Brain+ Program | YMCA of Orange County

The Program

What is Brain+?

A scalable brain-wellness program combining small-group VR training, validated outcome measurement, and optional biomarker testing — built to be delivered inside a YMCA.

1

Small-Group VR Training

Immersive VR intervention delivered in small groups, using 4+1 or 8+1 headset packages sized to your space and staffing.

2

Validated Outcome Measurement

Every participant completes the PCL-5 and PSS-10, standardized, validated tools, with sleep monitoring offered as an additional service.

3

Optional Biomarker Panel

The YMCA Core Signal Panel is an optional blood panel measuring neuro- and metabolic-inflammation markers, used as an indicator of program candidacy.

How It Works

A structured, measured experience

Day 1

Baseline

Days 2–5

VR Protocol

Day 5

Final VR Day

30 Days

Exit Surveys / Optional Enhancements

1

2

3

4

PCL-5 & PSS-10 surveys, and VR orientation (first draw and sleep diary begin if adding enhancements)

Small-group VR sessions guided by a trained Program Coordinator

Experience survey. Second optional Biomarker draw.

PCL-5 and PSS-10 surveys. Optional daily sleep diary (Days 1–30) and YMCA Biomarker Panel results

Program Trainers are central to the experience: 95% of pilot participants agreed their trainer created a comfortable, relaxed experience.

Why associations choose Brain+

Six pillars behind the program

1. Member Impact

Member Impact

Designed to produce real, felt improvement in stress, sleep, and day-to-day well-being — not just program participation.

2. Evidence Informed, Measurable Outcomes

Evidence-Informed

Outcomes tracked with validated psychological instruments (PCL-5, Kessler-6) and, optionally, objective blood biomarkers.

3. Operational Flexibility

Operational Flexibility

Every Y chooses the model that fits its budget and mission — member benefit or fee-based program.

4. New Revenue Opportunity

New Revenue Opportunity

A fee-based Brain+ program creates a new, ongoing revenue line without duplicating existing wellness offerings.

5. Community & National Impact

Community & National Impact

Trauma's ripple effects reach families, workplaces, and communities — Brain+ moves the needle one location at a time.

6. Staff Well-Being

Staff Well-Being & Culture

Brain+ isn't only a member-facing benefit — coordinators and staff who deliver the program, and any staff who participate directly, gain the same access to stress reduction, better sleep, and improved day-to-day well-being. Investing in the people who show up for members every day helps build a culture of care that reduces burnout and strengthens the Y as a place people want to work, not just visit.

Ways to Bring Brain+ to Your YMCA | YMCA of Orange County

Flexible by Design

Ways to bring Brain+ to your YMCA

Member Benefit

Drive engagement & retention

Offered as part of membership
Strengthens whole-person health positioning
Builds member loyalty and word-of-mouth

Fee-Based Program

Create a new revenue line

Delivered as a paid program
Opens a sustainable revenue opportunity
Scales alongside member demand

Staff Benefit

Drive engagement & retention

Offered as a staff benefit
Strengthens organizational culture
Builds trust and staff confidence

Program Package Options

4+1 Headset Package

Sized for smaller branches or a lower-volume launch cohort

8+1 Headset Package

Sized for higher-volume branches or multiple concurrent groups

Pilot Study · Preliminary Findings

The experience, and what it showed

Roughly 100 members and community participants were enrolled through the Mission Viejo and Newport-Mesa Family YMCAs, June–July 2026, in partnership with Neurova Labs, iXpressGenes, and Greater Than Analytics.

Brain+ Program Results

Engagement + Experience

96%

Positive participant experience

84%

Program completion rate

95%

of pilot participants agreed that the trainer created a comfortable, relaxed experience.

Effectiveness

85.7%

improvement in stress and anxiety levels for those with the highest psychological burden, and 28% improvement among the broader participant group

22%

Improvement in overall sleep quality, with the strongest responders gaining approximately 51 additional minutes of sleep per night

Impact

"

Participants with greater baseline trauma burden generally showed the largest improvements — supporting the value of identifying trauma phenotypes rather than treating all participants the same.Preliminary Pilot Findings — Brain+ Pilot Study, YMCA of Orange County

Delivered with

A pilot built on outside expertise

Brain+ isn't a Y-built product — it's a collaboration, which is why the data behind it holds up to scrutiny.

YMCA of Orange CountyProgram owner & delivery

Neurova LabsVR intervention

iXpressGenesBiomarker panel

Greater Than AnalyticsOutcomes & reporting

Additional referral services for participants can be provided by Blue Rose Consulting.

Still have questions?

Frequently asked questions

Answers for members and prospects, plus a board, donor, and staff edition for internal conversations.