Welcome to Brighter Beginnings.
Care for children, teens, and families from birth through age 17.
Brighter Beginnings is the child and family division of Kairos Counselings. We are dedicated to supporting the mental, emotional, and sensory wellbeing of children and adolescents, while partnering closely with caregivers and schools.
We serve children and families in the Upper Cape and surrounding communities, with services offered in Falmouth, Mashpee, Pocasset, and select school settings.
Important update about referrals
Brighter Beginnings is not currently accepting new referrals for children and teens due to an extensive waitlist.
We encourage families to visit our resource page for trusted community and support options while we work through our current waitlist.
View family resources →
Our Mission
We help children and families move toward more safety, connection, and regulation, not perfection.
Our mission is to provide trauma-informed, somatic aware, family centered care. We use a whole child approach that honors development, culture, sensory needs, and family context. The goal is to help children feel safer in their bodies and relationships, and to help caregivers feel more supported in theirs.
Donations help children access services that are not fully covered by insurance, including Occupational Therapy for Mental Health and therapy groups.
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Our Approach
Brighter Beginnings brings together trauma-informed care, somatic psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and systemic family work. Across services, you will see several consistent elements.
Individual and group counseling
Children and teens can receive one to one support and, when available, participate in groups such as Kiddo & Me or social emotional groups.
Family involvement
We include caregivers as partners. You receive guidance, coaching, and time to ask questions, so that change does not depend on your child doing the work alone.
Trauma-informed care
We understand how trauma and chronic stress show up in bodies, behavior, and development. We pay attention to safety, pacing, and choice in every service we offer.
Systemic healing
We look at the full picture. Home, school, community, and culture all matter. When appropriate, we collaborate with schools, pediatricians, and other providers.
Somatic and body based work
Our clinicians use somatic and sensory aware approaches that focus on what is happening in the nervous system, not only on thoughts or behavior.
Our Services
Brighter Beginnings offers a range of services for children, teens, and families:
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Individual therapy for children and adolescents
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Play therapy for younger children and those who communicate best through play
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Family therapy for parent child relationships and family systems
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Occupational therapy for sensory, motor, and daily living challenges
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Parent and caregiver support
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Groups and workshops, including Kiddo & Me and other time limited offerings
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School-based counseling in partner schools
We also offer Occupational Therapy for Mental Health for children who need extra support with regulation, sensory needs, and daily routines. A simple fee schedule is available so families can see costs clearly.
About Us
- Engaging in therapy at Brighter Beginnings:Â Therapy at Brighter Beginnings is holistic and family centered. We pay attention to your child, your family, and the environments where you live, learn, and play.
- Personalized assessments: We begin with a thoughtful, culturally sensitive assessment process. This helps us understand your child’s strengths, stressors, sensory profile, and developmental history so that we can create a plan that makes sense.
- Family integration:Â We invite caregivers into the process through regular check ins, joint sessions when helpful, and practical strategies you can try at home. Our aim is to support your child and you, not only one or the other.
- Creative and play based therapies:Â Sessions may include play, art, movement, and sensory activities. We use these as developmentally appropriate ways for children to explore feelings, build skills, and feel more at ease in their bodies.
- Supportive environment: We work to create spaces that feel safe, warm, and predictable. Children are not expected to “perform” therapy. They are invited to show up as they are and to move at a pace that feels manageable.
- Resilience building:Â Over time, we help children and families build coping skills, emotional language, and regulation tools that fit daily life. The focus is on growing capacity and connection, not on being perfect.
Who Brighter Beginnings Is For
Brighter Beginnings serves children and adolescents from birth through age 17. We support:
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Infants and young children with regulation or developmental concerns
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Elementary age children with big feelings, behavior changes, or sensory needs
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Tweens and teens navigating anxiety, mood changes, identity questions, school stress, or the impact of trauma
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Families adjusting to loss, family transitions, or changes in living situation
We have clinicians who specialize in different age groups and needs. During intake, our team will help match your child to a provider whose training and schedule fit your situation. Availability may vary by location and season. Our intake team can share which services are currently open.