Fostering a Safe Environment

Brightline is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and safe space where everyone—members and staff alike—feels respected and valued. We expect everyone to show each other kindness and consideration through their words and actions. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, homophobia, transphobia, or religious intolerance. If these expectations are not upheld, we may need to explore alternative care options to ensure the well-being of our community. 

Before continuing your journey with Brightline, please review and acknowledge our community commitments:

1. A Welcoming Environment. We foster an inclusive environment for all members and staff, and encourage you to share information related to your care without fear. 

2. Be Respectful. Be considerate and thoughtful. Everyone is on their own path towards better mental health and they should always be treated with respect and kindness. This includes using respectful language in all chats, phone calls, and live sessions.

Emergency Care. If you or your child needs to talk to someone right away, please call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to connect with the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If this is an emergency and there is imminent danger, please call 911 or seek care at the nearest emergency room.


Additional items for 1-on-1, peer groups or communities:

1. Moderation: Follow the guidelines set by your Brightline facilitator. These guidelines were designed to ensure a positive and safe experience for all members.

2. Professional advice: Sharing personal experiences is valuable, but please do not provide medical or therapeutic advice, even if you are a health care professional. Your role here is as a member, not a professional. If someone requests medical or therapeutic advice, the Brightline facilitator can connect with the person individually to make a referral or advise on alternate care options. 

3. No advertising: Do not use this platform to promote any products or services.

4. Constructive feedback: We welcome feedback about your experience with the Brightline community. Remember to use respectful and constructive communication when sharing your thoughts. 

Keep it Confidential: The names and characteristics of other participants should not be shared with others outside of the session. If you want to talk about a person who is not in the session, please refrain from using their personal information, including their names.


BrightLife Kids Community Guidelines

  • Terms of Use. By registering and using our BrightLife Kids  Community, you agree to adhere to Brightline’s Terms of Use, and you represent and warrant that you are at least eighteen (18) years of age. Our services are not available to persons under 18 years of age without parental consent. This community feature was developed to support Parents and Caregivers of children in California ages 0-12. 

  • Be Mindful. Please silence your device (phone, laptop, tablet, etc.) notifications and be present during the entire session. Practice active listening by being attentive and minimize multitasking. Avoid giving advice unless someone has specifically requested it.

  • Be respectful. Only share your own experiences and do not share another member’s personal experiences. If you speak to others about your experience, discuss what you learned, and avoid mentioning any specific details or personally identifiable information.

  • Be responsible. Your words and actions impact others. If you offend, even if it’s unintentional, consider the impact of your words and be willing to acknowledge and apologize. We strictly prohibit any illegal or inappropriate activity including, but not limited to, threats, harassment, hate speech, and/or discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or any other protected class or characteristic. If you do violate this policy,  the facilitator may, at its sole discretion, remove you from the session and/or the series.

  • It’s a shared space. Be aware of the amount of space and time you take up. Allow enough space for other people to contribute and avoid interrupting one another.

  • Respect pronouns. Share your own pronouns and ask for others’ pronouns before addressing someone. If you’re unsure of someone’s pronouns, use “they/them”.

  • Don’t make assumptions. Avoid generalizing statements about others and speak from your personal experience. Remember that people may have perspectives that differ from yours, so be sure not to discredit another person’s experience.