TMS Therapy

• • TMS Treatment • •

TMS Therapy in Southern California

There’s more to mental health treatment than medication. Neuro Wellness Spa is a leading provider of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS therapy is a non-invasive, non-systemic and FDA-cleared treatment that is safe and effective for a range of conditions affecting mental health and cognition. TMS could be your next step.

What TMS Treats

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy?

TMS safely treats symptoms of anxiety and depression. It relies on the use of magnetic energy. This stimulates parts of the brain affected by mental health disorders.

It began as a treatment option for non-responsive depression. Since, it has grown to include other disorders as well. However, it remains a depression alternative treatment option for many people. The Neuro Wellness Spa is one of the top providers of TMS therapy.

TMS is both non-invasive and non-systemic. It has fewer side effects than other treatments. In some cases, no side effects at all. Other treatments rely on deep brain stimulation or vagus nerve stimulation. Unlike those treatments, TMS does not require electrode implantation or surgery. It will not cause seizures or require the use of anesthesia sedation. In fact, TMS will not affect cognitive function. Patients can go about daily activities following treatment.

At our office, we show you exactly how the process works before your first session. When you make an appointment, you’ll see in person how TMS looks, and feels.

TMS Treatments

Depression

When treating patients with depression, TMS pulses are directed towards specific areas of the brain which have been associated with depressive symptoms. TMS has been shown to change the neuron activity in the prefrontal cortex. In patients with depression, the prefrontal cortex is commonly dormant. With TMS, magnetic pulses activate this area of the brain. Approximately 70% of Neuro Wellness Spa TMS patients experience symptom remission.

Anxiety

Even though it was originally used to treat depression, TMS has been investigated and shown to be effective in treating anxiety. Anxiety negatively impacts certain regions of the brain in which it causes abnormal levels of activity. The magnetic pulses used in TMS target these overactive areas to reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

OCD

Although medications and behavioral therapies are treatment options for OCD, over 40% of patients still experience OCD symptoms after undergoing these conventional treatments. TMS is indicated and FDA-cleared for the treatment of OCD. When treating patients with OCD, TMS pulses are directed towards specific areas of the brain which have been associated with OCD symptoms.

Peak Performance

Peak performance treatment uses express TMS to improve mood, increase concentration and boost cognitive performance. Peak performance treatment is ideal for those with mild depression, mild anxiety, or those who are not interested trying in psychotropic medications.

Migraines

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe and effective treatment that delivers magnetic pulses to the occipital cortex of the brain. These pulses reduce overactive brain activity that has been associated with migraines. Although there is no cure for migraines, treatment options are available. At Neuro Wellness Spa, our patients with migraines have experienced the efficacy of TMS.

Cognitive Enhancement

In combination with neuroimaging, TMS uses detailed pictures of the brain to stimulate specific brain regions in order to improve cognitive functioning. Enhancing cognition has huge implications for certain neurological disorders. These include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and degeneration as a result of brain injuries. Even for those without neurological disorders, cognitive enhancement may help improve mental alertness.

Memory Loss

Recent research suggests that TMS can also aid in memory loss. Memory loss affects many people as they age, and TMS may be an effective treatment option to prevent memory loss from worsening. Neuro Wellness Spa is a leading provider of TMS treatment for memory loss.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Since 2009, our center has used TMS in the treatment of several disorders – including Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects both patients and those around them. With TMS treatments, patients may experience some relief from symptoms. In several studies, TMS has been effective in treating mild symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Smoking Cessation

In 2017, researchers demonstrated how TMS can help people quit smoking. In this study, TMS treatment significantly reduced the risk of relapse, increased abstinence rate, and increased uptake of the self-help intervention.

Addiction Relapse Prevention

In 2018, researchers demonstrated TMS significantly reduced the brain’s reactivity to drug cues in chronic alcohol users as well as chronic cocaine users (Kearney-Ramos 2018). In this study, addicts viewed drug cues, like liquor bottles, and their reactions to the cues were studied using fMRI. Both alcohol users and cocaine users showed significantly reduced drug reactivity following TMS treatment.

Bipolar Disorder

There is no cure for bipolar disorder, but its symptoms are treatable with TMS therapy. TMS uses magnetic pulses to target brain structures affected by bipolar disorder. Specifically, TMS stimulates the prefrontal cortex of the brain to increase neuronal activity and stabilize mood. As a result, symptoms of bipolar disorder may become more controllable.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A 2017 clinical trial of TMS for the treatment of BPD reported a decrease in self injurious and suicidal behavior among BPD patients. Patients in this study also experienced improved social functioning and better interpersonal relationships.

3 Minute Express

Theta-Burst Stimulation, TBS, or 3-minute TMS is distributed to the brain in patterned clusters of magnetic pulses. The pulses target parts of the brain responsible for mood regulation. One Theta-Burst Stimulation treatment only takes three minutes to complete compared to a traditional TMS treatment which takes 20-45 minutes.

How Does TMS Therapy Work?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe and effective treatment that uses gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate different areas of the brain. TMS is non-invasive (does not require surgery), non-systemic (does not affect the entire body) and well-tolerated. TMS therapy can be used alone, or in conjunction with other treatment modalities including behavioral therapies and medication.

During TMS treatment, patients recline in a treatment chair and remain awake and alert. A TMS magnet is positioned over the patient’s head to deliver gentle pulses to specific areas of the brain. Patients report that the pulses feel like taps on the scalp. Each treatment session lasts about 30 minutes, after which patients can immediately return back to their daily routines.

TMS is well tolerated. Sometimes patients experience mild scalp discomfort or mild headache during active treatment. Most patients notice symptom improvement with TMS after 2 weeks of treatment (8-10 sessions).

History of TMS Therapy

TMS was first FDA indicated in 2008 for the treatment of depression. A year later, it joined the list of therapy options offered by Neuro Wellness Spa. From then until now, TMS has been the focus of numerous studies and the number of TMS providers has increased dramatically across the United States, and even around the world.

Although TMS was invented in 1985, the principles behind TMS date back to 1881, when an English physicist, Michael Faraday, observed an electric current passed through a wire coil created a magnetic field. He learned that by controlling the rate of change in that magnetic field, he could induce a secondary current in another conductor. These observations would shape the advancement of TMS treatment in the decades that followed.

Over a century later, scientist Anthony Barker and collaborators constructed the first transcranial magnetic brain stimulator. Since its FDA clearance in 2008 for depression and 2018 for OCD and cigarette cessation, TMS may also be a promising treatment for a broad range of other psychiatric conditions.

Neuro Wellness Spa recognizes the benefits that TMS offers. We are here to help.

TMS Services

Standard TMS

36 treatment sessions of TMS, typically conducted over 9 weeks

Express TMS

3-minute TMS using theta-burst technology

Six Day Accelerated TMS

36 treatment sessions of TMS conducted in six days

TMS plus Photobiomodulation

Combines TMS and low-level light therapy also known as photobiomudulation (PBM) therapy

TMS plus IV Ketamine

Combines TMS and IV ketamine

TMS plus IV Nutrition

Combines TMS and IV nutrition

We accept insurance from the following providers

• • Frequently Asked Questions • •

Additional Information on TMS Therapy

Why Choose TMS Therapy?
For many years, the initial response to mental health treatment has been psychiatric medications and therapy. Although these conventional treatments can be effective, they don’t work for everyone and medications can take weeks or months to exert their full effects. If you’re experiencing symptoms, unwanted side effects, or if you want to supplement your current treatments, you might consider TMS.

Unlike other treatments, TMS is non-invasive (does not require surgery) and non-systemic (does not affect the entire body). TMS is covered by most insurance and has fewer side effects than other treatments, or in some cases, no side effects at all. TMS therapy is an FDA-cleared treatment that can be used alone or in conjunction with medication. TMS uses using gentle magnetic pulses to treat specific areas of the brain known to be underactive in conditions affecting mental health and cognition. Unlike medications, which affect the entire body, TMS therapy treats mental health at the source.
Effectiveness of TMS Therapy
TMS is a safe, highly effective and FDA-cleared treatment option for depression, OCD and cigarette cessation. Since 2009, over 70% of Neuro Wellness Spa patients have experienced symptom relief with TMS therapy. Although many mental health conditions are chronic, TMS helps patients achieve remission. Length of remission depends on many factors including:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Therapy
- Severity of illness
- Lifestyle
The goal of mental health treatment is to achieve full remission. Patients should not tolerate lingering symptoms or unwanted side effects. TMS is an effective treatment alternative to medication and therapy that helps patients feel all the way better.
Side Effects of TMS Therapy
Transcranial magnetic stimulation has far fewer side effects than antidepressant medications. With more than 10,000 treatments performed in clinical trials, the most common side effect was temporary and mild scalp discomfort during active treatment. Unlike medications, which affect the entire body as they pass through the blood-brain barrier, TMS therapy treats the brain directly.
Does TMS Only Work With Depression?
Since its FDA clearance in 2008 for depression and 2018 for OCD and cigarette cessation, TMS is also be a promising treatment for a range of other conditions affecting mental health and cognition. Notably, TMS therapy is a safe and effective treatment for anxiety, cognitive decline and migraine.
What to Expect During TMS Treatment
TMS is an outpatient procedure. Patients recline in a private treatment room and may relax, read, work, or watch television during treatment. A TMS magnet is positioned over the patient’s head to deliver gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. Each treatment sessions lasts about 30 minutes, after which patients can get back to their days right away, including work or school.

Unlike electroconvulsive therapy or ECT, TMS therapy is non-invasive and non-sedating. TMS does not involve electrode implantation or the use of anesthesia. TMS treatment sessions take place in our private centers. Patients can drive themselves to and from treatment. There is no downtime, so patients can go about daily activities immediately following treatment. TMS treatment does not cause seizures nor affect cognitive function, it has fewer side effects than other treatments, and in some cases, no side effects at all.
What about insurance?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for depression is FDA-cleared and covered by most insurance including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Shield, Optum, MHN/Healthnet, Tricare, Cigna, Magellan and Beacon and more. Our phenomenal clinical team is always available to help prospective patients understand their coverage options. We know how important it is that those seeking help are able to get the treatment they need. Not to mention, at Neuro Wellness Spa, we handle all the paperwork.
Don’t see your question here?
Let’s fix that. Give our expert clinical team a call or schedule a free consultation.

TMS Therapy Treatment Process

When you arrive for your first TMS session, you will initially be greeted by a trained TMS technician.

They will then lead you to your treatment room, where you will rest on a comfortable chair that has the ability to both recline and elevate your legs. You will be fitted for a cap that the treating psychiatrist will use to mark your TMS treatment areas. You will wear this cap for every TMS treatment.

The treating psychiatrist will then come in and use the TMS machine to locate your proper treatment area, in addition to finding your motor threshold.

Based on your psychiatric history, the treating psychiatrist will also decide the type of TMS treatment and which side the coil attached to the TMS machine should be placed in order to provide the most effective treatment for your needs.

After, the treating psychiatrist finds the proper placement and answers any additional questions you may have.

Your TMS technician will then prepare you for your first full treatment. Generally, we allow between 18 and 30 minutes for each session, depending on the type of TMS treatment the psychiatrist prescribes. The technician will then make sure you feel as comfortable as possible, situating the chair to your liking and offering blankets and water.

Each treatment room is equipped with a flat screen TV connected to our Neuro Wellness Spa Netflix account.

Where you can choose from a variety of TV shows, movies, or meditative scenery to watch during your treatment. You may also choose to use your phone or iPad, or you may use the time to meditate; however, it is important that you do not sleep during the treatment as it may decrease the efficacy. If you prefer, the technician will offer you earplugs, but they are not required. In order to ensure that your head doesn’t move during treatment, a pillow behind you will then be wrapped around the sides of your head.

Once you are comfortable, the TMS technician will place the TMS coil on your head in the space that the psychiatrist has marked and will start your treatment.

If at any time you require a break, feel pain, or believe the coil may have accidentally moved, your TMS technician can pause your treatment to make sure you are comfortable.

Alternative to Antidepressant Drugs – Try TMS

Some people who suffer from depression are able to achieve symptom remission with medication. However, it may take up to 10 weeks after starting an antidepressant to notice improvement, and even then, symptom improvement only occurs in about one third of patients.

Many people experience symptom relief with medicants, but others may find that their conditions are resistant to medication. For those with treatment resistant mental health disorders, there is a need for alternative treatment options – like TMS. With durable, long-lasting treatment efficacy, TMS is a safe and effective treatment option for those who have not experience satisfactory relief from traditional treatments.

Research shows 1 in 10 Americans utilize some form of antidepressant medication. However, antidepressant medications are not effective and tolerable for everyone. Side effects of antidepressants may include:

Nausea
Weight gain
Constipation
Sexual dysfunction
Insomnia
Fatigue

At Neuro Wellness Spa, over 93% of patients have experienced noticeable improvement with TMS treatment. Typically, TMS has no side effects. However, some patients report mild scalp discomfort and mild headache during active treatment. During TMS treatment, patients remain awake and alert and are able to return to their daily activities immediately following a treatment session.

Since TMS received FDA indication for depression in 2008 and OCD in 2018, many health insurance providers have opted to provide coverage for TMS therapy. At Neuro Wellness Spa, we work with insurance companies to get our clients covered for their TMS recovery therapy. Contact us today to find out if your insurance will cover TMS.

Future of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy: Advances Since 2009

From 1881 until now technological advancements and extensive research has greatly contributed to several notable developments in the application of TMS:

Efficiency & Speed. As TMS device technology has improved, TMS treatment sessions have become shorter. Theta burst stimulation (TBS), or express TMS, was FDA cleared in 2018. Express TMS uses a 3-minute treatment protocol, whereas standard TMS uses a 20-30-minute protocol. Shorter treatment times have made TMS more accessible and convenient for patients.
Expanded Research. Since 2008, TMS has been the focus of numerous studies for various mental health disorders. As a result of its efficacy, TMS was indicated and FDA cleared for the treatment of OCD in 2018.

Since its FDA clearance in 2008 for depression and 2018 for OCD, emerging research has suggested TMS may also be a promising treatment for a broad range of psychiatric conditions.

Neuro Wellness Spa recognizes the benefits that TMS offers. Contact us today to learn more about TMS or to schedule a consultation.

• • Testimonials • •

You Are Not Alone

Here’s What Our Patients Are Saying

It’s Almost Indescribable

It felt like a weight or a fog had lifted. Every area of my life turned around. I feel better, my sleep and my relationships are better. It’s almost indescribable.

J.F.
TMS Changed Everything

I was so low energy and TMS changed everything. Now, I look forward to starting my days. My focus has improved. I appreciate things I couldn’t even notice before

R.J.
Wish I Had Been Aware of This Years Ago

After about ten treatments, people started asking me what changed and why I seemed so much happier. It’s been over 3 months since my treatments ended and my symptoms have not returned.

M.W.
I Feel Like I Have Come Alive Again

TMS allowed me to get over the initial hump to make the life changes necessary to live with and manage my depression.

A.B.
My Brain Is In A Better Place

I’m two or three months past my last MeRT treatment, and I can honestly say my brain is in a better place than it was before. The emotional highs and lows I was living with have been stabilized. My cognition took off during that period and it hasn’t slowed down since.

N.H., Retired NFL Player
He’s Been More Talkative and Engaged

After just two weeks of MeRT treatment, our son’s mood is brighter. He’s been more talkative and engaged with our family.

MeRT Patient
The MeRT Technology Saved My Life

I went from dependence on opioids, SSRI’s, Benzes and sleep meds to clear in less than 6 weeks. The MeRT technology saved my life.

J.S., SEAL Team 6
We Got Our Son Back

After eight weeks of MeRT treatments, he’s now much more verbal and much happier. He started communicating with us and making jokes. And he has a love of music we didn’t even know about. We got our son back.

MeRT Patient
Ketamine Therapy Changed My Life

My life has completely changed. I experienced so much growth during the entire treatment process. I think I grew more in those six months than I had during my entire life. My therapist even said she had never seen such incredible progress with my PTSD in such a short amount of time.

S.H.