Features
Understanding rTMS Before You Begin
Before starting rTMS, it’s essential to understand what the treatment entails and what you can expect. Knowing the process ahead of time helps you feel confident, stay safe, and make the most of your sessions. At a centre for addiction Toronto, this information is explained clearly so you know exactly what to expect every step of the way.
What rTMS Is All About
rTMS, or repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, is a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain linked to mood and thought. Unlike medications or surgery, it doesn’t require any anesthesia, and you stay awake the entire time. Sessions are usually quick, ranging from 20 to 40 minutes, and most people can continue their daily activities right after.
Who Should Consider rTMS
rTMS is generally recommended for adults who haven’t seen results with traditional treatments, like antidepressants or talk therapy. It’s also a good option for those looking for a drug-free approach to manage depression, anxiety, or other mood-related issues. Your doctor or mental health professional will evaluate your medical history and symptoms to determine if rTMS is right for you.
Preparing Yourself Mentally and Physically
Before your first session, it helps to prepare both your body and mind. Get a good night’s sleep, eat normally, and wear comfortable clothing. Mentally, keep an open mind and remember that results may take time. Regular attendance and patience are key to seeing real improvements.
What to Expect in the First Visit
During your initial consultation, the technician or therapist will explain the process, answer questions, and create a personalized plan for you. You may feel a gentle tapping on your scalp during sessions, which is completely normal. Knowing this in advance can make the experience more comfortable and less stressful.
Preparing for rTMS at Your Local Centre
Getting ready for rTMS at your local centre can make the treatment smoother and more effective. Preparing for rTMS at your local centre isn’t complicated, but a little planning can help you feel comfortable, confident, and ready for results.
Scheduling Your First Appointment
The first step is booking a consultation with a trained professional at your local centre. During this appointment, you’ll talk about your medical history, current medications, and mental health concerns.
This helps the provider determine whether rTMS is a safe and suitable option for you. Don’t hesitate to ask about the number of sessions, costs, and any other questions you may have; knowing the details upfront makes the process less stressful.
Questions to Ask Your Centre
It’s important to go into rTMS with clear expectations. Ask your provider what the treatment involves, how long each session lasts, and how soon you might notice changes. Understanding the plan helps you stay committed, and it ensures you feel informed and supported throughout your journey.
Physical and Mental Preparation
Before your first session, focus on basic self-care. Get enough sleep, eat a balanced meal, and wear comfortable clothing. Mentally, keep an open mind and be patient—rTMS works gradually, and consistent attendance is key. A positive mindset can improve your experience and help you track small improvements along the way.
Setting Realistic Expectations
While some people notice mood changes early on, it often takes several sessions to see significant results. Regular attendance and following your provider’s guidance are crucial. By understanding the process and preparing ahead, you can approach rTMS confidently and make the most of each session.
Preparing for rTMS at your local centre ensures you start on the right foot, making the therapy more effective, comfortable, and stress-free.
What Happens During rTMS Sessions
Knowing what happens during rTMS sessions can help ease any nerves and make the experience more comfortable. rTMS is non-invasive, safe, and designed to be simple, so understanding each step helps you feel prepared and confident.
Arriving at the Centre
When you arrive for your session, the staff will make sure you are comfortable and relaxed. You’ll be seated in a chair, usually fully awake, and the technician will explain each step. This is the perfect time to ask any last-minute questions or share concerns about how you feel.
Setting Up the Device
A small device is placed near the part of your head that controls mood and brain activity. The device sends gentle magnetic pulses into the brain. Most people feel a light tapping or tingling on the scalp. It may sound unusual, but it’s completely normal and painless. The staff monitors you the whole time to ensure comfort.
During the Session
Sessions usually last 20 to 40 minutes. You can sit quietly, listen to music, or even read if you like. The magnetic pulses work on your brain’s nerve cells to improve activity in areas linked to mood and thinking. You don’t need anesthesia, and you won’t feel drowsy afterward.
After the Session
Once the session ends, you can immediately return to your normal activities. Some people may feel slight scalp tingling or a mild headache, but these effects are temporary. Tracking your mood after each session can help you notice improvements over time. Regular attendance is key to getting the best results.
rTMS sessions are straightforward and safe, designed to gently stimulate your brain while you stay awake and alert. Understanding the process reduces stress and helps you focus on the positive changes the therapy can bring.
Maximizing Results from rTMS Therapy
If you want the best outcomes, knowing how to maximize results from rTMS therapy is just as important as attending your sessions. Small daily habits, consistency, and follow-up care can make your treatment more effective and lasting.
Stick to Your Schedule
Consistency is key with rTMS. Missing sessions can slow down progress, so try to attend all appointments as scheduled. Regular treatments help your brain adjust gradually, allowing the magnetic pulses to have their full effect. Think of it like building a habit—steady effort brings the best results.
Combine with Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Supporting your brain outside the centre can make a big difference. Eating balanced meals, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a good sleep routine all help your brain respond better to rTMS. Simple choices like going for a short walk, drinking enough water, or keeping a consistent bedtime can improve mood and energy levels.
Pair with Talk Therapy
rTMS works even better when combined with talk therapy or counseling. Discussing your thoughts and emotions helps you process changes, develop coping strategies, and maintain progress long-term. Together, rTMS and therapy create a stronger support system for your mental health.
Track Your Progress
Keep a journal of your mood, energy, and sleep during treatment. This helps you and your provider see improvements, adjust the plan if needed, and celebrate milestones along the way. Small, steady progress is still progress, and tracking it keeps you motivated.
Plan for the Long Term
Ask your provider about follow-up sessions or maintenance plans once your initial treatment ends. Staying proactive helps prevent setbacks and supports lasting mental wellness.
By sticking to your sessions, supporting your body and mind, and tracking your progress, you can maximize the results from rTMS therapy and take meaningful steps toward better mental health.
Conclusion
Using rTMS at your local centre can open the door to brighter days and steady moods. With the right guidance, clear goals, and regular sessions, you can feel real change. Take the first step, ask questions, and commit to your healing journey today and build lasting mental strength with confidence.
Features
Musings from Dizengoff Street – by Bruce Brown
(August 8, 2026)
Outside Basimta Café in Central Jerusalem. Love the red shirt against a tiny sea of black. Not sure I am shrugging because of the ultra-orthodox uproar over a Jerusalem café operating on Shabbat or the lack of an ultra-orthodox uproar over a Jerusalem café operating on Shabbat. For the last six weeks Israeli headlines shouted about the cafe chaos. With the ultra-religious blocking entrances and storming the café. While shouting ‘Shabbos! Shabbos!’ Upsetting the secular amongst us just wanting to enjoy our Saturday iced matchas. So the wife and I thought we would check it out. And. Yes. Buy something to support the business. Uproar. Not. Blocked entrances. Not. Storming the café. Not. Albeit there were police barriers separating the devout protesters from the coffee drinkers. The protesters being just a few dozen black clad, pious Jews. Mostly teenagers. And yes. Shouting ‘Shabbos! Shabbos!’ Certainly underwhelming in its reported mayhem. Reminds me of the famous saying misattributed to Mark Twain – “If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you do, you’re misinformed.” But I did enjoy my iced matcha.
(August 6, 2026)
Here we go again. Another round of forever negotiations. As someone who negotiates for a living. The way things are going in the straits. If I had to recommend a book on the subject to a new hire. Between The Art of the Deal, A Presidential Edition by Donald J. Trump or The Real Art of the Deal by the Mullahs of Iran with a special forward by the IRGC. Well. I would choose the latter.
(August 3)
Bravo Yoav Segalovitz, Liberal Yesh Atid MK and Monsour Abbas, United Arab Ra’am MK and party head. For breaking a glass ceiling where a Jewish lawmaker joins an Arab political party. No less a political earthquake in my little shtetl. Which can significantly impact coalition block arithmetic and posturing and strategy in the upcoming elections. Now Ra’am can be considered a legitimate ‘Zionist’ partner when forming coalition blocks and potentially pushing the ‘center left/right’ party over the 60 seat majority threshold. In our crazy parliamentary democracy defined by a multi-party (about fourteen!!), proportional representation system. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, Israel’s proportional representation model of governance is the best parliamentary democracy system except for all other forms of working democracies. Stay tuned for more amateurish political musings as we move towards Israel’s 26th national election – five of them held since 2019.
(August 1)
Although both sides say they are open to diplomacy. Neither really trusts the other. And American military action, or its threat, continues. I read headlines in the middle of the night -it’s a nervous habit lately– that the Dynamic Duo of Trump and Netanyahu may again strike in unison. Possibly this weekend. Yikes! Prompting me, at 2:30 AM, to dash around the house stocking my safe room. Bottled water. Canned food. Medicines. Documents. The beat goes on….
If it’s crazy here. It’s insane in Italy. With a recent online ‘Jew Hunt’ in the Milan area. Before being removed, the digital forms urged reportings of Israelis and Italian Jews staying in local hotels. The infamous Global Sumud Movement -yes, the one coordinating ‘peace and humanitarian’ flotillas to Gaza- was somehow connected. Although they deny involvement?! This deranged decree was looking to identify Zionist tourism and Zionist neo-colonization in Italy. I’ll stick with stocking the saferoom.
Then there’s New York Mayor Mamdani, a Global Sumud Movement supporter, threatening to arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu if he comes to New York. But since discovered he has no legal right for such a grandstanding, antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-Western, anti-democratic antic. Maybe Mandami should be arrested! Or at least impeached. For being a grandstanding, antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-Western, anti-democratic mayor.
Here’s a post Bruce sent us Friday, July 31:
WARTIME MUSINGS
Should credible threats against FLOTUS and ‘FSOTUS’ (first son..) not be justification to attack first.
As for yesterday’s summit. Netanyahu really can’t win. Explainer. If Trump now attacks without victory its ’cause of Netanyahu. If Trump now attacks with victory its ’cause of Trump. And, in Israel, if Trump doesn’t attack -victory or not- Netanyahu failed in his eighth meeting with Trump. And if Trump does attack -victory or not- half the country will vilify Bibi anyway. Missing a permutation?
Ya. I know. Kinda’ need a definition of victory for that musing to work.
And here in my little shtetle. We go to sleep unsure if there will be a code red in the middle of the night. And if not. We wake up thinking it will be tonight. How do you define stress?
Seemed like an appropriate way to end this musing.
Bruce Brown is a former Winnipegger who made aliyah to Israel over 35 years ago. Bruce first began writing for us – in his own inimitable style, in 2012, during what was known as “Operation Pillar of Defense.” His occasional musings on aspects of life in Israel that were far from what you’d typically read in other reports from Israel were hugely popular – both in the print Jewish Post & News and on this website.
We’re now glad to report that Bruce is back writing for us – this time on a regular basis. We will post Bruce’s reports as they arrive – with the date of each post at the beginning of that post.
Here’s some information about Bruce – and awards he’s received for his writing:
Bruce Brown. Canadian born. Now living in Israel (for a long time). Bruce works in Israel’s hi-tech sector by day and, in spurts, is a somewhat inspired writer by night. He received the American Jewish Press Association’s award for writing excellence in 2019 and 2025. And wrote the 1998 satire, “An Israeli is….” Bruce’s musings are political, social, economic and personal. With lots of biting, contrarian, sardonic and irreverent insight.
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Features
Israel pavilion ambassadors – then and now
By BERNIE BELLAN Given that Folklorama is on again and the Israel pavilion – Shalom Square, is in full swing, I thought it timely to resurrect an article I first posted to this website in August 2023.
But before reading that article, I wanted you to see who this year’s ambassadors are for Shalom Square:
It was back in 2023, however, that I set out to answer a question that I had asked our readers to help answer: Where was the very first Israel pavilion located? Some readers had thought it was the Golden Age Club, which used to be located on Pritchard and Salter. But others weren’t so sure. Here then is what I wrote back in August 2023 – when, with the help of a librarian at the Winnipeg Public Library, I was able to solve the riddle of where the first Israel pavilion was located:
It was earlier in August 2023 that I had raised a number of questions about the history of the Israel pavilion at Folklorama.
Among those questions were: Where was the first Israel pavilion located and when did the Israel pavilion actually become a permanent fixture in the YMHA on Hargrave (before moving to its current home in the Asper Campus)?
As part of my search for answers to those questions I turned to David Cohen, who had long been the coordinator of the Israel pavilion when it was located on Hargrave, but who didn’t step into that role until 1975.
David thought that the Israel pavilion hadn’t moved to Hargrave until 1974, but he wasn’t sure where the first Israel pavilion had been located.
I tried to find information using the Winnipeg Public Library online digital archive. In case you didn’t know, anyone with a library card can access the library’s online archive. You can also have access to newspaperarchive.com through the library’s digital archive. Newspaperarchive.com is an invaluable reference tool for journalists especially – or anyone wanting to access old newspaper archives, for that matter, but ordinarily you would need a subscription to newspaperarchive.com in order to use it. For some reason, however, the search function in the Winnipeg Public Library’s digital search engine didn’t produce results when I entered the word “Folklorama.”
As a result I called the Winnipeg Public Library for assistance and received great help from someone by the name of Louis-Phillipe. After taking my information, Louis-Phillipe phoned me to say that he had found out that the library had compiled a file of press clippings related to Folklorama going back to the very first year, 1970.
Further, Louis-Phillipe said, he had found a list of the 22 pavilions in that first year of Folklorama, along with where they were located. It turns out that the Israel pavilion was actually located in two different venues that first year: the Rosh Pina and the Shaarey Zedek.
The next day I also heard from reader Phyllis Dana, who confirmed that the Israel Pavilion had been in both synagogues. Phyllis also remembered that the only food served that first year was honey cake.
But the pièce de resistance came when I heard from reader Marilyn Breitman (née Stitz), who now lives in Calgary, when she phoned me on Monday, August 21 (which is when she received the August 16 issue of the paper with my story about Folklorama).
Marilyn told me that, not only did she remember that the first Israel pavilion alternated between the Rosh Pina and the Shaarey Zedek, she had actually been the female representative of the Israel pavilion that first year. Her title, Marilyn said, was simply “Jewish.”
But, as you might also recall, the entire confusion over where the first Israel pavilion was located began with an email I had received from Roz Greenfeld, who had written to correct my mistake when I had written in the August 2 issue that the Israel pavilion had been located in the YMHA from the very beginning.
Roz pointed out that, in 1971, the second year of Folklorama, the Israel pavilion was located in “Council House” or, as it was better known, “The Golden Age Club,” on Pritchard and Salter. How did she remember that? Roz was the female representative of the pavilion that year. Her title, as I found out was “Miss Judea,” she said.
So, if the Israel pavilion was located at both the Rosh Pina and Shaarey Zedek in that first year of Folkorama, and in the Golden Age Club that second year, where was it after that?
It was left to Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada archivist Andrew Morrison to come up with the answer to that question. Andrew informed me that the Israel pavilion did indeed move to the YMHA in 1972 and remained there for the next 25 years, until it moved to the Asper Campus in 1997.
There was a further footnote to the story, which is when I decided to try my luck with the Winnipeg Public Library’s online archive one more time. This time, rather than searching for “Folklorama,” I tried searching for old copies of both the Free Press and the Tribune from August 1970. I did manage to get results for the Tribune and when I entered a specific search within the Tribune I found a picture of all the famale representatives of pavilions – in bathing suits.
It turned out – and this was corroborated by both Marilyn Breitman and Roz Greenfeld, the female representatives had to parade in unison – in bathing suits, as part of Folklorama festivities. Each year, as well, a queen of Folklorama was chosen. Neither Marilyn nor Roz was made queen, both of them told me, although Roz was voted “Miss Congeniality.”
In addition to finding out about the early days of the Israel pavilion, I also learned that the Chai dancers were not regular performers at the Israel pavilion in those early years – as they eventually did become. Chai performers would dance only one night in those first years, with other entertainment the other nights.
I did enlist Andrew Morrison’s help once again and did find that Chai performed only one evening during the first few years of Folklorama – from 1970 to 1976. In 1977 Chai began performing every night of Folklorama, but there were other performers on hand as well, including Jerry Maslowsky and Rabbi Yosel Rosenzweig. In 1978 the Chai Folk Ensemble was the featured entertainment every evening; however, a notice that appeared in our paper did say that whistler Harvey Pollock would “be on hand” to entertain – whatever that meant.
While some may wonder of what earth shaking importance all this is, I ask: Isn’t it fun to look back in time – for just a little while, instead of worrying about more immediate problems, such as global warming, inflation, terrorist attacks in Israel, and whether Donald Trump will be president while he’s in jail?
