IASIS Neurofeedback for PTSD & trauma
When your nervous system has learned to stay on guard, calm can feel out of reach. Trauma-informed nervous system coaching and IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback are two gentle ways to support your system in settling, offered in Apex, NC and the Triangle.
How PTSD and trauma show up in the nervous system
Trauma is not only a memory. It is a pattern your body learned. When something overwhelming happened, your autonomic nervous system mobilized you to fight or flee, or shut you down so you could endure. That response kept you safe. The trouble comes when the system never gets the message that the danger has passed.
Polyvagal Theory describes three states. In the ventral vagal state you feel safe, connected, and clear. In the sympathetic state you are on alert: racing thoughts, a pounding heart, irritability, poor sleep. In the dorsal vagal state you go numb, heavy, foggy, or far away. After trauma, many people live in the second or third state most of the time.
Startling easily. Feeling on edge in crowds. Waking at 3 a.m. Feeling flat, or snapping at the people you love. None of this means you are broken. It means your nervous system is protecting you the best way it knows how. Our plain-language guide to Polyvagal Theory explains why.
How IASIS Neurofeedback may help
PTSD is among the conditions that seem to be helped by IASIS Neurofeedback. So are anxiety, insomnia, and overwhelm, which often travel with trauma. IASIS does not target symptoms directly. It supports the underlying nervous-system dysregulation those symptoms are signaling.
During a session, a brief, imperceptible microcurrent signal gently encourages the brain to release stuck patterns and reorganize on its own. You do not have to talk about what happened or relive past experiences. You simply sit back while the system works. Clients often report feeling calmer, clearer, more grounded, and less reactive over time.
IASIS MCN is cumulative, so shifts build gently over a series of sessions. Our IASIS research page links to published work, and you can read more about how IASIS Neurofeedback works.
Where coaching fits
Trauma-Informed Nervous System Coaching is the heart of the work at Apex NeuroCare. It is a guided, collaborative process rooted in Polyvagal Theory. Rather than retelling your past, we work with what is showing up in your body right now.
A session usually begins with simple somatic tools that help your body feel grounded. From there we build awareness of your patterns and triggers, not to analyze them but to understand them. When you are ready, somatic parts work and felt-sense awareness allow unresolved experiences to complete and release, always at a pace that feels safe. Over time you begin to respond instead of react.
Coaching is not psychotherapy, counseling, or trauma therapy. It works well alongside clinical care, not instead of it. Many people choose to combine coaching and IASIS. Coaching helps you process. IASIS helps your brain and body hold the change. Learn more about coaching.
What to expect
Every journey begins with a free 20-minute phone consultation to talk through whether coaching, IASIS Neurofeedback, or both make sense for you. If you choose IASIS, a session looks like this.
- You fill out a short observation sheet. We prep the electrode sites, apply paste, and position five pairs of electrodes.
- The session is passive. You relax while the system works and will not feel anything specifically.
- The initial session runs about 45 to 60 minutes, including intake paperwork. Follow-ups typically take about 30 minutes.
- IASIS MCN is not a one-and-done protocol, so we offer session packages. See pricing and packages for details.
- We cannot accept insurance, and IASIS MCN is not usually covered. Many clients use HSA or FSA funds.
Sessions take place in a home studio in Apex, NC. Coaching is also available online. More answers on our FAQ page.
Is this right for you?
This work may be a good fit if you feel stuck on high alert or shut down and want a gentle, body-based approach; if talk therapy has helped but you want support that includes your body; or if you would rather not talk through what happened. Veterans and first responders are especially welcome.
When to seek clinical care. If your symptoms are severe, if you are using substances to cope, or if daily life feels unmanageable, please also work with a physician or a licensed mental-health provider. We are glad to help you find a referral. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call 911 in an emergency.
Questions people ask about PTSD and IASIS
Do I have to talk about what happened to me?
No. IASIS Neurofeedback is completely passive and supports the nervous system without requiring you to relive past experiences. In coaching, we focus on what is showing up in your body right now rather than retelling your past. You decide what to share, and when.
How many IASIS sessions will I need?
Every nervous system is different, so there is no single answer. IASIS MCN is cumulative rather than one-and-done, though many people report feeling calmer even after their first session. We offer packages of 12, 20, and 40 sessions; see our pricing page. We will talk through a plan at your free consultation.
Can I do this while I am in therapy or taking medication?
Yes. IASIS MCN does not interfere with medication, and there is no medical condition, age, or medication that would prevent someone from safely receiving a session. Clients are strongly encouraged to consult their prescribing physician about any changes. Coaching and IASIS also work well alongside psychotherapy. They complement clinical care; they do not replace it.
Wondering whether this could help what you're carrying?
Start with a free 20-minute phone consultation. No pressure, just a conversation.
Book a Free Consultation