What to Expect: With your Treatment!
Patients relax in a reclined treatment chair and remain awake and alert during treatment. The TMS device delivers MRI strength magnetic pulses to the area of the brain known to regulate mood. The pulses, delivered in 10-second intervals, feel like tapping on the scalp but without the sensation of anything touching the skin. During the session, you can listen to music, watch television, or simply sit back and relax.
After a treatment session, patients can immediately return to their normal activities, like driving or returning to work or school. In clinical trials, most patients experienced a positive response to TMS Therapy by the third week of treatment. They report more energy, desire, and motivation to do things, along with improved sleep. Some patients may experience initial results in less time, while others may take longer. However, by the fourth and fifth weeks of treatment, most patients report their mood has drastically improved and becomes consistent.
Preliminary Phone Screening
Pre-Treatment Evaluation
Brain Mapping + First Treatment
The first step for successful TMS treatment is effective mapping of the patient’s brain to determine which point on the head should receive stimulation. During the mapping session, the technician will use the TMS device to send magnetic pulses and register the brain’s response until the optimal point is identified. This visit will take approximately 1.5 hours, and includes both the mapping process and the first TMS treatment.
6-Week Treatment Course
Patients come in for treatment six to seven days per week for five to six weeks. After mapping, subsequent sessions last approximately 20 minutes. Our treatment rooms are designed for your comfort, and we invite you to relax, watch television, or listen to your favorite music during sessions. Patients are asked to complete a weekly evaluation to measure progress. If determined necessary at any point during treatment, the technician may perform a re-mapping to improve treatment effectiveness.
