Content Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Robbie Westerman, DNP-PMHNP – Chief Medical Officer
When you have already tried antidepressants, therapy, or both and depression is still affecting your work, relationships, sleep, or motivation, partial relief may no longer feel like enough. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) gives you another treatment option to discuss.
At Camelback Recovery, we provide TMS at our outpatient clinic on N 16th St. in Phoenix. We can evaluate TMS alongside psychiatric care, medication management, outpatient mental health treatment, and dual-diagnosis services when your needs extend beyond depression alone.
If previous depression treatment has not given you enough relief, call Camelback Recovery at (602) 466-9880 to ask whether TMS may fit your treatment plan.
Who May Be a Candidate for TMS Therapy in Phoenix?
TMS may be worth considering when depression continues despite previous evidence-based treatment.
Before recommending TMS, we review factors such as:
TMS for Treatment-Resistant Depression
If depression has not responded adequately to previous treatment, you may be experiencing treatment-resistant depression.
Treatment-resistant depression is commonly defined as depression that has not responded adequately to at least two antidepressant trials given at an appropriate dose and duration. Your insurer may use different medical-necessity criteria when determining whether TMS qualifies for coverage.
Medication and psychotherapy may have provided only partial improvement, stopped working, or caused difficult side effects. In these situations, TMS gives us another option to evaluate.
Our depression treatment in Phoenix can coordinate TMS with psychiatric care and other mental health services based on your needs.
Because Camelback also provides outpatient mental health care and dual-diagnosis treatment, we can consider medication response, co-occurring conditions, substance use when relevant, and other factors affecting your recovery.
Who Is Not a Candidate for TMS?
TMS uses a strong magnetic field, so certain implanted objects can make treatment inappropriate.
You generally should not receive TMS if you have non-removable conductive, ferromagnetic, or magnetic-sensitive material in or near your head within the treatment area. Examples may include:
- Cochlear implants
- Implanted brain stimulators or electrodes
- Certain aneurysm clips or coils
- Certain implanted stents
- Metallic fragments near the head
Standard dental fillings and typical dental hardware are generally not included in this restriction.
A history of epilepsy, previous seizures, traumatic brain injury, neurological disease, or medications that affect seizure threshold does not automatically rule out every form of TMS. These factors can increase risk and require careful clinical screening.
Tell us about every implant, medical device, seizure, neurological condition, medication, and previous head injury before treatment begins.
How Long Does TMS Treatment Take?
Most standard TMS treatment courses involve weekday sessions for about 4 to 6 weeks.
Your individual session length depends on the protocol. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, TMS sessions may range from a few minutes to around 40 minutes depending on the method used. Some intermittent theta burst stimulation protocols can be completed in only a few minutes.
Your exact schedule depends on your diagnosis, prescribed protocol, clinical response, and treatment recommendations.
Because treatment often occurs several days each week, location matters. Our outpatient clinic at 4527 N 16th St, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85016 gives you a central Valley location for recurring appointments from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Peoria, Paradise Valley, and surrounding communities.
We can map out your expected treatment schedule during your evaluation so you can plan around work, family responsibilities, and other commitments.
Does Insurance Cover TMS Therapy in Phoenix?
Insurance coverage for TMS varies by plan.
Your benefits may depend on your diagnosis, previous antidepressant trials, psychotherapy history, medical-necessity requirements, and prior authorization.
Meeting the clinical definition of treatment-resistant depression does not automatically guarantee approval. Your insurer may require specific documentation before authorizing care.
You can verify your insurance benefits before treatment so we can explain your estimated coverage and potential out-of-pocket responsibility. Benefit verification is an estimate and does not guarantee payment by your insurer.
If your plan offers limited coverage or does not cover TMS, our admissions team can explain any payment options currently available to you.
Want to know what your plan may cover? Verify your insurance benefits confidentially or call our N 16th St. outpatient clinic at 602-466-9880.
What to Expect During TMS Treatment at Camelback Recovery
Your treatment begins with an evaluation and an individualized treatment plan.
During the initial treatment process, we determine where the magnetic coil should be positioned and what stimulation level is appropriate. This may include identifying your motor threshold to help guide treatment intensity.
You remain awake and seated while the TMS machine delivers repeated magnetic pulses through a coil resting against your scalp.
You may hear clicking and feel tapping or tingling around the treatment area. Ear protection may also be used.
Routine TMS does not require sedation or anesthesia. If you feel well afterward and we have not advised otherwise, you can often return to work, drive, or continue your usual activities.
We can also coordinate treatment with outpatient mental health treatment in Phoenix when your plan includes therapy, psychiatry, medication management, or structured outpatient services.
Benefits, Side Effects, and Safety of TMS Therapy
TMS offers several practical differences from medication or invasive brain stimulation procedures.
- No Systemic Medication Exposure: TMS uses targeted magnetic stimulation rather than medication circulating through your body, so it does not have the same typical systemic side-effect profile as antidepressant drugs.
- Minimal Daily Disruption: Routine TMS does not require anesthesia or sedation, so you can often return to normal activities after treatment.
- Noninvasive Treatment: There are no incisions, implanted devices, or surgical recovery period.
- Works Alongside Other Care: TMS can be incorporated with therapy, psychiatry, and medication management when clinically appropriate.
The National Institute of Mental Health notes that temporary headache, scalp discomfort, tingling, or sensitivity can occur. Serious adverse effects are uncommon, although seizures are a recognized risk.
How TMS Fits Into a Complete Depression Treatment Plan
TMS does not need to replace every treatment that already helps you.
Your plan may include psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, medication management, structured outpatient care, or other mental health services alongside TMS.
Through our outpatient psychiatry, we can evaluate persistent symptoms, medication response, side effects, and broader psychiatric concerns.
If your depression overlaps with anxiety, trauma, or substance use, we can address those concerns through integrated care rather than treating depression in isolation.
Mental Health Crisis Support: TMS is not emergency treatment. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7.
What Conditions Is TMS Used to Treat?
TMS is most strongly established for major depressive disorder, particularly when other depression treatments have not provided enough relief.
Different TMS devices and protocols also have FDA clearances for certain additional conditions. A cleared indication should not be treated as interchangeable with every condition being researched.
What Is TMS and How Does It Work?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses a magnetic coil placed against your scalp to deliver controlled magnetic pulses.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS, delivers these pulses repeatedly during treatment.
The magnetic field passes through your skull and induces small electrical currents in targeted brain tissue. These currents influence nerve cells and neural circuits associated with mood regulation.
For depression, treatment commonly targets areas of the prefrontal cortex connected with mood-regulation networks.
TMS does not require surgery or an implanted device. Unlike electroconvulsive therapy, routine TMS also does not require anesthesia.
The exact therapeutic mechanism continues to be studied, so we base treatment decisions on established protocols, your diagnosis, and your individual response.
Start TMS Treatment in Phoenix, AZ
If depression continues to interfere with your work, relationships, sleep, motivation, or daily life after previous treatment, the next step is to find out whether TMS fits your clinical needs.
We can review your treatment history, safety considerations, schedule, and insurance benefits before you commit to care.
Call Camelback Recovery at (602) 466-9880 to speak with our admissions team, or verify your insurance benefits confidentially to explore your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About TMS Therapy
Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Brain stimulation therapies. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2018, August 17). FDA permits marketing of transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-permits-marketing-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-treatment-obsessive-compulsive-disorder
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Product classification: Transcranial magnetic stimulator. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpcd/classification.cfm?id=OBP
