Highlands in Bloom is a licensed residential treatment center in Agoura Hills, California. Our clinical program is developed and overseen by Clinical Program Director Stacy McNeal, PhD, LMFT and Medical Director and Psychiatrist Dr. Todd Hill. Red light and near-infrared therapy is an evidence-informed integrative modality available throughout the residential program at Highlands in Bloom, selected for its documented effects on cellular repair, inflammation reduction, mood regulation, and whole-body recovery.
What Is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), delivers specific wavelengths of red (630 to 700nm) and near-infrared (700 to 1100nm) light to the body. These wavelengths are absorbed by mitochondria in cells, where they stimulate cytochrome c oxidase and increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, supporting cellular energy, repair, and regeneration. Red light therapy is non-invasive, non-thermal, and has no known side effects at therapeutic doses, making it accessible for clients with a wide range of health presentations.
Highlands in Bloom offers two red light therapy options for residential clients. The Heavenly Heat Max Red Light provides a high-powered targeted red and near-infrared light experience. For clients seeking a full-panel option, the GembaRed Red Light Panel delivers broad-spectrum red and near-infrared wavelengths across a wider treatment area. Both devices are available to residential clients during the dedicated one-hour daily modality block and can be selected based on personal preference and the specific areas of the body the client wishes to target.
Red Light Therapy and Autoimmune Conditions
Red light therapy has documented clinical applications relevant to several autoimmune conditions. For clients with psoriasis, red and near-infrared light has anti-inflammatory effects on skin tissue and has been used clinically as an adjunct to conventional psoriasis management. For clients with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, red light therapy has demonstrated reductions in joint pain, morning stiffness, and inflammatory markers in peer-reviewed research. For clients with chronic fatigue and autoimmune-related fatigue, the mitochondrial stimulation produced by photobiomodulation supports cellular energy restoration at a fundamental biochemical level.
Red Light Therapy and Mental Health
Red light therapy has an emerging evidence base for mood regulation and depression management. Transcranial photobiomodulation, in which near-infrared light is directed at the prefrontal cortex, has demonstrated improvements in depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and emotional regulation in clinical studies. The mechanisms include increased cerebral blood flow, mitochondrial stimulation in neural tissue, anti-neuroinflammatory effects, and modulation of neurotransmitter systems. At Highlands in Bloom, red light therapy supports the physiological environment in which clinical therapeutic work takes place by addressing the cellular energy and neuroinflammatory dimensions of mental health presentations.
Red Light Therapy at Highlands in Bloom
Every residential client at Highlands in Bloom receives a dedicated one-hour modality block each day to use as they see fit. Red light therapy is available during this block as a passive, non-invasive practice that requires no physical effort. Sessions are typically ten to twenty minutes, leaving ample time within the block to combine red light therapy with other modalities. Red light therapy is frequently used to support circadian rhythm regulation, energy levels, and cognitive clarity as part of the daily residential schedule.
FAQs
Is red light therapy the same as a tanning bed?
No. Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light at therapeutic doses to stimulate cellular function and reduce inflammation. It does not use ultraviolet (UV) light and does not produce tanning or UV-related skin damage.
How long are red light therapy sessions at Highlands in Bloom?
Red light therapy sessions at Highlands in Bloom are typically ten to twenty minutes and are recommended three to four times per week. Session frequency and duration are incorporated into each client’s individualized daily schedule.
Can red light therapy help with psoriasis?
Red and near-infrared light therapy has documented anti-inflammatory effects relevant to psoriasis management and has been used clinically as an adjunct to conventional psoriasis treatment. At Highlands in Bloom it is used as a supportive integrative complement to clinical care for clients managing psoriasis alongside mental health presentations.
Does red light therapy have any side effects?
Red light therapy at therapeutic doses is non-invasive, non-thermal, and has no known significant side effects. It is accessible for clients with a wide range of health presentations and is reviewed as part of each client’s individualized treatment plan at Highlands in Bloom.
Take the First Step
Highlands in Bloom accepts clients from across California and the United States. Our admissions team is available daily for a complimentary, confidential clinical consultation. Call us at (805) 892-6313 or visit highlandsinbloom.com/contact. We are in-network with Blue Shield of California and Aetna and accept most major PPO plans.