Drake Institute

What Drake Institute does

Drake Institute of Neurophysical Medicine is a private medical clinic founded in 1980 by Dr. David F. Velkoff, M.D., and headquartered in Irvine, California. The clinic specializes in non-drug, non-invasive treatment of ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and stress-related conditions (including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia, and panic attacks) using a qEEG brain mapping-guided neurofeedback and biofeedback treatment system. Core technologies include quantitative EEG brain mapping with 19 sensors to identify dysregulated brain regions, EEG biofeedback/neurofeedback training, traditional biofeedback for involuntary physiological functions, and NeuroField neuromodulation (pEMF, tDCS, tACS) integrated since 2014. Treatment programs are delivered in standardized FullCare formats (34 sessions for ADHD, 42 for Autism, 30 for Anxiety) plus an accelerated 6-8 week intensive summer program; remote at-home treatment for California patients was introduced circa 2020-2021.

The business model is a self-pay professional services clinic with a sales-led go-to-market motion built around physician credibility, a free screening consultation, comprehensive clinical evaluation, and individualized treatment plans. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customer acquisition is diversified across earned media (CNN, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, PBS, Dr. Laura Show, KFI Radio), patient referrals, and physician referrals. The institute operates as an independent private practice with 11-50 employees, no disclosed external investors or institutional funding, and a founder-led clinical and management structure. It has treated over 10,000-15,000 patients cumulatively across its 40+ year history and reports approximately 80% marked improvement rates in conditions such as Asperger's syndrome and stress disorders.

Name

Drake Institute

Legal name

The Drake Institute of Neurophysical Medicine

Website

https://drakeinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Drake Institute is a private Irvine, California medical clinic founded in 1980 that provides non-drug neurofeedback and biofeedback treatments for ADHD, Autism, and stress-related disorders, having treated over 10,000 patients with physician-supervised, qEEG-guided individualized protocols.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neurofeedback and Biofeedback Clinical Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Therapy Platforms (ADHD/Autism/Behavioral Coaching) (HLALAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Behavioral Health (Collaborative Care) Platforms (HLALAEAC), Autonomic Disorders (Dysautonomia) (HLAKAIAN)

Keywords

• Neurofeedback therapy
• QEEG brain mapping
• Biofeedback treatment
• Neuromodulation therapy
• Non-drug ADHD treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Clinical Treatment Services: Medical clinic providing neurofeedback, biofeedback, and neuromodulation treatment programs for ADHD, Autism, and stress-related disorders. Treatment programs include 34 neurofeedback treatments for ADHD, 42 for Autism Spectrum Disorder, and 30 for Anxiety Disorders. Physician-supervised evaluation and treatment protocols.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Drake Institute is a medical clinic that provides non-drug, non-invasive neurofeedback, biofeedback, and neuromodulation therapies guided by qEEG brain mapping to treat ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and stress-related conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia, panic attacks, and high blood pressure. Treatment is delivered through individualized programs (FullCare, Accelerated Summer, and Remote) that combine diagnostics, physician-supervised sessions, and follow-up care.

Product overview

The Drake Institute offers a neurofeedback and biofeedback-centered non-drug treatment system for neurological and stress-related disorders. The core treatment ecosystem consists of QEEG Brain Mapping (diagnostic tool using 19 sensors to identify dysregulated brain regions), Neurofeedback/EEG Biofeedback Therapy (the primary treatment modality enabling patients to self-correct brainwave patterns), Biofeedback Therapy (for stress-related symptoms), and Neuromodulation/Neurostimulation Therapy (using pEMF, tDCS, and tACS technologies to accelerate treatment). These technologies are delivered through multiple program formats: Comprehensive Treatment Plan (FullCare) with defined session counts (34 for ADHD, 42 for Autism, 30 for Anxiety), Accelerated Summer Treatment Program (6-8 weeks intensive), Remote Treatment (at-home delivery), and specialized services for Central Auditory Processing Disorder and Stress Disorders. Founded in 1980, the Institute has treated over 10,000-15,000 patients using these integrated treatment technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback) Therapy Non-invasive brain training process using EEG sensors that displays brainwave activity on a computer screen, enabling patients to self-correct non-optimal brain functioning and achieve long-term improvement without drug side effects; treats ADHD, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and Insomnia.
• Biofeedback Therapy Non-invasive treatment providing real-time feedback on involuntary functions (heart rate, muscle tension, hand temperature, sweat gland activity) to help patients reach deep physiological relaxation and reduce stress-related symptoms.
• QEEG Brain Mapping Diagnostic procedure using 19 EEG sensors to record brainwave activity and identify dysregulated brain regions and networks linked to patient symptoms, forming the basis for individualized neurofeedback protocols.
• Neuromodulation/Neurostimulation Therapy Advanced treatment using NeuroField technology — low-intensity pulsed electromagnetic field (pEMF), transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), and transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) — to enhance and accelerate neurofeedback outcomes by stimulating deficient brainwave patterns.
• Accelerated Summer Treatment Program Intensive non-drug treatment program requiring 6 weeks for ADHD and 8 weeks for Autism Spectrum Disorders, with treatments 5-6 days per week to achieve faster clinical improvement through daily reinforcement.
• Comprehensive Treatment Plan (FullCare) Comprehensive treatment program including 34 neurofeedback sessions for ADHD, 42 for Autism, 30 for Anxiety disorders, qEEG brain mapping, parent/patient education, behavioral support, and one-year follow-up care.
• Remote Treatment (At-Home Treatment) At-home treatment delivery option enabling California patients to receive neurofeedback and biofeedback treatments remotely from their homes.
• Central Auditory Processing Disorder Treatment Specialized treatment program for auditory processing disorders targeting weak connections in the auditory cortex of the brain to improve speech sound interpretation and language processing abilities.
• Stress Treatment Program Treatment program for stress-related disorders and diseases using biofeedback and neurofeedback to achieve deep regenerative relaxation and reverse psychophysiological stress processes, addressing high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.
• Asperger's Syndrome Treatment Non-drug treatment for Asperger's syndrome using neurofeedback to retrain brain networks for processing nonverbal social cues and improving social-emotional functioning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of stress patients significantly decreased symptoms and discomfort
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core, foundational and minor.

• National Geographic ChannelnotableOthers · 1 January 2013In 2013, the National Geographic Channel selected Dr. David Velkoff, Medical Director of the Drake Institute, to serve as their medical consultant for a special documentary on Autism, recognizing the institute's pioneering expertise.
• Dr. Laura ShownotableOthers · 1 January 2011Dr. David Velkoff appeared on the Dr. Laura Show as a guest expert on neurophysical medicine and treatment of ADHD and Autism without drugs.
• Pasteur Institute in PariscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Follow-up international research study on psychoneuroimmunology conducted with UCLA School of Medicine and the Pasteur Institute in Paris, investigating how stress treatment strengthens immune system functioning.
• UCLA School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984Dr. Velkoff served as clinical director of international research study on psychoneuroimmunology with UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Earlier collaborative effort with UCLA demonstrated how Drake Institute's stress treatment resulted in improved immune functioning of natural killer cell activity. UCLA research partnership continues through 1991 joint study.
• Los Angeles City CouncilnotableOthers · 1 January 1984Dr. David Velkoff served as medical consultant to the Los Angeles City Council's committee on reducing stress injuries in police officers.
• Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)foundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982Completed 2-year research study (1982-1983) with LAPD investigating clinical success rate of Drake Institute's treatment program for reversing stress disorders and diseases. Chief of Police and several deputy police chiefs participated. Mayor Tom Bradley commended results at joint news conference.
• CNN, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Univision, PBSminorOthers · 1 January 1982Dr. Velkoff has served as a medical consultant in Neurophysical Medicine to major media outlets including CNN, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, Univision, and PBS for educational content.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cerebral: Cerebral is a national mental health platform focused on anxiety, depression, insomnia, and ADHD care delivered via telemedicine plus medication management. It overlaps with Drake on adult stress and ADHD demand, especially as a more affordable, insurance-accepting alternative to clinic-based neurofeedback.
• LifeStance Health: LifeStance Health is a large outpatient behavioral health platform offering psychiatry, psychotherapy, and ADHD/autism care across many U.S. states. It is a broad incumbent in Drake's addressable mental health market that could expand into non-pharma protocols over time.
• Neuronetics: Neuronetics manufactures and supports transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) systems for depression, a non-invasive neuromodulation modality closely adjacent to Drake's NeuroField-based pEMF/tDCS/tACS neuromodulation. It represents a larger, device-led incumbent that frames Drake's neuromodulation work within the broader non-pharma brain stimulation market.
• Talkspace: Talkspace is a nationwide telebehavioral health platform providing therapy and psychiatry services, including ADHD treatment. It competes for the same anxiety/depression/ADHD patient pool Drake serves but does so via telehealth rather than in-clinic neurofeedback.

Direct peers

• Amen Clinics: Amen Clinics is a network of brain-focused psychiatric clinics using brain imaging (SPECT) and neurofeedback-style protocols for ADHD, anxiety, depression, and traumatic brain injury. It is the closest direct comparable to Drake on the brain-mapping plus non-drug treatment model for adult and pediatric mental health.
• Cortica: Cortica operates integrated medical and behavioral care centers for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, including neurology, ABA, and related therapies. It overlaps directly with Drake on neurodevelopmental diagnostics and multi-disciplinary treatment, making it a close comparable despite serving a broader therapy mix.
• Behavior Innovations: Behavior Innovations (Behavior Frontiers) provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) and related autism services, overlapping with Drake on autism treatment demand. Although delivery is behavioral rather than neurofeedback, families seeking non-pharmaceutical autism care often evaluate both modalities.
• Neurocore: Neurocore operates outpatient brain training centers specializing in qEEG-guided neurofeedback and biofeedback for ADHD, anxiety, depression, and sleep. It mirrors Drake's core neurofeedback-plus-biofeedback offering across multiple clinic locations, making it a direct specialty competitor.

Emerging players

• Cognoa: Cognoa develops FDA-cleared AI-driven diagnostic and digital therapeutic products for autism and ADHD. As an emerging pediatric neurodevelopmental player, it competes indirectly by offering scalable, payor-friendly alternatives to clinic-based neurofeedback for the same patient populations Drake addresses.
• Brightside Health: Brightside Health is a telehealth mental health provider specializing in anxiety and depression treatment, including medication and therapy. It is an emerging digital incumbent that competes for the same adult stress/anxiety/depression population Drake treats, though without a neurofeedback modality.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DrakeInstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drake Institute