TMS Therapy for Depression Relief

If antidepressants have not worked, you are not out of options.

TMS is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment for depression that has not responded to medication. It is offered as a standalone outpatient service, separate from our PHP and IOP programs.

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Most major insurance accepted. takes under a minute, no obligation.

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Is TMS Right for You?

TMS is worth a conversation if you relate to any of these:

You have tried two or more antidepressants without enough relief
Medication helped somewhat, but never quite got you there
Side effects made the medication not worth taking
You have been told your depression is treatment-resistant
Your depression comes with significant anxiety
You have been doing therapy for a while, and something is still stuck
You have quietly started to wonder whether anything will work

That last point is one of the most common things we hear, and it is the reason this treatment exists.

What Is TMS Therapy?

TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It is a non-invasive treatment that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate the regions of the brain involved in mood regulation, areas that tend to be underactive in people with depression.

What TMS is not:

Not electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). No seizure is induced, no anesthesia is used, and there is no memory loss associated with treatment.

Not a medication. Nothing enters your bloodstream, so there are no systemic side effects like weight gain, sexual dysfunction, or fatigue.

Not surgery. Nothing is implanted. Nothing is cut.

Not sedation. You are awake, alert, and can hold a conversation the entire time.

The magnetic field used is roughly the strength of an MRI scanner.

What Is NeuroStar TMS?

NeuroStar is the specific TMS system we use at Sprout Recovery. It is one of the most established and widely studied TMS platforms available.

What it is FDA-cleared to treat:

Major depressive disorder

Depression with comorbid anxiety

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Why NeuroStar specifically: precision targeting means the coil is positioned to your individual anatomy rather than a generic map, and the system tracks your progress across the course of treatment so your care team can see whether it is working.

How Does TMS Treat Depression?

Depression is not only a chemical problem. It is also a circuitry problem. In many people with depression, the region of the brain responsible for mood regulation is underactive.

TMS targets that region directly.

Magnetic pulses are delivered through a coil positioned against your scalp.

The pulses stimulate nerve cells in the underactive brain region.

Repeated stimulation over several weeks encourages those circuits to strengthen and regulate more normally.

Mood, energy, sleep, and focus often begin to shift as the circuitry does.

Key Benefits of TMS Therapy

No medication side effects
No anesthesia, no downtime
Sessions fit into a normal day
Non-invasive
Works when medication has not
Progress is tracked

What Individual Therapy Looks Like at Sprout

Before Your First Session

Evaluation:

Our psychiatrist reviews your treatment history, current medications, and symptoms to confirm TMS is appropriate for you.

Safety screening:

We screen for metal or electronic implants, since certain devices are not compatible with the magnetic field, and for any history of seizures.

Mapping:

At your first appointment, we determine your individual motor threshold, which tells us the right stimulation level and coil position for you specifically.

No prep required:

No fasting. No ride home needed. Eat normally, take your usual medications, and come as you are.

During a Session

You sit in a chair, awake:

A cushioned coil is positioned against your head.

You will feel tapping:

A steady knocking sensation on the scalp where the coil rests. Most people describe it as odd at first, but get used to it within a few sessions.

You will hear clicking:

You wear earplugs to protect your hearing.

You can read, listen to music, or talk:

Nothing about the session requires you to do anything but sit still.

After a Session

You get up and go.

No recovery period, no sedation to wear off, no restrictions. Drive, work, exercise, pick up your kids.

Mild side effects:

A light headache or tender scalp is common early on and typically fades as your scalp adapts over the first two weeks. Over-the-counter pain relief handles it in most cases.

Improvement takes time:

Most people do not feel a change in the first week. Many begin noticing shifts in the middle weeks of treatment, sometimes in sleep or energy before mood.

Can TMS Be Combined With Therapy and Medication?

TMS is not a replacement for the rest of your care. It helps improve the rest of your care.

With medication.

You do not have to stop your antidepressants to start TMS. Many people continue medication throughout. Our psychiatrist manages both together and adjusts as needed.

With therapy.

TMS can lift the depression enough that therapy finally has something to work with. When you are too depressed to engage, therapy stalls. When the fog lifts, the work becomes possible.

Insurance and Payment Options

Because TMS is a standalone outpatient service, it is billed separately from any program and cannot be billed alongside PHP or IOP. Most insurers also require prior authorization before treatment starts, which typically means documenting at least two antidepressant medications that did not work, along with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder from a psychiatrist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TMS the same as electroshock therapy?

No. ECT intentionally induces a seizure and requires anesthesia and a muscle relaxant. TMS does neither. You stay awake, you go home on your own, and there is no memory loss associated with treatment. The two are frequently confused, and they are not the same thing.

Does TMS hurt?

Most people describe a tapping or knocking sensation on the scalp, strange at first and unremarkable within a few sessions. Some experience mild scalp discomfort or a headache early on, which usually fades as the scalp adapts over the first two weeks.

What are the side effects?

The most common are headache and scalp discomfort at the treatment site, both typically mild and temporary. Seizure is the most serious possible risk and is rare, which is why we screen for seizure history and metal implants before treatment begins.

How long until I feel better?

Most people do not notice a change in the first week. Improvement often shows up in the middle weeks of treatment, and sometimes sleep or energy shifts before mood does.

Can I drive myself home?

Yes. There is no sedation and no recovery period. Most people return to work or their normal day immediately after a session.

Do I have to stop my antidepressants?

No. Many people continue medication throughout TMS. Our psychiatrist manages both together.

Who is not a candidate for TMS?

People with certain metal or electronic implants in or near the head, including aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, and some stimulators, are not eligible because of the magnetic field. A history of seizures also requires careful evaluation. Our screening covers all of it before you start.

Is TMS covered by insurance?

Often, yes. Most major commercial plans cover TMS for treatment-resistant depression, and we accept Medicare for TMS specifically.

TMS is billed separately as a standalone outpatient service, so it is not included in PHP or IOP billing and cannot be billed alongside them. Coverage usually requires prior authorization, which typically means documenting that you have tried at least two antidepressants without adequate relief, along with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.

Our admissions team handles the authorization paperwork and verifies your specific benefits before you begin, so you know exactly where you stand.