“Brightside is a very middle of the road therapy service. The providers I've been seeing are wonderful, knowledgeable, and flexible. I appreciate the ease of scheduling, the online only appointments, and the fact that medication can be prescribed through the app.
However, the app itself does not work very well. Even with the latest version, it often tells me it needs to update, and will crash for no reason upon trying to do certain things.
I was also told upon signing up that my insurance was in network and I was fully covered - all I would owe is a $25 dollar copay. This is still what the app claims, but I received a bill in the mail for nearly $400 for the month, as well as another for a separate $25 charge for a psychiatry appointment. How can Brightside itself claim I don't owe anything, and then charge me an outlandish amount of money? Overall, the people working for Brightside are lovely, but the service itself is shady.”
“I would rate higher, but I don't think the scope of services that I need are available by Brightside so for that reason I give it to with three stars for limited effectiveness”
“AUSTIN MANSFIELD HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL. HE HAS BEEN OF GREAT HELP IN MY DEALING WITH DEPRESSION—HIS KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICATIONS HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING. I LOOK FORWARD TO HSI CONTINUED HELP.”
“As a Benefits Administrator, I take pride in trying out products or services, so I know what employees experience when they use the services we offer. As a person who recently experienced loss, I had the need for short-term help in dealing with anxiety and depression. Brightside was an affordable option for me versus seeking help from my PCP or referred psychologist. The only downside I see to Brightside is the platform. The online portal is lacking in information. There is no way for me to see my visit history, and in the beginning, I could not contact my provider for a refill and would have gone without had I not reached out to another provider.
I cannot say the providers are outstanding or comprehensive. They seem like they are in a rush to see as many clients in one day as possible. They spend maybe 3-5 minutes with me asking the same questions that are asked on my “Brightside check-ins.” I guess you get what you pay for.”
“I like that I can schedule an appt as soon as next day or even same day. I think there should be 50 min sessions, where you and the clinician can do talk therapy outside of med talk. It’s always so rushed and I never get ti say everythung I need to.”
“I have had an issue with the doctor responding back to my pharmacist when there is a question about a prescribed med. She didn't get any response from the doctor about the possible implications of taking trazodone with streterra. Big disappointment.”
“Why do I need monthly visits? Every 3 months is what the physiciatrist recommended. Also, it was quite expensive. I used your company because it' was on my insurance plan but I thought it was completely covered.”
“The app is often glitchy. Most often when working through lessons I will watch a video, go back to the main lesson page and have a scrolling circle. I have to go out and restart the lesson to get back into it. Also, when typing in responses, the app will lose all of your typing if the screen times out. Also, the links from the email reminders take you to the generic Bright side website rather than opening the app on your phone. Also, there are often discrepancies with set notification reminders (reminders don't come in the form or time requested”
“I do wish I could write a short blurb/note about why my symptoms have gotten worse or better in order to help my practitioner and I. I don’t have the best memory and a 100 character note about why I’m worrying more this week would help when my next appointment is in 3 weeks.”
“Instead of the meds I need (Adderall, Ativan) I got bupropion and ariprazole. They don't work as well, or at all. I understand people are addicted to drugs, but why should that affect my treatment?”
“This is the third time I’ve written about this!!! I need antidepressants, but not therapy. It is chemical with me. If I have issues that therapy would help, I certainly would avail myself of therapy. I have done so in the past and of course, would in the future. Currently, I don’t have any issues that require therapy.”
“I don’t know if I’m reviewing Brightside or myself. I am having a difficult time figuring out where my treatment is going, and I can’t decide if I’m overthinking things or if my directions aren’t clear. I suspect some of both.”
