Your MeRT Treatment Journey

Six weeks. Step by step.
Here's exactly what to expect.

MeRT® is a significant commitment of time and energy. This page walks you through every phase — from your first call to your final results review — so there are no surprises.

~6
Weeks of treatment
5
Days per week
30–45
Minutes per session
3×
EEG re-evaluations
1
Results review with Dr. Wallace
Before you start

Getting started — your first call to your first appointment

Before any treatment begins, Our care team will reach out to answer your questions, verify your insurance if applicable, and schedule your initial consultation. This is a conversation — not a commitment. Most patients speak with care team before deciding to move forward.

Patient receiving MeRT treatment at Brain Treatment Center Michigan

A patient during an in-office MeRT session at Brain Treatment Center Michigan.

What the first call covers

care team will walk you through the process, answer questions about cost and insurance, confirm which location is most convenient, and schedule your initial consultation with the physician team.

If you have insurance questions — TRICARE, VA CCN, or auto accident PIP — she can begin a benefits verification at the same time.

Call (269) 430-7966 and ask for our care team, or request a consultation online and she'll reach out within one business day.

The full treatment timeline

Phase by phase — from intake through step-down

Intake
Days 1–8 — Intake and initial setup
Before daily treatment begins
Initial Consult
Consultation with the physician team
Your first in-person visit. The physician team reviews your history, current symptoms, prior treatments, and medications. This is a conversation — not a procedure. Expect 45–60 minutes.
Initial EEG
Quantitative EEG brain mapping
A comfortable EEG cap records your brainwave patterns. No needles, no discomfort — approximately 30–45 minutes. This is the data that drives your entire treatment protocol.
Psych Eval
Intake evaluation with our psychiatrist — Dr. Wood (virtual)
Dr. Jennifer A. Wood, MD conducts a full intake evaluation with our psychiatrist. She establishes or confirms your diagnosis, reviews your medication history, and determines clinical eligibility. This evaluation also generates documentation needed for insurance authorization.
EEG Review
Physician EEG analysis — Dr. Wallace
Dr. Wallace reviews your EEG data and designs your personalized treatment protocol — the specific frequency, location, and stimulation parameters tailored to your brainwave findings.
First Session
Motor threshold + initial MeRT treatment
Your first treatment session. Motor threshold is measured to establish the correct stimulation intensity for your brain — then your first MeRT session begins with your personalized protocol.
What to know: The intake phase takes approximately 1–2 weeks depending on scheduling. Daily treatment does not begin until the EEG has been reviewed and your protocol has been designed.
Week 1–2
Treatment Block 1 — Days 8–19
Daily sessions + first EEG re-evaluation
Daily rTMS
Daily MeRT treatment sessions
Monday through Friday, approximately 30–45 minutes each. You arrive, the technician positions the coil according to your protocol, and the session runs. Most patients read, listen to music, or simply rest.
EEG Day 19
First EEG re-evaluation — Day 19
After approximately two weeks of treatment, the EEG is repeated. Dr. Wallace reviews the new data to see how your brainwave patterns have changed — and adjusts your protocol accordingly. This is one of the key differences between MeRT and standard TMS.
What to expect: Most patients don't notice dramatic changes in the first two weeks. The brain needs time to begin re-establishing healthier communication patterns. Some patients notice improved sleep or energy first — mood and cognitive changes often follow.
Week 3–4
Treatment Block 2 — Days 19–33
Continued treatment + second EEG re-evaluation
Daily rTMS
Daily MeRT sessions continue — updated protocol
Daily sessions continue with the protocol adjusted from the week 2 EEG findings. The updated protocol reflects where your brain is now — not where it started.
Follow-up
Virtual follow-up with Dr. Wood
A brief virtual check-in to review how you're feeling, any symptom changes, and whether medication adjustments are warranted. Your referring provider is kept informed.
EEG Day 33
Second EEG re-evaluation — Day 33
The EEG is repeated at week four. Dr. Wallace reviews and adjusts the protocol again based on the current state of your brainwave patterns. By this point most patients have two comparison EEGs showing their brain's trajectory.
What to expect: Weeks three and four are typically when most patients begin to notice meaningful changes. The specific timing varies — this is one reason the EEG adjustment matters. Your brain may have responded faster or differently than a population average would predict.
Week 5–6
Treatment Block 3 — Days 33–46
Final treatment block + third EEG re-evaluation
Daily rTMS
Final daily MeRT sessions — updated protocol
The final block of daily treatment continues with the protocol updated from the week four EEG. This is the last intensive phase before step-down.
EEG Day 46
Third EEG re-evaluation — Day 46
The final mid-treatment EEG. Dr. Wallace reviews and adjusts for the step-down phase. You now have four EEGs — baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 6 — documenting the full trajectory of your brain's response to treatment.
Close-out
Days 49–54 — Step-down and results review
Final sessions + results appointment
Step-Down
Six flexible step-down sessions
The final six sessions are scheduled more flexibly — not necessarily five consecutive days. These help the brain consolidate the changes made during intensive treatment.
Results
Results review with Dr. Wallace + final psychiatric follow-up
Your final appointment. Dr. Wallace reviews your before-and-after EEG data — showing you exactly how your brainwave patterns changed over the course of treatment. Dr. Wood conducts a final psychiatric follow-up. You discuss what the results mean and what comes next.
What to know: The results review is the appointment you see in our patient story videos. Families like Willa's, Kyle's, and Rowan's are sitting down with Dr. Wallace at this stage to see the data and talk through what changed.
Practical details

What you need to know before you start

Schedule — Monday through Friday

Daily sessions run Monday through Friday. Most sessions are 30–45 minutes. Many patients schedule first thing in the morning or during a lunch break. Plan for travel time to and from the clinic.

Location

Treatment occurs at our Metro Detroit (Sterling Heights) or Grand Rapids (Byron Center) location. You'll attend the same location throughout your course — not switching between sites.

Medications

Most patients continue their existing medications throughout MeRT treatment. Do not adjust or stop any medication without consulting your prescribing physician. Dr. Wood will review your medications at intake.

Side effects

MeRT is well-tolerated by most patients. The most common side effect is mild scalp discomfort or headache at the stimulation site, typically brief and diminishing over the first week of treatment.

What to bring

Nothing special required. Wear comfortable clothing. Remove any metal hair accessories before each session. Bring something to do during sessions — most patients listen to music, podcasts, or simply rest.

After each session

No recovery time needed. You can drive yourself to and from appointments and resume normal activities immediately after each session. There are no restrictions on daily activity during the treatment course.

The qEEG report

What your EEG data actually shows

Before, during, and after — objective data at every stage

One of the most distinctive parts of MeRT is the results review at the end of treatment. Unlike symptom questionnaires, the before-and-after EEG comparison gives you and your physician objective, visual evidence of how your brainwave patterns changed during treatment.

The Neurosynchrony report shows your dominant frequency, coherence patterns, and areas of dysregulation — and how each of those changed across the three re-evaluation points during your six-week course.

Neurosynchrony qEEG report showing brainwave analysis used in MeRT treatment

A Neurosynchrony qEEG report — the data that drives every MeRT protocol. Image courtesy Wave Neuroscience.

Your physician team

Who you'll work with throughout treatment

Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO

Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO

Chief Medical Officer · Functional Medicine Physician

Dr. Wallace reviews your EEG at intake and at each re-evaluation, approves every protocol adjustment, and conducts your results review at the end of treatment. You'll meet her at your intake consultation and at your final results appointment.

View full profile →
JW

Dr. Jennifer A. Wood, MD

Psychiatrist · Adult & Pediatric · 20+ Years Experience

Dr. Wood conducts your intake evaluation with our psychiatrist at intake and your follow-up check-ins during treatment (typically virtual). She manages medication questions and coordinates with any referring providers throughout your course.

View full profile →

MeRT technology as featured in

Wall Street JournalWashington PostThe DoctorsNBC SportsDefense OneUS Air Force

Ready to start your treatment journey?

Call care team or request a consultation online. She'll walk you through the process and answer any questions before you commit to anything.

Schedule a no-cost introductory call (269) 430-7966 — ask for our care team

Questions about what to expect?

Request Consultation