ABOUT US

Bright Connections 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.

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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.

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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:

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• 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.

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Because therapy alone is rarely the entire answer.

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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.​

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Catey Rice, M.Ed., M.S., BCBA, COBA, IBA, LBA
Founder & CEO, Bright Connections Behavioral