Dr. Cassianna McCants

Dr. Cassianna McCants is a Michigan native and licensed clinical psychologist who brings a rich background in early childhood development, psychological assessment, and family-centered care to Bright Pine Behavioral Health. Her path in the field has been shaped by a deep commitment to helping children and their caregivers understand developmental, learning, and emotional challenges with clarity and compassion.

Dr. McCants completed her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at the Michigan School of Psychology, followed by a specialized pre-doctoral internship in Early Childhood and Infant Mental Health at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. She later completed a competitive post-doctoral fellowship in Early Childhood and Perinatal Mental Health at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. During her time there, she served as an Attending Psychologist and took on several leadership roles, including Director of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Lead Psychologist for Early Childhood Anxiety and Emotion Regulation Services, and Externship Director for early childhood training programs.

Throughout her career, Dr. McCants has developed extensive expertise in the assessment of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, behavioral concerns, and early emotional and social-communication challenges. She has conducted hundreds of evaluations using gold-standard assessment tools and has a special interest in working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children. She also has meaningful experience assessing children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who present with complex developmental and medical needs.

Dr. McCants takes a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming, and culturally responsive approach to every evaluation. She values collaboration with caregivers, teachers, physicians, and therapists to ensure that each child’s recommendations are actionable, clear, and deeply supportive of their long-term success. Her work is guided by the belief that early understanding can transform trajectories, reduce stress for caregivers, and help families feel empowered and hopeful.

Dr. McCants is certified in Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT; Within-Agency Trainer) and Infant Massage USA. Additonally, she is trained in parent management training, Circle of Security Parenting, PEERS® for Preschoolers, anxiety interventions, and trauma-focused early childhood interventions. She is also completing the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement (IECMH-E®) and Perinatal Mental Health Certification.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. McCants has been actively involved in training, teaching, and mentorship. She has supervised doctoral externs, interns, and post-doctoral fellows in early childhood assessment and intervention, and she has been invited to present nationally on topics such as autism evaluation, trauma in early childhood, attachment, and culturally informed assessment practices. Her commitment to high-quality care was recognized when she received the Children’s National Award for Clinical Excellence in Psychology & Behavioral Health.

Returning home to the metro Detroit area represents more than a relocation for Dr. McCants, it is a continuation of her long-standing dedication to serving the communities that shaped her. She is known for her warm communication style, her deep respect for family systems, and her ability to translate complex assessment findings into meaningful, practical guidance. At Bright Pine, she looks forward to partnering with families as they navigate their child’s development, celebrate strengths, and build a foundation for lifelong well-being.