TMS is an outpatient treatment you fit around ordinary life — you stay awake, there's no anesthesia, and you drive yourself home. Here's what a session and a full course actually look like.
Your first visit includes a mapping session. The psychiatrist measures your head and determines the precise coil position and the right stimulation intensity for you (your "motor threshold"). This calibration is what makes the rest of your course accurate. Once mapping is done, treatment begins.
During a session you sit in a comfortable chair while an electromagnetic coil rests against your scalp. You'll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation as the magnetic pulses are delivered. You remain fully awake and can listen to music or simply relax.
Each session runs about 30–60 minutes depending on the protocol. A standard course is roughly 30–36 sessions delivered five days a week for four to six weeks, followed by a short taper of a few sessions.
Because there's no sedation, you can return to work, school, or driving immediately afterward — many patients schedule TMS before work or over a lunch break using our evening and Saturday hours.
Some patients notice improvement within two to four weeks, while for others the benefit builds gradually over the full course. Your psychiatrist monitors your response at each visit and adjusts the plan as needed. TMS results tend to be durable, and maintenance sessions are available if symptoms return later.
No. TMS is non-invasive with no sedation. You stay awake during the session and can drive yourself home and resume normal activities right away.
A standard course is about 30–36 sessions — five per week for four to six weeks, then a short taper.
Usually yes. Many patients continue their medications during a TMS course. Your psychiatrist reviews everything you take and adjusts if needed.