Interventional Psychiatry · EEG-Guided Neurofeedback
PRISM for PTSD
An FDA-cleared, medication-free PTSD therapy that doesn't require you to retell your trauma. Using an EEG headset and an interactive computer simulation, you learn a personal mental strategy to calm the brain's overactive stress response — a skill you can carry into everyday life.
Overview
What is PRISM?
PRISM is a neurofeedback therapy developed by GrayMatters Health and cleared by the FDA in 2023 as an adjunct to standard care for PTSD. It's designed to target the amygdala, the brain region that drives fear and the fight-or-flight response, which tends to be overactive in PTSD.
Unlike exposure-based therapies, PRISM doesn't ask you to revisit traumatic memories. Instead, you practice regulating your brain's stress signal directly, with real-time feedback showing you when it's working.
At a glance
- No medication and no trauma narrative required
- Non-invasive EEG headset — nothing is implanted or stimulated
- Builds a self-regulation skill you keep using after treatment
- Works alongside your existing therapy and medications
- Mild side effects, such as fatigue or headache, if any
What to Expect
Inside a PRISM session
- Put on the EEG headset. A lightweight headset reads your brain activity. It only records — it doesn't send any current into the brain.
- Watch the simulation. You see an animated waiting-room scene on screen. The scene grows more agitated or calmer depending on your amygdala-related brain signal.
- Find your mental strategy. You experiment with a personal approach — a memory, image, feeling, or thought — that calms the scene. Over sessions, you learn which strategy works best for you.
- Practice and strengthen. Each roughly 45-minute session reinforces that strategy so your brain learns to downshift its stress response more easily.
- Apply it in daily life. Between and after sessions, you use the same strategy when PTSD symptoms flare. Booster sessions are available if needed.
Candidacy
Who may benefit
- Adults with chronic PTSD who want a non-medication option
- People who couldn't tolerate or didn't benefit enough from trauma-focused therapy
- Patients who prefer not to retell traumatic experiences
- Those wanting to add a skills-based tool to their current treatment
Evidence
What the research shows
FDA clearance was based on a multi-center study of adults with chronic PTSD. Most participants completed the full program, and a majority showed clinically meaningful improvement on standard PTSD measures in the months after treatment, with improved sleep reported as well. Side effects were mild and resolved on their own.
The Program
Time commitment
15 total
Delivered over about eight weeks, roughly two sessions per week at first, then tapering.
About 45 minutes
No recovery time and no restrictions afterward — you can drive and go straight back to your day.
Ongoing skill
Follow-up with your psychiatrist tracks progress. Booster sessions are available if symptoms return.
Mindspring Health is self-pay and does not bill insurance — see the Fees page for current pricing. We can provide a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement, but reimbursement isn't guaranteed.
Physician-Led Care
Overseen by a board-certified psychiatrist
Dr. A. Umair Janjua, M.D., FAPA, founded Mindspring Health and oversees its interventional psychiatry program. Every interventional treatment is reviewed with you by a psychiatrist before it becomes part of your plan, and monitored and adjusted the same way the rest of your care is.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PRISM FDA-cleared?
Yes. PRISM received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2023 as an adjunct to standard-of-care treatment for PTSD.
Do I have to talk about my trauma?
No. PRISM is non-trauma-based. You practice regulating your brain's stress response without revisiting traumatic memories.
Does the headset stimulate my brain?
No. The EEG headset only reads brain activity. Nothing is sent into the brain.
How long does the program take?
Fifteen sessions of about 45 minutes each, over roughly eight weeks.
Are there side effects?
Most people have none. Some report mild fatigue or headache, which typically resolves on its own.
Can I continue therapy and medications?
Yes. PRISM is designed to be added to your existing PTSD treatment.
Can I drive after a session?
Yes. There's no medication or sedation, so you can drive and return to normal activities right away.
Does insurance cover PRISM?
Mindspring Health is self-pay and does not bill insurance. Most insurers don't currently cover PRISM. We can provide a superbill on request.
Interventional Psychiatry
Other options we offer
Single-Day Protocol
ONE-Day TMS
A full TMS course in one clinic day.
1–2 Week Protocol
Accelerated TMS
Multiple short sessions per day over 1–2 weeks.
Standard Daily Protocol
Standard rTMS
One session a day, the most-studied schedule.
In-Office Infusion
IV Ketamine Therapy
Medically supervised infusion series.
Implantable Neuromodulation
VNS Therapy
Long-term option for treatment-resistant depression.
Find out if you're a candidate
Every interventional treatment at Mindspring Health starts with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation by a board-certified psychiatrist.