Insight Choices TMS Therapy

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a treatment modality that uses magnetic waves to stimulate and excite molecules inside brain cells in order to activate improved cell functioning. Magnetic therapy has been around for a long time. Only within the past 15 years has magnetic therapy been used on the brain to treat mental disorders in the United States. The FDA cleared the treatment of depression with this modality in 2008. The health insurance companies cover the treatment of depression and OCD using this treatment modality. Outside of the United States, it’s been used to treat many other conditions including anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease, etc. Looking at a brain scan (PET scan) of a depressed person (on your right), the brain’s color is mostly blue which means the brain cells are not active. A non-depressed brain (on your left) has a lot of yellow and orange colors, which means the brain cells are firing up and active. TMS treatment stimulates the brain and causes the brain cells to become active again.

Each TMS session takes less than an hour. A complete course of TMS treatment is around 6 to 8 weeks. During the first 4 to 6 weeks, you will come in daily for treatment, 5 days a week. Afterwards, the treatment session will be tapered based on your response. At the first TMS session, we will find the location where the brain needs to be stimulated by the electromagnet. Subsequently, your brain will be stimulated at that location every time you come in. You’re comfortably seated during the entire session. There is no anesthesia, incision, or blood draw involved. You will be awake and can converse during the entire session. After the session, you can perform any activity without restriction. Patients come in before, during, or after their work schedule and function without interference after the session. 

To be eligible for TMS there are some requirements to fulfill:

• Have you taken more than 4 different types of anti-depressant medication?

• Have you tried talk therapy and have not found it to be as effective anymore?

• Have medications failed to provide adequate benefit for your depression?

• Do the side effects from your medication outweigh the benefit?

• Are you tired of letting depression take control of your life?

• Is depression affecting your ability to make good life choices?

If you answer yes to any of the above questions, please ask your provider to refer you to our TMS treatment! 

TMS treatment cannot be conducted on anyone who has metal or implanted devices in his or her body. Clinical trials are being conducted on patients suffering from ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, etc. However, most health insurance companies will only pay for the treatment if the patient has treatment resistant depression and has gone through many failed medication treatments. We can conduct a clinical interview with you to see if you may qualify for TMS treatment paid for by your insurance company.

We are an in-network provider with multiple insurance carriers. We use a state of the art TMS machine from Denmark that is capable of delivering theta bursts that conventional TMS machines can’t. Theta bursts have been shown to be superior to conventional treatment protocols. We are a comprehensive mental health practice that provides medication management,  and psychotherapy, in addition to TMS service. We are open 7 days a week for your convenience. We have the most affordable rates if your insurance company does not cover you for your TMS treatment.

TMS is covered by most major insurances. 

Insight Choices is an In-Network provider for many insurance plans, including but are not limited to Anthem Blue Cross / Blue Shield of California, Aetna, Blue Shield of California / MHSA, United Healthcare / Optum, Cigna, ComPsych, and others.