Founder's Story
BRIGHT CONNECTIONS BEHAVIORAL was born from one mother's relentless determination to ensure that families could access the support, understanding, and resources they deserve, not just in therapy, but in every environment where a child grows, learns, and belongs.
My name is Catey Rice, and before I became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, clinic owner, researcher, educator, school board member, or doctoral student, I was simply a mom who knew there had to be a better way.
Throughout my career, I worked with children and families across homes, schools, telehealth settings, and communities. I conducted research, supported military families, collaborated with educators, and watched countless caregivers fight tirelessly to get their children the services they needed. Again and again, I saw the same heartbreaking reality. Families weren't failing their children, systems were failing families.
Living in a rural community situated between two military installations, I saw firsthand how difficult it was for families to access quality services. Parents were driving hours to appointments. Waitlists stretched for months. Children were falling behind while caregivers were left trying to navigate fragmented systems with little support and few answers.
What troubled me most wasn't simply the lack of services.
It was the lack of connection.
Providers focused on treatment plans, but often overlooked relationships. Systems focused on compliance, but forgot collaboration. Families were expected to carry the weight of advocacy, coordination, and intervention alone.
I believed there had to be another way.
So, sitting in my living room recliner with my children beside me, a laptop on my lap, and a vision in my heart, Bright Connections was born.
From the beginning, our mission was never simply to provide therapy.
It was to create a place where families felt heard.
Where children felt safe.
Where caregivers felt empowered.
And where progress was measured not only by data, but by confidence, connection, and quality of life.
We built our foundation on the belief that services should be:
Evidence-Based AND Play-Based
Clinically Excellent AND Family-Centered
Trauma-Informed AND Joy-Filled
Structured AND Compassionate
What began as providing in-home ABA services for a single child quickly grew through word of mouth. Families shared their experiences. Communities took notice. Schools reached out. Before long, Bright Connections was supporting not only children, but parents, siblings, educators, caregivers, and entire support teams.
As our impact grew, so did our vision.
Today, Bright Connections Behavioral has expanded into a comprehensive center-based and community-focused organization serving children and families through:
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Services
Caregiver Education and Training
Social Skills Programs
School Readiness and After-School Supports
School Collaboration and Consultation
Professional Training and Community Education
BCBA and RBT Supervision and Mentorship
Family Advocacy and Resource Navigation
Community Partnerships and Outreach
And we're just getting started.
Our vision continues to expand to include speech therapy, occupational therapy, diagnostics, transportation services, advocacy supports, community education initiatives, and interdisciplinary services designed to support the whole child and family.
Because therapy alone is rarely the entire answer.
At Bright Connections, we believe every child deserves to be seen for their strengths, not simply their diagnosis.
Every family deserves support, not judgment.
Every caregiver deserves collaboration, not criticism.
And every community deserves systems that help children succeed.
No matter how much we grow, one thing will never change:
We don't just change behavior. We build relationships.
We don't just write treatment plans. We empower families.
We don't just provide services. We create connections.
Bright Connections was never meant to be just another ABA clinic.
It was built to become a place where science meets compassion, where families find hope, and where children are given every opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
It started with one family.
It has grown into a community.
And this is only the beginning.
—
Catey Rice, M.Ed., M.S., BCBA, COBA, IBA, LBA
Founder & CEO, Bright Connections Behavioral
we have grown!
WHERE WE
ARE NOW
Bright Connections Behavioral began with a simple vision: To provide compassionate, high-quality, trauma-informed support for children and families in our community.
Rooted in the science of Applied Behavior Analysis, that vision continues to guide our work while inspiring a broader purpose, helping individuals, families, educators, professionals, and communities better understand behavior and strengthen connections.
Our expansion reflects this expanding vision. Through individualized ABA therapy, caregiver education and collaboration, school consultation, and professional learning, we help connect evidence-based practices with the everyday experiences of the people we serve.
Our model recognizes that meaningful progress reaches beyond the therapy setting. It grows through supportive relationships, shared understanding, and collaboration across homes, schools, and communities.
We strive to create environments where people feel valued, families feel supported, and those providing support have practical tools to respond with confidence and compassion.
As we continue to grow, our purpose remains the same: To empower people to understand behavior, build meaningful connections, and support each person’s learning, growth, and well-being through compassionate, evidence-based practices.
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