Nervous system support for the whole family with Angela Martinucci and Carleigh Rochon of Bay Area Brain Spa
Interview by Heather Anderson
If you've ever walked into a wellness space and immediately felt your shoulders drop, you'll understand what Angela Martinucci and Carleigh Rochon have built at Bay Area Brain Spa. Tucked into Albany's Solano Avenue, BABS is a calm, restorative studio designed around one central idea: when the nervous system is supported, everything else gets easier. Angela, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, came to neurofeedback through her own health journey and has been offering it since 2012. Carleigh, whose background in neurofeedback grew from her experience as a mom of a child with ADHD, built her own neurofeedback business before the two joined forces. Together, they created something neither would have built alone: a space where moms, kids, athletes, and anyone running on fumes can genuinely recover.
Bay Area Brain Spa is a collaboration between two founders. Can you tell us how you each came to neurofeedback and how you found each other?
Angela came to neurofeedback after a stage 3 cancer diagnosis in her 30s left her navigating the aftermath of treatment: brain fog, anxiety, disrupted sleep. Neurofeedback was one of the tools that helped her feel like herself again, and by 2012 she was offering sessions out of her integrative oncologist's office. It was never just a business idea. It was a mission.
Carleigh arrived through a different door after studying Holistic Health and biofeedback in school. Her daughter had ADHD, and after seeing meaningful results from neurofeedback, she became passionate about the technology and built her own practice, SuperBrain Neurofeedback, focused on kids.
The two were deeply inspired by the impact neurofeedback had on their own families and clients. Recognizing that many people who could benefit from neurofeedback were unable to afford traditional rates, they shared a vision of making these transformative services more accessible. Together, they joined forces to create the Brain Spa, bringing affordable neurofeedback and innovative wellness technologies to their community.
A lot of moms have never heard of neurofeedback, or they've heard of it but aren't quite sure what to make of it. How do you explain it?
The simplest version: computer-assisted meditation on steroids. That's not the technical definition, but it tends to help people picture it.
The sensors read brain activity, and the software gives the brain real-time audio cues, essentially showing it what it just did and giving it the opportunity to self-correct. There's no effort involved, no trying to force calm or concentrate. Your brain does the regulating. It's a bit like putting the brain in front of a mirror. Just information, no judgment. That's why it can feel so different from willpower-based approaches to stress or anxiety.
“When one nervous system starts to regulate, it often changes the energy in the whole household.”
Why build something bigger than just neurofeedback? How did the other services come into the picture?
The nervous system is the foundation. It doesn't matter what someone walks in with; if the nervous system is dysregulated, it's going to be harder for the body to heal, recover, or settle. So we always start there.
But we also recognize that modern life is depleting in multiple directions. Screens, stress, inflammation, poor sleep, people are fried at a cellular level. The other tools we offer, like lymphatic drainage, red light therapy, the BioCharger, and the salt booth, support the body in complementary ways. Some support cellular energy. Some support detox and circulation. Some help people feel less sluggish, less bogged down.
While some people notice a shift after their first neurofeedback session, lasting change is typically built through consistent training over time. Whether someone is seeking support for ADHD, anxiety, burnout, perimenopause, or recovery from a larger challenge, we wanted to create a space that could support both the first step and the long-term journey.
What's the most common pattern you see in the moms who walk through your doors?
Usually, some combination of poor sleep, anxiety, and that feeling of being permanently at capacity, like one more thing could tip the whole pile. What's happening physiologically is that their nervous systems are stuck in a state of high alert, responding as if there's a threat even when there isn't one. Their bodies aren't failing them. Their bodies are signaling for support.
That's what makes the nervous system work so meaningful for this population. The shift isn't always dramatic, but it tends to ripple outward. Clients talk about having more patience with their kids, couples report easier conversations, and parents feel less reactive. When one nervous system starts to regulate, it often changes the energy in the whole household.
You also work with a lot of kids and teens, especially those navigating ADHD. What do parents typically notice first?
Calm and focus are usually the first things families mention. It often shows up in very everyday ways, like less friction around homework, less battling over transitions, more ability to complete tasks. Anxiety tends to improve too, since ADHD and anxiety so often travel together.
Kids are actually a great barometer because they're not performing for anyone. If they feel better, they'll tell you. We hear "can I come back next week?" a lot. And that says everything.
Accessibility has clearly been part of the mission from the beginning. What does that look like in practice?
It was there from the very first community pop-up, and it's stayed central to everything we do. Our neurofeedback rates are about half of the standard single-visit rate at a typical neurofeedback practice. We offer Kids Club hours with discounted neurofeedback for children, and public school teachers and veterans receive reduced pricing because those communities are carrying a significant amount and deserve access to this kind of support. Our membership program helps make ongoing wellness care both affordable and accessible for the community.
Home neurofeedback rentals are another meaningful option. The whole family can use the system at home, woven into real routines rather than added as another appointment to manage. A child can use it while doing homework. A mom can use it before bed. It removes a lot of the logistical friction that keeps families from following through.
For a mom who's curious but doesn't know where to start, what would you suggest?
The New Client Special is a great low-pressure entry point — it gives you a taste of some of our most-loved services without committing to anything big. Parent-and-child neurofeedback sessions are a wonderful option if you want to explore support together. Kids Club hours work well for families looking for an affordable starting point for their kids. And if flexibility is the priority, a home rental might be the most realistic fit.
The first step is often just walking in. The space tends to do some of the work for you.
Bay Area Brain Spa is located at 1037 Solano Ave in Albany, CA. Learn more and book at bayareabrainspa.com.
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You can also find them on The M List, The Mamahood's searchable database of mom-recommended resources, or connect and collaborate with them inside The Club membership for women Founders.