MeRT for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Newport Beach

When antidepressants don’t work, MeRT, an advanced, personalized approach to TMS therapy, offers new hope.

Hope for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)

You haven’t run out of options. You just haven't found the right one yet.

If you’ve been battling depression and have tried multiple medications without relief, you may be facing treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

You’re not alone. Up to one-third of people with depression don’t respond to standard treatments. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

At the Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach, we specialize in MeRT® (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy), a highly personalized, emerging technology that builds on traditional TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation).

By using a quantitative EEG (qEEG) to analyze your unique brainwave patterns, MeRT takes brain stimulation a step further, offering a customized path toward relief when other treatments have failed.

Depressed woman with glass of water and antidepressant pills at table in kitchen

Call Our New Patient
Coordinator to Learn More

(949) 418-1108
man with treatment-resistant depression sitting in his room

What is Treatment-Resistant Depression?

Treatment-resistant depression is diagnosed when someone doesn’t experience meaningful improvement after trying at least two different antidepressants. Symptoms often persist despite medication and therapy, leaving many people feeling frustrated, isolated, and out of options.

Common symptoms of TRD include:

  • Persistent low mood or sadness
  • Loss of interest or motivation
  • Sleep or appetite changes
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Suicidal thoughts

When standard treatments don’t work, MeRT offers a new way forward by addressing the problem at its source: the brain’s electrical activity.

Here's why MeRT may be your best option for TRD.

While TMS delivers magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive areas of the brain, MeRT uses advanced brain mapping to precisely tailor that stimulation to your unique needs.

Here’s how MeRT works:

  1. EEG and EKG testing measure your brainwave patterns and identify areas that are out of sync.
  2. Our team creates a customized treatment plan based on your brain’s specific activity.
  3. Targeted magnetic stimulation is applied to help retrain your brain’s rhythms and support healthier mood regulation.

Because MeRT is guided by your own brain data, it can be especially effective for people who haven’t responded to medication or traditional TMS protocols.

Call Our New Patient
Coordinator to Learn More

(949) 418-1108

What causes Treatment-Resistant Depression?

There’s no single cause of TRD, but contributing factors may include:

  • Brainwave imbalances that interfere with emotional regulation
  • Genetic differences that affect how you respond to medication
  • Chronic stress or trauma that alters neural activity
  • Inflammation or hormonal changes that impact brain function

MeRT identifies and targets these disruptions using real-time data from your own brain.

What should you expect from MeRT treatment?

Your care starts with a comprehensive evaluation, including:

  • qEEG and EKG testing to measure brain activity
  • A consultation to review your results and discuss symptoms
  • A personalized treatment plan developed just for you

During treatment:

  • Sessions are typically 30–45 minutes, 5 days per week
  • A complete course lasts 4–6 weeks
  • There’s no pain, sedation, or downtime, just a chance to feel better, naturally

Most patients begin to notice gradual improvements in mood, focus, energy, and overall well-being as their brainwave activity becomes more regulated.

Discover more about MeRT treatment for Depression

“I just finished six weeks of their specialized form of TMS treatment, and it is life-changing. If your depression or anxiety has been resistant to medications, therapy, or other forms of treatment, I highly recommend the Brain Treatment Center.”  – M.E.

Why choose the Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach?

As the flagship clinic for MeRT, Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach has been at the forefront of personalized brain health since 2008.

With over 6,000 patients treated and more than 130,000 sessions delivered, we bring experience, innovation, and compassion to every person we serve.

Our mission is simple: to help you heal by treating the brain, not just the symptoms.

Read more about us

Is MeRT covered by insurance?

Because MeRT is an advanced, data-driven form of TMS, it may qualify for insurance coverage under TMS for treatment-resistant depression.

While MeRT itself is considered investigational, many patients meet the requirements for insurance-covered TMS, and we are happy to explore all options with you.

Our staff will:

  • Help verify your benefits
  • Submit any necessary paperwork
  • Work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your needs and budget

Note: If insurance does not cover MeRT, we offer flexible self-pay options and can help you understand what to expect up front—no surprises.

Filling out an insurance form

When depression doesn’t respond to medication, it’s easy to lose hope. But your story isn’t over.

MeRT offers a new path forward, one based on your brain, your patterns, and your potential for healing.

Contact the Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach today to schedule a consultation and find out if MeRT is right for you.

Our New Patient Coordinator is available to answer your questions about how MeRT can help you specifically. She’ll take the time to listen to your concerns and put your mind at ease. She can also help get you scheduled with the clinic should you decide to move forward with treatment.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(949) 868-0006

Or fill out the Contact 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.