Life-changing online care for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Brightside is available to people 18 years and older in the states where Brightside operates who believe they may be experiencing depression and may benefit from treatment.

Remote care is not a good fit for people with certain conditions or situations. These include (but are not limited to):

• Previous suicide attempt or active suicide planning
• Ongoing, high risk self-harm behavior
• Recent involuntary hospitalization for psychiatric reasons
• Schizophrenia or any symptoms of psychosis
• Certain severities of Bipolar Disorder and symptoms of mania
• Substance abuse problems
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Eating disorder with high-risk symptoms
• Kidney or liver disease, seizures, or long QT (for Psychiatry plan only)

Our providers do not treat, and do not prescribe for adhd.

If any of these describe you, it’s best for you to be seen by a provider in person so you can get the care that’s right for you.

Brightside makes it easy to get top quality depression care from the privacy of home.

Here’s how Psychiatry works:

1. Take the assessment: Answer questions about yourself to provide the information your provider will need to thoroughly evaluate your situation.
2. Connect with a psychiatric provider: Get matched with an expert psychiatric provider for a comprehensive video consultation. Share how you’re feeling, then decide on the best next steps — together. These conversations normally last about 15 minutes to review your situation, discuss your care plan, and answer any questions you may have. 
3. Follow your care plan: If the provider chooses to prescribe, your medication will be sent to your local pharmacy. Your plan also includes digital therapy, and self-care tools you can use at your own pace.
4. Make progress: We’ll ask you to tell us about your symptoms and side effects weekly, allowing the provider to monitor your progress and make any necessary changes to your care plan, so you can get the best results.

Here’s how Therapy works:

1. Take the assessment: Tell us what you’re experiencing, and we’ll help you understand what it means.
2. Connect with a Therapist: Connect with an expert, licensed therapist by messaging and with access to one 30-minute video appointment included with your subscription each week (your first appointment with your therapist will be 45-minutes long). You will continue to have Unlimited messaging support and guidance to help you build skills and feel better.
   
3. Complete sessions: Complete personalized, self-paced audio lessons and practice exercises, building the evidence-based skills and habits you need to overcome your depression and anxiety.
4. Make Progress: Report back on what’s working well for you and where you want to go deeper with the option to purchase additional video sessions if you choose. Your therapist will help guide you through your personalized program so you see the best results.

When scheduling your first appointment, you can browse all of our available providers in your state. Take a look at their profiles and check open times to find the best fit for you. Every Brightside provider undergoes a rigorous hiring and vetting process to ensure the highest quality care.

Brightside currently accepts select insurance plans in various states for payment of your provider’s or therapist’s services. Please see below for a current listing of plans. Brightside may not be included in all plans that each health insurance company offers. Please contact your health insurance plan to verify that your care at Brightside will be covered.

We currently accept the following insurance plans:

• Cigna (all states, except MN)
• Aetna (nationwide)
• Allegience (nationwide)
• Anthem (CA only)
• United Health (select states)

If you are a new member signing up for services you can enter your insurance information during the sign-up process. We’ll let you know your eligibility, as well as you estimated co-pays and out-of-pocket costs (if any) before signing-up or scheduling.

We also accept HSA/FSA payment if you have one of those accounts. If you have questions about using your medical or prescription insurance benefits, please contact us by emailing [email protected].

A mental health provider will diagnose OCD by asking you about the following three things:

• Obsessive thoughts & compulsive behaviors
• Mental or psychological distress
• Consequences in important relationships, both at work and in your personal life

The causes of OCD are unknown, but risk factors include:
Genetics
Twin and family studies have shown that people who have a parent, sibling, or child with OCD are at a higher risk for developing OCD themselves. The risk is higher if the first-degree relative developed OCD as a child or teen. 

Brain structure
Brain imaging studies have shown differences in the frontal cortex and subcortical structures in patients with OCD. There appears to be a connection between the OCD symptoms and abnormalities in certain areas of the brain, but more research is needed to determine the specific connection. 

Environment
An association between childhood trauma and OCD symptoms has been reported in some studies. However, more research is needed to understand this relationship better.

If you are experiencing obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors that are affecting your life, it may be time to seek professional help. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and figure out a plan together.

OCD can be treated using a combination of medication and a few different therapy approaches.

Medication
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are used to help reduce OCD symptoms.

SRIs often require higher daily doses in the treatment of OCD than of depression and may take 8–12 weeks to start working. However, some patients do experience more rapid improvement.

Therapy
Certain types of therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other related therapies (e.g. habit reversal training), can be as effective as medication for many people living with OCD.

Research also shows that a type of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) may also be helpful. EX/RP consists of spending time in the very situation that triggers the compulsions, such as touching a dirty object. Then, you won’t be allowed to complete the usual compulsion, such as handwashing. This type of CBT is effective in reducing compulsive behaviors in OCD, even in people who did not respond well to SRIs.

Self-Care, Coping, and Support
Many treatment plans for OCD involve aspects of self-care. This can include:

• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising on a regular basis
• Managing stress & practicing mindfulness
• Engaging in enjoyable/creative activities
• Taking prescribed medications correctly and discussing any potential side effects with your healthcare providers
• Watching for early signs that your symptoms may be worsening, and having a plan in place for how to respond if they do
• Surrounding yourself with positive and supportive influences
• Talking to trusted family members and friends about how you are feeling