Most people begin life at an optimal level of brain health, yet through trauma, concussion/TBI, abuse, addiction and other factors, the brain can be thrown out of balance. Personalized repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (PrTMS) offers a customized treatment plan to rebalance and improve brain function for better mood, improved focus, sleep, anxiety relief, and diminished symptoms of autism spectrum.
PrTMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses low-amplitude magnetic pulses to help regulate dysregulated brain activity. Unlike one-size-fits-all approaches, PrTMS begins with data collection and individualized analysis to better understand how the brain is functioning and where support may be needed. At Telos, this process is used to create a more personalized treatment experience built around each student’s needs.
What Is PrTMS?
PrTMS stands for Personalized Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. It is a non-invasive treatment designed to support healthier brain regulation by using low-amplitude magnetic stimulation to target areas of the brain that may be under- or over-functioning.
Traditional TMS technology has been used for decades. PrTMS builds on that foundation by using qEEG brain mapping and physician-reviewed analysis to create a more individualized treatment plan based on how each person’s brain is functioning.
Rather than applying the same protocol to every patient, PrTMS is designed to be adjusted based on the individual.
How PrTMS Works
PrTMS begins by collecting data through qEEG brain mapping, which measures electrical activity in the brain. This helps identify patterns of dysregulation that may be contributing to symptoms like anxiety, depression, poor sleep, difficulty focusing, or emotional instability.
That data is then reviewed and used to help determine a personalized treatment protocol.
qEEG Brain Mapping
The first step in treatment is a qEEG, or quantitative electroencephalogram. This process measures electrical activity in the brain and helps identify where the brain may be functioning outside of healthier patterns.
This gives the treatment team more information about what may be contributing to symptoms and where support may be needed.
Physician-Reviewed Analysis
Once brain mapping is complete, the data is reviewed for diagnostic treatment planning. This helps guide how treatment is structured and allows protocols to be built around the individual rather than generalized assumptions.
Personalized Treatment Protocols
PrTMS is personalized based on each individual’s brain activity and adjusted throughout treatment as needed. This allows treatment to stay responsive as progress is made.
What are the Benefits of PrTMS?
Treatments have benefited patients with sleep deficits, depression, anxiety and has shown promising initial results in a host of other needs as simple as “foggy thinking” and complex as treating autism spectrum. The following is information and terms associated with this incredible technology.
What PrTMS Is Used to Support
PrTMS is used to support a range of challenges related to cognitive and emotional regulation. At Telos, this may include support for students experiencing:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleep disruption
- Difficulty focusing
- Emotional dysregulation
- Cognitive fatigue or “foggy thinking”
The PrTMS page also notes promising early results in more complex areas of treatment, though protocols are always determined based on the individual and clinical appropriateness.
What Treatment Looks Like Day to Day
PrTMS sessions are brief, consistent, and designed to fit into the student’s daily routine. Treatment is typically delivered over time and monitored for progress as the brain begins responding to stimulation.
Because treatment is non-invasive and low amplitude, sessions are designed to be manageable while allowing for consistency and measurable progress.
Time Commitment
Treatment times are consistent. Each treatment takes approximately 30 minutes once it begins. Treatments take a consistent daily commitment for 6-8 weeks depending on treatment response. Treatments that are not producing a measurable response are usually identified after two qEEG tests. In this case, if the treatment is not delivering results, daily treatments will not continue.
Following the initial treatment, the patient may need to come in for a “tune-up” to maintain the optimal result. If needed, tuneups typically are at the 6 month or year mark, for one to two weeks to maintain the peak results. Without tuneups, people on average maintain high-level results. These followup visits will be determined individually. Over time the distance between followup visits gets longer and eventually are not needed.
Side Effects and Monitoring
PrTMS is non-invasive, and side effects are typically minimal. Students are monitored throughout treatment, and protocols can be adjusted as needed based on response. Magnetic stimulation is then delivered according to the individual’s protocol & dose by a licensed treatment provider in accordance with his or her medical judgment.
- A tingling sensation during treatment, however most patients feel nothing
- Mild headache during treatment, subsides shortly after treatment ends
- In almost all cases patients experience better sleep patterns
- If patient has traumatic brain injury (TBI) that has cracked the skull, the treatment rarely works
How Progress Is Measured
One of the distinguishing features of PrTMS is that treatment is built around measurable data.
Progress is monitored over time and treatment can be adjusted as the brain begins responding more consistently. The goal is not simply symptom reduction in the moment, but healthier and more regulated brain function over time.
Treatment is considered complete when the brain demonstrates healthier, more stable patterns of regulation and the student has reached the intended treatment goals.
Research supporting the use of PrTMS
How PrTMS Fits Into Treatment at Telos
At Telos, PrTMS is one part of a broader clinical picture. It is not used in isolation, and it is not positioned as a standalone solution. Instead, it may be used alongside other therapeutic, academic, and relational supports as part of a more individualized treatment plan.
Like other services at Telos, PrTMS is used in support of better overall regulation, stronger daily functioning, and more personalized care.
Questions Families Often Ask
Is PrTMS invasive?
No. PrTMS is non-invasive and does not require surgery, sedation, or recovery time.
Is PrTMS the same as traditional TMS?
PrTMS uses the same general technology as TMS, but treatment is more personalized through qEEG brain mapping, physician-reviewed analysis, and individualized protocols.
How long does treatment take?
Each patient’s timing is different. Typically the 6-8 weeks is the basic treatment module and if more is needed it will be discussed at that time. Once the core treatment is complete, on an as needed basis, 6 months to a year after the initial treatment, the patient may schedule a maintenance protocol referred to as a “tuned up” to maintain balanced levels. The goal is to use “tune ups” only as needed.
Without tune-ups, people on average maintain high-level results. These follow-up visits will be determined individually. Over time the distance between follow-up visits gets longer and eventually are not needed.
How is progress measured?
Progress is measured through observation, response to treatment, and ongoing evaluation of how the brain is functioning over time.
A More Personalized Way to Understand Brain Function
For families trying to better understand what may be contributing to emotional, cognitive, or behavioral struggles, PrTMS offers a more personalized and data-informed way to evaluate and support brain function.
At Telos, that information can help guide more individualized treatment planning and support a clearer understanding of what each student may need next.
Learn more with Telos’ PrTMS FAQs
The Telos team includes licensed clinicians, therapists, educators, and family support specialists dedicated to helping teen boys and young adults find their way back. Our residential programs in Orem, Utah combine evidence-based clinical treatment with Cognia-accredited academics, structured community, and a relationship-first approach that produces real, lasting results. When families are searching for answers, we write to meet them where they are.
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We’ll help you walk through the programs, answer questions clearly, and make sure you have a better sense of what comes next.
