Services / TMS
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
A non-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment that uses focused magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain networks involved in mood, with no anesthesia, no sedation, and you drive yourself home afterwards.
Schedule an AppointmentAbout this service
For depression that has not responded to medication, stimulating the circuit directly is a different kind of answer.
How the pulses work
A magnetic coil placed against the scalp delivers brief magnetic pulses in targeted areas of the brain. These pulses stimulate nerve cells and help influence activity in brain circuits involved in mood and other functions.
Targeted, not systemic
A different approach to treatment unlike medications that circulate throughout the body, TMS delivers focused stimulation to an area of the brain for many patients this means treatment without common medication related side effects such as weight gain, sexual side effects or sedation.
Mapped before treated
The first session is a mapping session to ensure we are delivering the magnetic pulses to the appropriate region and intensity of the brain.
Awake the whole time
No anesthesia and no recovery period. Most people read or talk through the session and go straight back to their day.
How a visit works
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Your first visit is a mapping session: we locate the treatment site, find your individual motor threshold and set the dose from it. After that, each session is routine. You sit in a chair, the coil is positioned, and the pulses run in short trains with brief rests between them. You will hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping on the scalp. Sessions run daily on weekdays, and we track symptom scores every week rather than waiting until the course ends.
Most Often Used For
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Major depressive disorder
- Anxious depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Who this is for
- Depression where two or more medications have failed to give real relief
- Patients who cannot tolerate the side effects of antidepressants
- Anyone who wants an option that is neither medication nor talk therapy
- Adults able to commit to a daily weekday schedule for several weeks
What to know before you start
- It is a course, not a single procedure. The schedule is the hardest part
- Mild scalp discomfort or headache in the first week is common and usually settles
- Not suitable with certain implanted metal or devices, or with a seizure history. We screen for this
- We measure weekly and stop if the scores are not moving
How it works
Step 1
Assessment
A psychiatric review of your history and prior treatments to confirm TMS is the right next step.
Step 2
Mapping session
We locate the target, establish your motor threshold and set the treatment dose.
Step 3
Daily treatment
35 weekday sessions of around 20 minutes. Most people start to feel the effects around the 20th session.
Step 4
Taper and maintain
Sessions space out as gains hold, with maintenance visits if symptoms drift back.
Using your insurance
We may be able to bill your insurance for TMS. What you pay depends on your plan and on the circumstances at the time your care is given, and we will confirm both with you before a course starts.
Check what your plan covers
Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan. Consult your health insurer to confirm what it covers and what your financial responsibility will be for a service given at this office.
We confirm before you begin
A Wellness Coordinator can go through your benefits with you and put a number in writing before you book a course.
Your Good Faith Estimate
Uninsured, or not planning to use your insurance? You have the right to a written estimate of what your care is expected to cost: at scheduling, or on request beforehand.
Reach out to schedule consultation.
Often Combined With
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