MeRT stands for Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy, a therapy that is used to treat Autism, Depression, PTSD, TBI, and a wide range of other issues that stem from brain activity imbalances

Naples Vitality uses gentle magnetic stimulation to enhance neurological development and help the brain to heal and open pathways.

MeRT treatment starts with an evaluation that uses sophisticated brain imaging to locate the areas of the brain that are not communicating. Then custom gentle magnetic waves are created specifically for your brain patterns and are used to stimulate those parts of the brain and encourage them to start communicating again.

Results have been astonishing in some instances. The treatment uses no drugs or medications and is completely non-invasive.

Gentle Magnetic Waves Stimulate Areas Of the Brain that Are Not Communicating Well with a Targeted Frequency Specifically Based on Your Needs

MeRT, or Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy, is a breakthrough technology that empowers doctors to analyze your brainwave data and provide targeted treatment to give you the best possible outcome.

The magnetic waves used are tailored to exact parts of your brain and exact frequencies that help your brain open up areas that need support.

How does MeRT do this, exactly? Well, it starts with how the brain works.

Your brain is composed of approximately 100 billion neurons. These neurons interact with each other through brain waves, or tiny electrical oscillations, to control how your brain functions.

Your neurons can be disrupted by internal or external forces, causing brain dysfunction. Some of these forces can include:

• Trauma to the head such as a concussion
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Developmental disorders such as Autism, ADD, and ADHD
• Illness or disease such as stroke or Parkinson’s Disease
• Drug or alcohol addiction
• Learning disorders
• Dementia
• Multiple sports injuries (head hits)
• Anxiety
• Sleeping disorders
• Congenital issues

These disruptions can be minor or significant. Everyone has different levels of tolerance. Some people still function in day-to-day activities, while others are to some degree debilitated and lose their quality of life.

MeRT attempts to reprogram these abnormal electrical signals in the brain.

By identifying where your brain waves are not properly communicating, we can help to restore optimal function.

MeRT technology can reshape the activity in your brain, regardless of what caused the dysfunction. Patients have reported results that they consider nothing short of miraculous.*

* Results are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual user and are not guaranteed.

No two brains are exactly alike; your brain’s electrical activity, brain waves, and thought patterns are unlike anyone else’s. What makes the MeRT process unique is that the treatment protocol is customized for each patient.

This cutting-edge treatment protocol uses the combined technologies of:

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS, an FDA cleared therapy),
• Quantitative Electroencephalogram (qEEG), and
• Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)

The results of the qEEG and EKG tell us what is functioning normally in your brain and show us any areas of dysregulation. We then use gentle magnetic waves to reprogram the dysfunctional electrical signals in your brain. Through TMS, we stimulate the exact area of your brain where communication is poor and increase activity in that area. This can help the brain learn pathways that have never been used or abandoned, or blocked by trauma.

MeRT is non-surgical, non-invasive, painless, and completely drug-free. You are comfortable throughout the procedure. In most cases, we can visibly eshape brainwave activity, regardless of what may have caused the disruption.

Dr. Erik Won, President & Chief Medical Officer at Wave Neuroscience

“What we’ve learned is that everyone has a unique frequency or unique signature. All of us during our waking hours, we’re looking for something called an alpha frequency where our brain most comfortably operates in. It’s basically a cycle rate where we’re all somewhere between eight and 13 Hertz. And you might be, for example, an 11.4 Hertz brain. I might be an 8.9 Hertz brain. And somebody else may be a 10.3 Hertz brain. It’s just kind of where we’re born. But when we get these brain images, whether it’s through the physical trauma of a blast injury, or the chemical trauma of years of drug use, or the emotional trauma of seeing a loved one pass away, we may find areas of the brain that are not cycling at the same rate as the rest of our cortex. …

“EEGs (electrical pictures of the brain) can tell us when there are abnormalities in neural networks. …We can look at these signals and find areas that are abnormal, [then we] use this FDA cleared technology, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, to navigate to the area that’s not working properly and try to stimulate it and remind it that it wants to fire at a certain frequency and a certain rate.”

– Dr. Erik Won, President of Wave Neuroscience, from his appearance on the Broken Brain podcast

TMS, or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, is the process of using a magnetic coil on the scalp to reorganize the brain’s signals and pathways. In and of itself, TMS is more of a “one-size-fits-all” approach to treatment. Most TMS treatments are used to deliver stimulation to one brain area at a fixed frequency for all patients.

But MeRT uses a qEEG/EKG to analyze and formulate treatments tailored exclusively for your unique brain pattern and dysregulation. While TMS is the means used for brain neuromodulation, its frequency and location are customized for each patient.

A standard EEG (electroencephalogram) records electrical activity and brain waves, which show the underlying brain activity. The qEEG (qualitative electroencephalogram) applies state-of-the-art mathematical and statistical analysis to the brainwaves. This analysis compares the brainwaves to age- and gender-controlled databases compiled from EEGs of people with no known brain dysregulation.

The qEEG also allows us to create a brain “map” that identifies dysfunctional patterns consistent with various brain disorders. These may include brain injury, emotional disorders, learning problems, behavioral issues, and more. We use this map to tailor our treatment, improving brainwave activity and correcting dysregulation step-by-step.

Benefits from MeRT treatment are highly individualized but may include:

• Improved Sleep
• Increased Relaxation
• Better Concentration and focus
• Improved Memory and Mental Clarity
• Decreased Pain
• Better Mood
• Increased Ability to Cope with Stress
• Increased attention span
• Improved sociability
• Increased motivation
• More clarity of thought
• Fewer cravings (such as drugs or alcohol)
• Improved emotional stability
• Increased ability to adapt to change
• Improved self-confidence and self-esteem

* Results are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual user and are not guaranteed.

Starting as a new patient at Naples Vitality initially involves two appointments, each lasting about 45 minutes to an hour. Your first appointment is for testing, and your second appointment is for your consultation with Dr. King. For patients who prefer to have their first and second appointments before deciding to move forward with treatment, we are happy to work with you on this.

Your MeRT treatment will involve the following steps:

STEP 1: EVALUATION

After receiving your new patient paperwork, we will perform a qEEG (quantitative Electroencephalogram) and EKG. These tests are simple and painless: We place a cap on your head to measure the electrical activity in your brain and map out any areas which are not performing as they should. We also place a lead on your chest to capture the EKG data.

STEP 2: ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT PLAN

Once we’ve completed your initial tests, we send the data to our scientists and clinical teams. Along with Dr. King, they carefully analyze the test results to identify any dysregulation occurring in your brain. Based on their analysis, we develop a treatment plan customized to your specific condition and schedule your assessment period of treatment.

Your second appointment, after your qEEG/EKG, is a consultation with Dr. King. He will answer any questions you may have and let you know more about what to expect during your assessment period of treatment. He will also go over your medical history, along with symptoms.

STEP 3: ASSESSMENT PERIOD AND EVALUATION

After two weeks of treatment, we will perform an additional qEEG and EKG to track your progress and make any needed modifications. We also monitor your progress throughout your daily treatments to confirm how you feel and track any improvements.

After we complete the appropriate assessment period and you are noting improvements in brain function, we will schedule additional MeRT treatment in two-week intervals.
At the end of every two weeks, we will perform a qEEG/EKG to monitor your progress. You will then consult with Dr. King to confirm that changes are still showing on the testing.

The assessment period of treatment lasts two weeks and begins on a Monday. Treatment for the first week occurs Monday through Friday. The second week of treatment occurs Monday through Thursday. We perform the repeat qEEG/EKG on Friday to measure progress.

If you are traveling from out of town, we aim to schedule your qEEG/EKG on a Friday, then your consultation and first treatment session for the following Monday.

Most conditions treated with MeRT provide noticeable and long-lasting results after four to eight weeks of treatment. However, each patient is different, and the results may vary.

STEP 4: MERT TREATMENT

Once your treatment protocols are in place, you will come to therapy five days a week, in two-week intervals. All you need to do is sit in a comfortable chair while a highly trained neuro-technician places a magnetic coil on your head. This device produces a low-frequency magnetic field to induce mild electrical signals in the targeted areas of the brain.

The stimulation occurs for six to eight seconds every minute. You will be required to close your eyes during that six-to-eight-second period. You will typically spend 30-45 minutes in the chair each day.

We can provide you with the appropriate paperwork at the end of your treatment. That way, you can submit the paperwork to your insurance company to see if they can provide you with any reimbursement.

In some cases, we can assist you with your insurance company if you are seeking treatment for Major Depressive Disorder or Obsessive Disorder. Currently, rTMS is FDA cleared for Depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Some patients have reported that they have received some reimbursement for EEGs or clinical evaluations and treatment when treating Major Depressive Disorder, depending on their health coverage. Medicare patients have reported that their coverage provides no reimbursement for MeRT. For non-FDA cleared treatment, it is unlikely that your insurance company will provide you with any reimbursement for MeRT.

We take all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Care Credit is also an option to assist in financing medical expenses. Care Credit is a separate company from Naples Vitality. It is a credit card that you can use to cover medical costs and services. Usually, when you go to the Care Credit website and apply, they will let you know if you are approved very promptly.

We understand that MeRT is a relatively new, cutting-edge treatment, and you may not be sure if this is right for you. But you don’t have to make this decision right away — or all alone.

Your first step would be a simple phone consultation with our Client Care Coordinator. Here you can discuss your symptoms and history, ask all the questions you want, and have her explain the protocols, fees, and details of treatment.
We understand what you may be going through, and our goal is to help guide you through the healing process. We strive to provide you with quality care in a warm and compassionate environment.

Many clinicians and technicians employed by various clinics that offer MeRT have gone through treatment protocols themselves. They have realized first-hand what the treatment has done for them. As a result, they are passionate about helping others to heal too.

Our Client Care Coordinator is available to answer any questions that you may have about how MeRT can help you or your child. She’ll take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, explain costs, and put your mind at ease. She can also assist you in getting scheduled should you decide to move forward with treatment.

Mark Hyman, M.D. is an esteemed functional medicine physician and best-selling author. He founded the Cleveland Clinic Functional Medicine Clinic. He also created the “Broken Brain” podcast, which focuses on the many things that can affect the brain and overall health.

The Broken Brain featured MeRT as a breakthrough for patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder. Dr. Erik Won, the President of Brain Treatment Center, spoke extensively about the origins of MeRT and how it has been used to treat veterans who have suffered after returning from war.

The Department of Defense completed extensive studies on how MeRT treatment has been able to help these veterans, and Dr. Won talks about some of the many successes from this treatment. Click here to watch this informative podcast.

Many children with Autism have experienced some miraculous results in their overall function after going through MeRT treatment.* “The Doctors” interviewed neurologist Spencer O. Miller, MD, who has been utilizing this treatment, and some moms of kids with Autism give their testimonials as well. Click here to watch this episode.

* Results are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual user and are not guaranteed.

Our Client Care Coordinator will take the time to answer your questions, listen to your concerns, and explain our procedures.