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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A Non-Invasive Relief from Mental Health Conditions

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) offers a path to healing for individuals struggling with depression, OCD, and other mental health conditions. This non-invasive, evidence-based therapy utilizes magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions involved in mood regulation, thereby improving symptoms. We provide both the standard 4-6 week TMS protocol and an innovative Accelerated TMS treatment, both designed to transform lives.
 
*TMS is not recommended for people with poorly controlled seizures, a metallic implant close to the head, a brain tumor or disease, or a substance abuse disorder.
 
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What Does TMS Treat?

While initially found to be beneficial for those who didn’t respond to multiple trials of medication, or who have experienced intolerable side effects, TMS can be also be viewed as a natural, holistic approach to treating depression. TMS offers hope to the estimated 30 percent of people who suffer from depression but can’t find adequate relief. It has been shown to help those who have been diagnosed with:
 
  • Treatment-resistant depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic pain
  • Tinnitus
  • Bipolar disorders

Which TMS is Right For You?

Accelerated TMS (aTMS)

  • Rapid clinical improvement
  • 4 minute sessions
  • 30 sessions total
  • 2-10 sessions in a day
  • 1-5 days to 2 weeks
  • Tapping sensation and feeling in the scalp, possible discomfort
  • Pulse count may be similar or higher per day

Standard TMS

  • Gradual symptom reduction
  • 3 minute or 30-40 minute sessions
  • 10-30 sessions total
  • 1 session in a day
  • 4-6 weeks
  • Tapping sensation and feeling in the scalp
  • Typically 3,000-3,600 pulses per session

FAQ

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved procedure that has been proven to help treat depression, OCD, PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. TMS uses a magnetic field similar to that used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to stimulate the brain’s dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which plays a key role in mood.

TMS converts electricity into a magnetic field via a magnetic head which is placed against the scalp. Only a small portion of the brain is affected; the targeted region relates to the condition being treated. TMS increases connectivity between nerves in the brain, neural activity, and the number of neurotransmitters like serotonin. The increased activity of neurons in this area of the brain lessens depression.

Having your brain stimulated by a magnetic field may sound scary, but the experience isn’t painful or uncomfortable. Some people become more positive and sociable after a course of TMS, a difference you don’t see with antidepressants. When used to treat depression, the effects are gradual, and while it can be effective for many individuals, it may not work for everyone.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is typically scheduled once per weekday, with most patients completing about 20–30 sessions in the first course. Each visit lasts roughly three to four minutes using the aTMS protocol. You remain fully awake and seated in a comfortable chair, and you can return to work, school, or driving immediately afterward.

At the start of each session, a clinician positions a small magnetic coil over the left frontal area of your scalp and sets it to your personalized treatment settings. The device delivers brief trains of stimulation – about four seconds on, followed by fifteen seconds off – repeating throughout the session. You’ll hear a rhythmic clicking and feel a tapping sensation on the scalp; earplugs are provided for comfort, and your clinician stays with you to adjust settings as needed.

After the initial series (usually ~30 treatments), your provider may taper the schedule based on your response, spacing sessions from weekly to every other week and then monthly or as booster visits. For patients who prefer a faster timeline, Accelerated TMS condenses multiple short sessions into fewer days; your clinician can help determine whether this approach is appropriate for you.

Most people find TMS easy to tolerate and find that it has few side effects, the most frequent being a mild headache. Even this is uncommon and can be treated with Advil® or Tylenol®. Because the device produces a clicking sound, we provide earplugs at every visit for your comfort.

Serious side effects are uncommon. A seizure can occur in rare cases (on the order of a few in ten-thousand treatments), similar to antidepressant medication. Before starting, your clinician will review your medical history and go over potential risks and precautions to keep your course as safe as possible.