MeRT Therapy for Anxiety

Non-Invasive, Medication-Free Treatment in Newport Beach

We use EEG brain mapping to identify your unique brainwave patterns, then deliver gentle magnetic stimulation to help your brain regulate stress and anxiety more effectively.

Find Out If MeRT Is Right for You

MeRT Treatment for Anxiety: How It Works

Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach offers MeRT® (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy), an EEG-guided, non-invasive treatment for patients experiencing anxiety.

This EEG-guided, non-invasive method is designed to support the brain’s regulation of stress and emotional responses. MeRT incorporates diagnostic tools, such as quantitative EEG data, to inform personalized treatment planning.

Anxiety is a common human experience, but for individuals with anxiety disorders, symptoms may be persistent, intense, and disruptive to daily life. When anxiety becomes chronic, it can interfere with sleep, concentration, emotional regulation, and overall quality of life.

By evaluating your individual EEG results, our clinical team determines whether MeRT is a good fit and builds a treatment plan around your specific brainwave patterns.

woman with anxiety biting her fingernails

Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety symptoms can vary from person to person and may involve both physical and emotional responses. When anxiety is persistent or severe, it can interfere with daily functioning and overall well-being.

Common symptoms may include:

  • Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
  • Muscle tension or restlessness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating or trembling
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Digestive discomfort or nausea
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness
  • Feelings of detachment or unease
  • Avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety

Anxiety may present as generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, agoraphobia, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Anxiety can also occur alongside other mental health conditions such as depression or PTSD.

Treatment often includes a combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle strategies. However, some individuals do not tolerate medication well or find that traditional approaches do not fully address their symptoms.

Call Our New Patient
Coordinator to Learn More

949-418-1108

Or fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we will contact you 

When MeRT May Be the Right Next Step

When anxiety persists despite therapy or medication, a qEEG evaluation can reveal whether specific brainwave irregularities are contributing to your symptoms—and whether MeRT is likely to help.

At Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach, our clinicians use quantitative EEG to assess patterns of brain activity that may be associated with chronic anxiety. This information helps determine whether an individualized, EEG-guided approach—such as MeRT® (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy)—may be appropriate as part of a broader care plan.

Treatment decisions are based on clinical evaluation, diagnostic findings, and individual patient needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Calm person with an image of the brain in front

What Your Evaluation and Treatment Look Like

Treatment at Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach starts with a diagnostic evaluation, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

We begin with a qEEG (quantitative EEG) and EKG, which map your brain’s electrical activity and identify patterns that may be contributing to your anxiety symptoms. No two people’s results look the same, which is why we don’t treat everyone the same way.

Based on your results, our clinical team designs a personalized MeRT protocol, specifying the exact frequency, location, and timing of magnetic stimulation that matches your individual brainwave patterns. This is what separates MeRT from standard TMS.

Treatment sessions are non-invasive, medication-free, and typically completed in short daily visits over a two-week period. Your response is monitored throughout, and the protocol can be adjusted based on how your brain is responding.

The equipment used is FDA-cleared. rTMS is FDA-approved for Major Depressive Disorder and OCD, and is used off-label for anxiety.

Call Our New Patient
Coordinator to Learn More

949-418-1108

Or fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we will contact you 

MeRT’s Effectiveness in the Treatment of Anxiety
Independent Research Studies

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of anxiety disorder:  “We observed, in general, that most of the studies found satisfactory results with the use of rTMS in Anxiety Disorders and Anxiety as comorbidity.

“In the studies on Anxiety Disorders, it was observed that three papers reported a sustained effect of response on the improvement of anxious symptoms, one paper reported improvement of symptoms, although this response did not sustain in the long term and one paper reported that there was no significant improvement.

“The papers on Anxious Symptoms showed that most of the studies obtained the sustained effect of response on the anxiety symptoms observed in 21 studies.” 

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in anxiety and trauma-related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis:  “Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that TMS may be an effective treatment for GAD and PTSD.

We reviewed TMS as a treatment for anxiety disorders and PTSD.

TMS presented large effect sizes as a treatment for PTSD and GAD.

Follow-up studies in GAD showed improvement of patients after TMS.”

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Treatment Resistant Depression: Retrospective Data Analysis from Clinical Practice: 

“Baseline depression and anxiety scores were in the moderate to severe range (see Table 2).

There was a statistically significant improvement on all measures after the rTMS treatment, with small to medium effect sizes.

“The results show that rTMS significantly improved all measures of depression and anxiety. Response and remission rates for depression were 34.6% and 20.6% for the HAM-D; 10% and 28.6% for the PHQ-9; 31% and 31.8% for the CGI; and for anxiety they were and 24.6% and 28.8% (GAD-7). Effect sizes were medium, expect for PHQ-9 which was low. Reliable change analysis of GAD-7 and PHQ-9 indicated greater improvement in self-reported anxiety than depression.

The reliable change in anxiety was similar to that which has been achieved through a national programme of psychotherapy for moderate to severe anxiety ( Richards & Borglin, 2011; Griffiths & Griffiths, 2015). The study’s findings support published rTMS results showing a positive impact on depression and anxiety.”

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Service Members & TRICARE Coverage

Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach is honored to serve uniformed service members, veterans, and their families.

We are in-network with TRICARE for FDA-approved rTMS therapy for Major Depressive Disorder. Coverage eligibility depends on diagnosis, medical necessity, and plan details.

MeRT is not covered by TRICARE. Our team can review options and help determine appropriate next steps based on individual circumstances.

Patient Stories

With the help of BTC and their staff I can attest to many benefits from MeRT. Over the previous 2 weeks of treatment I have noticed a significant change in sleep pattern. Less fragmented sleep has allowed for my anxiety and anger to drop, allowing me to focus on other functional areas of life. I have also noticed a significant increase in my ability to focus on everyday tasks. Without this treatment I would be lost, and for that, I truly am thankful. –   Victor M.

I did six weeks of therapy at the Brain Treatment Center. I started therapy with anxiety and depression due to traumatic brain injury. After two weeks I did not feel any better, but after the third week it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I started to have ah-ha moments, but it was about things I already knew. The therapy allowed me to clear my brain and concentrate on things. I was no longer spiralling about things that really didn’t matter but seemed real at the time.  Thank you BTC team. Thank you for my life back. – Sam B.

I just finished 6 weeks of their specialized form of TMS treatment [MeRT] and it is life changing. If your depression or anxiety have been resistant to medications, therapy or other forms of treatment, I highly recommend the Brain Treatment Center. – Mary Ann E.

Of all my injuries, by far the worst were the ones you could not see. I had degraded to the point of not being able to leave my home because of panic attacks and severe anxiety. I could not hide from this feeling, and no medication could numb it. I was living in despair and physical pain every day without reprieve, that is, until I was able to get treatment. I underwent neural restorative therapy for two months with total symptom resolution. I can function again at work, and can spend much needed time with my family. I have my sense of well-being back and a clarity of thought I haven’t had in many years.” – Travis C.

Next Steps

If you’re living with persistent anxiety and want to explore whether MeRT is right for you, our team is available to help you understand whether further evaluation may be appropriate.

Our New Patient Coordinator can answer questions, explain next steps, and assist with scheduling.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(949) 418-1108

Or fill out the form below, and we will contact you. 

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Absolute Contraindications

Absolute contraindications for cortical MeRT treatment: Pacemaker, Defibrillator, Vagal Nerve Stimulator, VP Shunt/ Magnetic intracranial shunts, Deep Brain Stimulator, Epidural Cortical stimulator, Steel shunts/stents, Cranial metal fragments (i.e. shrapnel, excluding titanium), Cochlear implant, Aneurysm clips, coils, pipelines flow diversion, Pregnant or breastfeeding, Primary brain cancer / metastatic lesions in brain (unless palliative care), Magnetic dental implants, Implanted cardio-verter defibrillators (ICD), Ocular implants.

Relative Contraindications

Relative contraindications require closer protocol attention and may or may not disqualify someone from receiving cortical MeRT treatment, depending on the doctor’s discretion and the person’s individual condition. These include: History of Seizure or seizure disorder, Titanium shunts/stents, Spinal Cord Stimulator, Hearing aids, Ferrous cortical implants, Magnetic ink tattoo, Bipolar Disorder Type I/II, Baha Implant.