Life changing therapy doesn’t have to be hard.
Meet Grant Brenner MD DFAPA
BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIAN-PSYCHIATRIST, FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Dr Brenner is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City, where he has taught and supervised for over a decade. Dr Brenner is Board Certified in General Psychiatry and holds certificates in Psychoanalysis and Organizational Psychodynamics from The William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Psychoanalysis in New York City where he served in a variety of leadership roles. Dr Brenner is on faculty at the Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis, where he teaches a seminar in the Neurobiology of Trauma.
From an early age, Dr Brenner was drawn to cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, psychoanalysis as well as the broader human condition. In his New York City-based private practice and as the Director of Brighter NeuroTherapeutics, Dr Brenner hinges his treatment approach on the combination of evidence-based science, proven therapies, and novel modalities that take into account the whole patient from a fundamentally humanistic and pragmatic perspective. With an eye towards innovation and evidence-based research, Dr Brenner was drawn by the overwhelming science behind neurotherapy and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to treat his most difficult cases of treatment-resistant depressive disorders. By incorporating TMS into his comprehensive therapeutic approach for over 15 years, even his most severe patient cases were able to achieve new and unimagined levels of relief, in just a few sessions and without any significant side effects. This unique and proven approach to therapy has helped his patients return to themselves and live a happy and fulfilled life.
What is TMS
A breakthrough in neurotherapy, “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation” (TMS) uses safe magnetic pulses to stimulate key areas of the brain affected by specific psychiatric conditions. It has been FDA approved to be safe and effective in resolving treatment-resistant depressive disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and has been successfully used in the treatment of anxiety, PTSD, and other related conditions. As an interventional psychiatric tool, TMS is able to safely and effectively relieve patients’ symptoms in just a few sessions and with no additional medications or side effects. Because of this, TMS has been widely recognized as the “clean alternative” in treating stubborn symptoms of depressive psychiatric conditions, and has shown to even decrease the amount of medication a patient needs while simultaneously improving their mood, wellbeing, and ultimately accelerating their overall therapeutic outcome.
Similar to an MRI but more focused, TMS uses targeted magnetic frequency to rehabilitate the neurological activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain most impacted by depression and behavioral disorders. Depending on the pattern of stimulation applied, the magnetic frequency can be tailored to specifically address your unique disorder or symptom. For example, a higher frequency activates executive functions within the prefrontal cortex, restoring motivation, energy, and emotional regulation, successfully resolving many depressive disorders. A lower frequency calms obsessive and compulsive thinking, repairing the neuro-connectivity to return to its normal, balanced function. As an addition to your current treatment plan, TMS has proven results, optimized treatment outcomes, and helped patients return to being themselves.
NO MAJOR SIDE EFFECTS
CLINICALLY PROVEN SAFE & EFFECTIVE
TARGETED & IMMEDIATE RELIEF
TMS has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and smoking cessation, and a growing evidence base supports its efficacy in the treatment of other neuropsychiatric conditions. TMS is rapidly becoming part of the standard of care for treatment-resistant depression, where it yields response rates of 40%−60%. TMS is generally safe and well tolerated.
The proof is in the science.
In an open-label study and a randomized controlled trial, Cole and colleagues obtained high remission rates with only a 5-day acute treatment period. The TMS protocol, cleared by the FDA, includes several innovations intended to accelerate antidepressant effects.
Focusing on You
01 — Getting Started
See if TMS is right for you by giving us a call. Completely complimentary and without obligation, we will review your medical history and go over treatment expectations, logistics, and possible insurance coverage, together. If you decide to move forward, simply complete our new patient registration form here onsite and a member of our team will give you a call to come in for a clinical consultation.
02 — Clinical Consultation
Our team will work with you to schedule your initial Psychiatric Evaluation and Consultation with Dr Grant Brenner MD DFAPA. Here, Dr Brenner completes an in-depth review of your medical and psychiatric history and provides a comprehensive clinical evaluation. Together, you discuss your treatment goals and address any questions you may have. If both you and Dr Brenner agree that TMS is right for you, we will work together to develop your personalized treatment plan, in coordination with any of your other healthcare providers.
03 — Personalized TMS Treatment
Each of your TMS treatments are held in our NYC-based practice and led by a licensed clinician, if not Dr Brenner himself. Before each treatment session, Dr Brenner will discuss your progress and address any questions or concerns you might have as you move through your therapeutic protocol. Based on your progress and treatment response, your protocol may be adjusted in order to achieve optimal results.
During each session, a licensed clinician applies short magnetic pulses to stimulate the nerves in your cranial tissue, helping to repair the network connectivity. Similar to an MRI, there is a clicking sound, for which we provide each patient with ear plugs to ensure a peaceful experience. Some patients may feel a tingling sensation in the scalp during treatment, which often fades after the initial sessions. There are no major side effects, and you can drive home immediately after your treatment, and resume your daily activities with zero down time.
Each session is uniquely tailored to your specific needs and treatment goals, and takes into account your complete medical conditions and healing experience. Depending on your unique treatment plan, the number and length of your sessions will vary, but typically, TMS sessions last about 20 - 40 minutes, are provided every 1 - 3 days, with a total treatment duration of 14 - 28 days. Together, we make sure that your treatment schedule works for you. And should you prefer to take a little break from your treatment, we are flexible.
04 — Ongoing Monitoring & Maintenance
After the completion of your recommended treatment protocol, we closely monitor your progress in order to maintain sustained and lasting results. In addition to scheduled follow up consultations, we coordinate with your other medical providers and counselors to ensure that your recovery is stable across your entire therapeutic landscape. Should you require an additional booster or maintenance treatment, our team will work with you to get a plan in place.
Depending on each patient’s unique recovery goals and personalized treatment plan, some patients do better when receiving “maintenance” sessions, which are administered up to 5 times a month following initial protocol. However, many patients require only the initial treatment course to have an effective and sustained response to therapy. For many patients, medications have been able to be reduced as a result of their TMS therapy, relieving them from unwanted side effects and lightening their pill burden.
With us, TMS Treatment is easy.
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We partner with NeuroStar, a best-in-class, industry-leading transcranial magnetic stimulation equipment provider. As opposed to ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), NeuroStar uses gentle and focused magnetic pulses (similar in strength to an MRI), to revitalize underactive areas of the brain involved in regulating mood.
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TMS therapy sessions are held in our office and led by Dr Brenner and his team of licensed clinicians. Depending on your therapy protocol, a typical treatment last between 19-37 minutes.
BEFORE TREATMENT
You’ll recline comfortably in the NeuroStar treatment chair. A curved magnetic coil will be positioned comfortably on your head. Once you are ready, we begin treatment.
DURING TREATMENT
You’ll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head as the NeuroStar coil focuses precisely at the source of the depression. The patented Contact Sensing technology ensures the prescribed dose is delivered, every treatment, every pulse. Ear plugs are provided to ensure a comfortable, peaceful experience.
AFTER TREATMENT
You are fully awake and alert during treatment and may drive home and resume daily activities immediately afterwards. There are no effects on memory or sleep and some patients report immediate improvement in mood following their treatment. In the days following your treatment, Dr Brenner will monitor your progress and address any concerns or questions.
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The standard TMS treatment protocol for Major Depressive Disorders typically involves 36 sessions, daily Monday through Friday. Treatment schedules can be made more flexible to accommodate your needs, and it is generally okay to take a short break, should you prefer.