If you or your doctor are interested in TMS, the first step is to call our office to schedule an initial consultation. Prior to that meeting, you will set up a patient portal through which you can provide information about your history and symptoms. During the consultation, Dr. Doshier will review this information with you, describe TMS treatment in detail, and answer all of your questions. Together, you will decide if TMS is right for you. If so, we will work with your insurance carrier to obtain prior authorization for the treatment. If your insurance plan does not cover TMS or is not accepted at Central Berkshire Psychiatric, we will discuss alternative arrangements for payment. After that, you will be scheduled for your first treatment.  

Treatments are administered 5 days per week for 6 weeks with another 6 treatments over the following 3 weeks to taper the schedule to completion. Each treatment takes about 5-10 minutes total, although you should allow for more time the first day.  You are welcome to have a loved one accompany you to the sessions, but you can also come by yourself. You will not be given any sedatives or other medication during the treatment and it does not affect your memory or reflexes, so you are able to drive immediately after the session. Many people quietly meditate during the treatment session or visualize the magnetic waves wiping out their depression (this kind of positive imagery really does help!).

When you come in for your treatment session, you will be asked to remove all metallic jewelry from your head. There is a secure place in the room to leave your things and they will never be out of your sight. You will then sit in the treatment chair, which is a lot like a dentist's chair. You put on a cotton cap that might feel unusual, but it keeps us from drawing on your head! The cap is used to take measurements of your head so that the coil can be positioned correctly. We will then "map" the areas of your brain using a coil that is designed specifically for this purpose. Once your specific treatment parameters are determined, you will recline in the chair with a form fitting pillow around your neck. You should be comfortable and the pillow will help you keep your head still during the treatment. The coil is then positioned in the proper spot and the TMS machine turned on. You will feel a tapping sensation on your skin where the coil is resting. This may be uncomfortable at first, but will get better over the first few sessions. The tapping lasts 3 seconds followed by an 8 second rest. This is repeated 20 times during each treatment session.

Click here to connect to the Magvita website. This is the device we use in our office and is an excellent source of information.