MeRT therapy is generally well tolerated, but temporary side effects and rare risks are possible. At our MeRT Therapy Clinic, we use a non-invasive form of personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation and review each patient before treatment begins. Possible effects can include headache, scalp discomfort, tingling, facial muscle twitching, or lightheadedness, which are usually mild and short-lived. Seizures are a rare potential risk with TMS-based treatment. We also review medications, seizure history, and implanted metal or electronic devices because these can affect suitability. Our physician-led team monitors treatment closely and adjusts protocols when clinically appropriate for safety and comfort throughout care.

Eligibility for MeRT is determined individually after we review your health history, symptoms, treatment goals, and brainwave data. At our MeRT Therapy Clinic, we assess people seeking personalized brain stimulation for concerns such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, concussion, sleep difficulties, and autism-related needs. For autism treatment, we currently offer MeRT to children aged four and older. Before recommending treatment, we use qEEG and EKG recordings and a clinical assessment to evaluate suitability. Certain seizure risks, medications, or implanted metal or electronic devices may require additional medical review. We only proceed when our clinical team considers treatment appropriate.

A typical MeRT treatment session takes approximately 30 minutes once your personalized protocol is established. At our MeRT Therapy Clinic, you remain awake and comfortably seated while a trained neuro-technician positions a magnetic coil over the targeted area of your head. Stimulation is delivered in short intervals, typically lasting six to eight seconds per minute. Your first evaluation takes longer because we complete diagnostic testing, including qEEG and EKG recordings, and gather information needed to develop your treatment plan. Follow-up reassessments are scheduled during the treatment course so we can monitor brainwave changes and adjust your protocol when clinically appropriate.

The number of MeRT sessions we recommend depends on your assessment, response to treatment, and brainwave findings. At our MeRT Therapy Clinic, treatment commonly begins with a two-week assessment period involving nine sessions, followed by repeat qEEG testing to evaluate progress. When continued treatment is appropriate, sessions are scheduled five days per week. Our website recommends approximately six to eight weeks of MeRT for many treatment plans, although the exact course can vary. We repeat brainwave recordings and evaluations during care so our team can monitor changes, refine the protocol, and determine whether continuing treatment remains appropriate for your needs.

MeRT differs from standard rTMS because we personalize the stimulation protocol using each patient’s brainwave and heart-rate data. At our MeRT Therapy Clinic, we combine repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with qEEG and EKG recordings to help determine the frequency, location, and treatment parameters for each person. Conventional rTMS typically follows established protocols that target defined brain regions for specific clinical indications. MeRT adds individualized data analysis and repeated reassessment to guide treatment over time. Both approaches are non-invasive and use magnetic stimulation, but MeRT is designed around a customized protocol rather than applying the same stimulation settings to every patient.

During your first appointment, we evaluate your health history and complete brainwave and heart-rate recordings to determine whether MeRT may be appropriate for you. At our MeRT Therapy Clinic, the initial testing includes a qEEG and EKG, which help us assess brain frequencies, brain-heart coherence, and patterns of brain activity. This evaluation generally takes about 45 minutes. We also complete new-patient information and review your symptoms, goals, medications, and medical history. After the data is analyzed, we discuss the findings, answer your questions, and develop a personalized treatment protocol if our clinical team determines that MeRT is suitable for you.