Typical TMS Treatment
What To Expect Before, During, and After Your TMS Sessions
Understanding the routine of a standard TMS treatment course removes fear of the unknown. Explore session timelines, motor threshold mapping, and comfort measures.
Treatment Course at a Glance
Although exact protocols are customized to each individual, a standard FDA-cleared TMS treatment course for Major Depressive Disorder follows this schedule:
What to Expect During a TMS Session
During TMS treatment, you relax in a comfortable recline chair while remaining fully awake and alert. The TMS Therapy device delivers targeted magnetic pulses to specific areas of your brain known to regulate mood.
These pulses produce a tapping sensation on the scalp. Your TMS technician can make instant adjustments if the tapping feels uncomfortable. Mild scalp discomfort or a slight headache may sometimes occur during or immediately after early sessions; over-the-counter pain relievers easily manage this. If discomfort persists, the magnetic intensity can be temporarily lowered to ensure complete comfort.
After each treatment session, patients can immediately return to their normal daily routine—including driving back to work or home. In clinical trials, most patients experienced a positive response by the fourth week of treatment, though some notice improvements earlier.
In a trial of 82 patients evaluated with the IDS-SR30 severity scale, 67.1% positively responded to TMS and 46.3% achieved full remission with zero significant adverse events reported.
Your First Session & Motor Threshold Test
Because it is vital to personalize treatment parameters, your initial session takes up to 90 minutes. A licensed psychiatrist or trained practitioner determines the exact placement and power settings of the treatment coil.
You will be provided with earplugs to soften the audible clicking sound emitted by the magnetic coil. You are welcome to bring your own non-metallic headphones to listen to music or podcasts during sessions.
To calibrate your dosage, a test is performed to measure your Motor Threshold—the minimum magnetic field strength that produces a subtle movement in the fingers of your right hand. Once calculated, the treatment coil is positioned over the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) in the left frontal lobe, where therapeutic stimulation begins.
Comfort & Entertainment
Earplugs provided; listen to music or talk with your technician.
No Recovery Time
Drive home or back to office with no downtime or restriction.
Explore Related TMS Resources
What is TMS Therapy?
Understand how TMS works
Is TMS Right for Me?
Candidacy and screening
Typical TMS Treatment
What a course looks like
TMS Clinical Study Results
Research findings
About Depression
Understanding the condition
Depression Symptoms
Recognizing the signs
Treating Depression
Treatment approaches
Videos & Media
Watch patient stories
Financing Options
Payment and financing
Supplemental Research
Additional studies and data
Virtual Education
Online learning resources
SAINT® Accelerated TMS
FDA-cleared, 5-day accelerated TMS protocol
Standard TMS Therapy
Non-invasive magnetic stimulation for depression
SPRAVATO® (Esketamine)
FDA-approved nasal spray for TRD
Prism for PTSD & Depression
EEG neurofeedback for PTSD symptoms
Proliv®Rx At-Home TMS
At-home neuromodulation device
Ampa One System
Single-day accelerated TMS protocol
IV Ketamine Infusions
Rapid-acting IV ketamine therapy
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
KAP combines ketamine with therapy
PrTMS Therapy
Personalized repetitive TMS
Psychotherapy & Counseling
CBT, DBT, EMDR, and more
Medication Management
Psychiatric medication oversight
Ampa One Day Accelerated Protocol
Single-day accelerated protocol
TMS for Depression
FDA-cleared TMS for treatment-resistant depression
TMS for Anxiety
Non-drug neuromodulation for anxiety
TMS for PTSD
Targeted stimulation for trauma circuits
TMS for OCD
SmartFocus® 3D targeting for OCD
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