eTMS uses your brainwaves to guide precise, non-invasive magnetic therapy, improving neural balance and boosting treatment results.
Electroencephalogram-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (eTMS) is an innovative form of brain stimulation therapy that uses your own brainwaves to personalize treatment. Unlike standard TMS, which delivers generic pulses to a broad brain region, eTMS first maps your brain’s unique electrical activity via EEG and then calibrates the magnetic pulses to target the areas and frequencies where your brain signaling is out of balance. In essence, it’s a dialogue with your brain: we identify where communication can be improved, and then gently encourage those neural connections to strengthen. The treatment is entirely non-invasive (nothing surgical, no medications needed) and painless– most patients only feel a light tapping on the head during stimulation. Our equipment is FDA-cleared and this protocol has been recognized for its safety and efficacy, achieving better outcomes than traditional approaches in clinical evaluations.
We start by conducting a quantitative EEG, an eyes-closed recording of your brain’s electrical activity, along with a brief EKG to check heart rhythms. This brain mapping session is comfortable and simple – you sit in a chair with a soft EEG cap while your brainwaves are recorded. Our scientific and medical team then analyzes the EEG data to identify patterns of dysregulation that may be linked to your symptoms. For example, certain brainwave imbalances might correspond to hyperarousal in PTSD or cognitive slowing after a concussion. By pinpointing these, we get a clear picture of where and how your brain could benefit from stimulation. (Brainscan report image)
Patented analytical software developed by Wave Neuroscience translates your EEG findings into a customized TMS protocol. This means we select the exact frequency of magnetic pulses that resonated best with your dominant brainwave rhythms, and determine the specific brain region to target (often in the prefrontal cortex or other areas implicated in PTSD, depression, etc.). Every plan is reviewed and approved by a licensed physician before treatment begins. Your care team will explain the plan in plain language – for example, “We found your alpha wave is low in the frontal lobe, so we’ll stimulate that area at a frequency of 10 Hz to help restore balance.” This tailored approach is what makes eTMS so effective: we are addressing your brain’s needs, not a generic protocol.
Once your protocol is set, treatment can begin. You’ll sit comfortably in a reclining chair while a trained technician positions a small magnetic coil gently against your scalp at the target location. When the session starts, the device delivers magnetic pulses (you’ll hear a clicking sound) that painlessly penetrate about 1-2 inches into the brain tissue. These pulses last only a few seconds at a time. A typical session lasts about 15 minutes, during which you can relax – many people listen to music or even doze off. The magnetic stimulation is non-convulsive and gentle; you remain awake and alert, and there is no sedation or recovery time needed. We schedule sessions daily, five days a week, with each week followed by a weekend break, for a course of 20 sessions. During this period, you may gradually notice improvements – better sleep, lifted mood, reduced intrusive thoughts – but every individual is different. Some report changes within the first 2 weeks, others closer to the end of the treatment course. Our staff will be checking in with you frequently about how you’re feeling.
Throughout the eTMS program, we prioritize accountability for results. We periodically repeat the EEG and track your symptom scores to see how you’re responding. This ongoing monitoring allows us to adjust your treatment parameters if needed – truly fine-tuning the therapy to ensure optimal outcomes. For instance, if your follow-up EEG shows improvement in one area but another area is still dysregulated, we might retarget the coil or tweak the frequency. We also use standard clinical questionnaires (like the PTSD Checklist, depression scales, sleep quality indices, etc.) to measure your progress in a quantifiable way. You will be able to see your own improvements – whether it’s a higher alpha wave power on EEG or a drop in your PTSD symptom score. This transparency helps you feel confident that the therapy is working. Our goal is to equip your brain with lasting resilience in that short period.
eTMS is a safe, FDA-cleared treatment with a strong track record. It does not involve any memory loss, anesthesia, or systemic side effects. You can drive home or back to work immediately after each session. The most commonly reported side effect is a mild headache or scalp irritation from the magnetic pulses, which typically resolves quickly. We take every precaution to ensure your comfort. Your safety is our top priority, so we will thoroughly review your medical history to confirm eTMS is appropriate for you.
By harnessing advanced neuroscience in a caring clinical setting, Healing Heroes’ eTMS program offers a truly transformative healing process. Many of our patients describe it as “life-changing”, saying it gave them back a sense of normalcy faster than they ever imagined possible.
Schedule an Appointment and a member of our team will promptly follow up to confirm your visit. No referral needed.
Book a Confidential Initial Consultation
Hero Brain
Health, LLC
22 Kent Street
Somerville, MA 02143