From first call to remission.

1 · The first call

You call our inquiries line and leave a voicemail, or you email us. A care coordinator typically returns your message within one business day. We collect a brief medical history, the names of antidepressants you have tried (and for how long), your current medications, your insurance, and the location closest to you. There is no charge for this call, and we are honest with patients we do not believe Deep TMS will help.

2 · The consultation

A 30–45 minute appointment with one of our psychiatrists. You bring your prior treatment history; we review whether you meet the FDA-cleared criteria, screen for contraindications (history of seizures, certain metal implants in the head), and confirm the indication. By the end of this visit you know whether you are a candidate, which protocol fits best (standard 6-week, accelerated SWIFT, or H7 for OCD), and what your insurance is likely to cover.

3 · Insurance verification & authorization

Our team handles insurance benefits verification and prior authorization in parallel with treatment scheduling. Medicare, Medicaid, and most major commercial insurers cover Deep TMS for treatment-resistant depression in adults; coverage requires documentation of failed adequate medication trials, which we assemble for you. You will see a written cost estimate before your first session.

4 · The mapping visit

Before your first treatment, a brief motor threshold visit measures the lowest energy that produces a small thumb twitch when the coil is over the motor cortex. This tells us exactly how strong your treatment should be — calibrated to your cortex, not a generic average. The mapping is gentle and takes 15–20 minutes.

5 · A typical session

1. You arrive at your local IPMG TMS clinic. No fasting, no special preparation.
2. You sit in a comfortable chair, like a recliner.
3. The technician places the cushioned BrainsWay helmet on your head.
4. The machine begins delivering pulses — a light tapping on the scalp, like a woodpecker tapping gently. Some patients say it feels strange at first, then becomes easy to ignore.
5. You stay awake the whole time. You can listen to music, watch TV, or chat.
6. After about 20 minutes (or as little as 3 minutes with iTBS protocols), you are done.
7. You walk out and continue your day.

• You drive yourself to and from sessions.
• You can work, exercise, and socialize as you normally would.
• You usually continue your existing antidepressants. We review every medication for seizure-threshold concerns at consultation.
• You will see your IPMG TMS psychiatrist for brief check-ins during the course (typically every 1–2 weeks) to assess response on standardized rating scales.
• We track your progress on the same validated scales used in the published clinical trials — so improvement is measurable, not vibes.