licensed. They are qualified to do therapy and diagnostic evaluations (when they have their diagnostic privilege credential for some license types). Therapists do not prescribe medication, but they are able to directly refer families who need that service to a Brightline psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Our psychologists are independently licensed providers who have completed their doctoral degree (which means they are a doctor of philosophy or psychology), including a pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship. They are qualified to do diagnostic evaluations, therapy, and psychological testing. Psychologists do not prescribe medication, but they are able to directly refer families who need that service to a Brightline psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Our psychiatrists are independently licensed medical doctors (they have completed four years of medical school, 3-4 years of residency, and often 1-3 years of sub-specialty training). They are qualified to do diagnostic evaluations and provide ongoing medication management. Psychiatrists do not hold ongoing therapy sessions, but they often incorporate brief psychotherapeutic skills in their care and are able to directly refer families who need that service to a Brightline therapist or psychologist.

Our psychiatric nurse practitioners are independently licensed practitioners who have advanced certificates or licenses. They are qualified to do diagnostic evaluations and provide medication management. Psychiatric nurse practitioners do not hold ongoing therapy sessions, but they often incorporate brief psychotherapeutic skills into their care and are able to directly refer families who need that service to a Brightline therapist or psychologist.

Neuropsychologists are independently licensed psychologists who have completed their doctoral degree (which means they are a doctor of philosophy or psychology), including a pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship. They also have extended specialty training in neuropsychology. They are qualified to do diagnostic evaluations, therapy sessions, and psychological testing, though their primary focus is likely to be testing, particularly for more complex referral questions. Neuropsychologists do not prescribe medication, but they are able to directly refer families who need that service to a Brightline psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Developmental pediatricians are independently licensed medical doctors (they have completed four years of medical school, 3-4 years of residency, and often 1-3 years of sub-specialty training). They are qualified to do diagnostic evaluations and provide medication management. Developmental pediatricians do not hold ongoing therapy sessions, but they often incorporate brief psychotherapeutic skills into their care and are able to directly refer families who need that service to a Brightline therapist or psychologist.

While experiencing some anxiety is just part of being human, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is worrying excessively about negative outcomes in a range of areas like performing well in school or at work, health, safety, or world events to such a degree that the worry is difficult to control and interferes with daily activities. Kids and teens with GAD tend to have a lot of “what if” thoughts and fixate on things that have not gone as well as they hoped or worry things will go poorly in the future. 

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition where a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears drive ritualized behaviors. These thought and fear patterns are known as obsessions, and these obsessions lead the person with OCD to repeat behaviors that tend to bring temporary relief, known as compulsions. People with OCD often have obsessive thoughts that come back even when they try to ignore them. Doing the compulsive acts that the thoughts and fears are driving feels like a solution, but it can easily become ritualized and get in the way of daily activities. For example, if an obsessive thought is about germs and getting sick, the compulsion to wash hands feels good in the moment but then can lead to chapping and lost time. OCD can center around certain themes (e.g., checking to make sure something was done right, redoing work, germs and illnesses, superstitions) and can cause distress, shame, and frustration.

Depression is a mood disorder where a child or teen’s sadness persists for weeks at a time. Feeling sad or irritated for short periods of time is typical, and might be due to a bad grade, a cancelled playdate, or some other type of disappointment. But, in those cases, the sadness lifts and the child feels better. Depression is different — it can linger for longer and be more severe, leading to poor sleep (too much or too little), reduced appetite, lack of energy, reduced concentration, and a lack of desire to see friends or do activities they normally enjoy. It can also lead to thoughts of suicide.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health disorder. It’s considered a chronic disorder — meaning that it is present throughout the life span — and can impact kids and teens in many areas of their life. Symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. When not addressed or understood by the person experiencing ADHD, it can lead to a lower academic performance, social struggles, and low self-esteem. Kids with ADHD are often sensitive to external criticism and can be hard on themselves, too. While it’s more apparent in males, it’s equally common for females, though the presentations vary (more hyperactivity/impulsivity in boys, more inattention in girls).

Kids and teens with disruptive behavior disorders are commonly caught in patterns of being uncooperative, not listening or responding to authority figures, or rule-breaking. Their responses to direction can range from indifferent to hostile; you might see everything from stubborn behaviors and disobedience, to physical aggression that can affect themselves and others. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and control disorder (CD) are types of disruptive behavior disorders, and the symptoms vary in intensity, intentionality, and severity.

We’re available via phone, email, or online. Visit our Contact us page for details.

Yes. You’ll have a phone number you can call to reach your child’s therapist directly during business hours. You can also get in touch via our chat feature on the Brightline app (also during business hours).

No, Brightline is not an emergency service. If you have an emergency and your child is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, call 911. If your child is in distress and needs to talk to someone right away, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). You can also chat from a computer at 988lifeline.org.

If you have any feedback, the best way to share it is by emailing [email protected]. Please include your name, phone number, and anything you’d like to share about your experience. In order to protect your privacy, please do not include any protected health information (PHI) in the subject line or body of the email; communication via email over the internet is not secure.

Yes. Brightline complies with all applicable data privacy laws. Our highest priority is your privacy and the safe and secure management of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Protected Healthcare Information (PHI). 

Yes. Brightline complies with all HIPAA laws. Our highest priority is your privacy and the safe and secure management of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Protected Healthcare Information (PHI). 

We use reasonable and appropriate physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards, including industry-standard SSL-encryption to enhance the security of data transmissions. Your account information is password-protected for your privacy and security. And, we negotiate and sign Business Associate Agreements (BAA) with all other platforms that may store PHI, ensuring the vendor remains compliant with our program standards for protecting your information. 

Brightline routinely updates various service documents to reflect the constantly changing legislative and policy landscape. The most recent versions are linked below. For questions about our privacy practices, please email [email protected].

• Terms of Service

• Privacy Policy

• Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy

• HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

• Professional Disclosure Statement and Consent for Treatment

• Financial Agreement / Assignment of Benefits Policy

No, Brightline is not an emergency service. If you have an emergency and your child is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, call 911. If your child is in distress and needs to talk to someone right away, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). You can also chat from a computer at 988lifeline.org.

Please visit hellobrightline.com/safety for more information about safety tips and resources.