When is psychiatry right?
Our psychiatry team takes each child’s body, mind, and community into consideration when looking at whether (or how) medication fits into their care plan.
We look at medication as just one mental health tool to be used as needed in collaboration with therapy — and parents are involved in the decision.
In most cases, therapy is the first line of treatment, with medication layered on for severe cases or where progress isn’t happening with therapy alone.
In the case of an ADHD diagnosis, medication is often a first-line treatment to be used alongside therapy.
If your child sees a therapist outside of Brightline, but you are looking for medication management or other psychiatric support, we can help.
The team your child needs
Parents are the experts on their child, kids are experts on how they feel, and our clinicians are experts on mental health. Together, we can create an individualized care path that moves each child towards their mental health goals.
Your child’s team, your way
Your child doesn’t have to see one of our therapists to see our psychiatrists. We can work with outside therapists.
Flexible appointment types
Some in-person visits allow us to update vitals, height, weight, etc. Other appointments can be conveniently held online.
Tiered treatment
We start with more frequent check-ins (to discuss side effects and progress); less visits occur once long-term treatment is established.
Optional standalone support
In certain situations, standalone support is offered. We help parents understand when this approach will work.
Compassionate, evidence-based care
Experienced leadership
Our team is highly collaborative and operates under the expert guidance of our Chief Medical Officer, Nikhil Nadkarni, MD.
Expert supervision
Dr. Nadkarni holds dual board certifications in Adult Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry and oversees our psychiatric team.
Collaborative team
Our team includes psychiatrists, behavioral health-focused pediatricians, and licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Experienced leadership
Our team is highly collaborative and operates under the expert guidance of our Chief Medical Officer, Nikhil Nadkarni, MD.
Expert supervision
Dr. Nadkarni holds dual board certifications in Adult Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry and oversees our psychiatric team.
Collaborative team
Our team includes psychiatrists, behavioral health-focused pediatricians, and licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners.
What to expect
Our psychiatry team considers the whole child: biological (genetics, neurochemistry, physiology), psychological (thoughts, feelings, behaviors), and a child’s community, family, and relationships. It all feeds into decisions about timing, dosage, and type of medication, which is all highly personal to each child’s situation.
Think of Brightline as your child’s care navigator. We’ll give you all the options and let you know what to expect on each part of the journey, turn by turn, but you are in the driver’s seat.
The medication recommendations we make are rooted in evidence and follow professional guidelines from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
We don’t approach medication as being a tool that’s used forever — the goal is to use medication when it’s needed and work towards reducing or eliminating it when possible.
Our internal psychiatry and therapy teams collaborate closely with each other. We also partner with parents, teachers, pediatricians, and other supportive adults in your child’s life (including your child’s outside therapist if they have one) as needed.
