Quick Facts
Restore Balance with TMS Therapy in Wellesley, MA and New York, NY
For many individuals, depression and anxiety can persist even after trying multiple treatments. At Aesthetic + Mind MD in Wellesley, MA, and New York, NY, TMS therapy for depression and anxiety offers a non-invasive, medication-free solution to improve mood and mental clarity. This advanced treatment uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate brain regions that regulate emotion and restore balance.
What TMS Therapy Is
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation. A coil placed against the scalp delivers focused magnetic pulses to a targeted region of the brain — most often the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, an area involved in mood regulation. No sedation is used, nothing is implanted, and no medication is administered.
Repetitive TMS is FDA-cleared for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults who have not responded adequately to antidepressant medication. Specific devices carry additional clearances.
How TMS Therapy Works
Depression is associated with reduced activity in certain prefrontal regions and with disrupted communication between the networks those regions belong to. TMS applies magnetic pulses to that area, which induces small electrical currents in the underlying tissue and stimulates neuronal activity.
Repeated across a course of sessions, that stimulation is thought to influence how readily those circuits activate — the working idea behind TMS is that it changes network activity over time rather than acting immediately, which is why the treatment is delivered as a series rather than a single visit. Response varies between individuals, and some people do not respond.
Benefits of TMS Therapy in Wellesley, MA and New York, NY
- Non-Invasive and Drug-Free: Provides an alternative to medication for depression and anxiety treatment.
- Effective for Resistant Cases: Especially beneficial for patients who have not responded to antidepressants or therapy.
- Improves Mood and Focus: Stimulates brain activity to enhance emotional stability and cognitive function.
- Minimal Side Effects: TMS therapy side effects are mild and temporary, allowing for a safe and comfortable experience.
- No Downtime: Patients can resume normal activities immediately after treatment.
- Supports Long-Term Recovery: Promotes lasting improvement in mood and mental clarity with continued care.
Concerns TMS Therapy Is Used to Address
At Aesthetic + Mind MD, TMS is used within a psychiatric treatment plan. It is considered most often for:
- Major depressive disorder that has not responded adequately to medication — the primary cleared indication and the most common reason patients are referred for TMS
- Depression where medication side effects have been intolerable, making a non-systemic option worth discussing
- Depression with prominent difficulty concentrating or low motivation, where those symptoms are part of the depressive presentation
- Patients who prefer to explore non-medication options before, alongside, or after a medication trial
Anxiety symptoms frequently accompany depression, and patients understandably ask whether TMS addresses them. That is a question for your psychiatrist rather than a web page: whether stimulation is appropriate, and how any benefit to anxiety symptoms should be framed, depends on your diagnosis and the device’s cleared indications.Â
Am I a Candidate for TMS Therapy?
You may be a candidate for TMS if you have been diagnosed with depression, have tried at least one antidepressant without adequate benefit, and are looking for a non-invasive option that does not involve systemic medication. Candidacy is established through a psychiatric evaluation, not a questionnaire.
TMS is not appropriate for everyone. Because the treatment uses magnetic fields, certain implanted metal or electronic devices in or near the head are contraindications, and a history of seizures requires specific evaluation. Your provider will review your full medical and psychiatric history, current medications, and any implanted devices before recommending treatment. If TMS is not the right fit, we will tell you directly and discuss what is.
What to Expect During Treatment
Your first appointment is a mapping session. Your psychiatrist locates the treatment target and determines your motor threshold — the stimulation level appropriate for you — which is used to set your treatment intensity. This visit takes longer than subsequent ones.
In each session that follows, you sit in a treatment chair while the coil is positioned against your scalp. You will hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on the scalp as pulses are delivered. You remain awake, you can talk with staff, and you leave and drive yourself home afterward. Sessions typically run 20 to 40 minutes depending on your protocol.
Before Your First Session
- Bring a complete list of current medications, including anything taken as needed.
- Tell your provider about any implanted metal or electronic devices, anywhere in the body, and about any history of seizures, head injury, or neurological condition.
- Remove metal jewelry, hair accessories, and hairpieces before the session.
- Eat and hydrate normally unless your provider advises otherwise.
- Plan for consistency — the acute course is frequent, and attendance affects the course of treatment.
After Each Session
- Return to normal activity immediately, including driving and work.
- Expect the possibility of mild, short-lived scalp discomfort or headache, most common in the first week and generally easing as treatment continues.
- Report anything that concerns you — particularly worsening mood, agitation, or any seizure-like event — to your provider promptly rather than waiting for the next visit.
- Keep taking prescribed medication unless your psychiatrist directs otherwise. TMS is often delivered alongside medication, not instead of it.
- Track how you feel week to week. Change is usually gradual enough that a simple log is more reliable than memory.
How Long Do Results Last?
For patients who respond, benefit often continues after the acute course ends, though duration varies considerably between individuals. Some patients maintain their response without further stimulation; others benefit from maintenance sessions or a repeat course if symptoms return.
 We do not promise a specific duration, because the honest answer depends on your history and course.
What TMS Therapy Is Best Paired With
TMS is rarely the whole plan. It is usually one component of psychiatric care, and it works best when the rest of the plan is deliberate.
- Psychotherapy: talk therapy addresses the patterns and circumstances that stimulation cannot. Many patients continue or begin therapy during a TMS course.
- Psychiatric consultations and medication management: ongoing psychiatric oversight, including any adjustment to medication before, during, or after the course.
- Exomind: another form of transcranial magnetic stimulation offered here, framed around mood, focus and cognitive wellness. Your psychiatrist can explain how the two differ and which is appropriate.
- Ketamine infusion therapy and esketamine treatment: other options for depression that has not responded to medication, sometimes discussed as alternatives to TMS and sometimes sequenced with it.
How TMS Compares to Other Options We Offer
Option | How it works | Downtime | Typical timeline | Usually considered for |
TMS therapy | Magnetic pulses to a targeted prefrontal region, delivered as a course | None | Gradual over a multi-week course | Depression that has not responded adequately to medication |
Exomind | Transcranial magnetic stimulation framed around mood, focus and cognitive wellness | None | Gradual over multiple sessions | Patients exploring non-medication support for mood and focus |
Ketamine infusion therapy | Controlled infusions acting on glutamate signalling | Minimal; monitored visit, no driving after | Often faster than a TMS course | Treatment-resistant depression, including where speed matters |
Esketamine | Intranasal esketamine given under supervision in-office | Monitored period after dosing; no driving after | Varies | Treatment-resistant depression, per its cleared indication |
Medication management | Prescribed medication adjusted over time | None | Weeks, depending on agent | First-line treatment and ongoing maintenance |
Psychotherapy | Structured talk therapy | None | Gradual, ongoing | Nearly all presentations, alone or alongside the above |
This table is a starting point for a conversation, not a ranking. Which option fits depends on your diagnosis, history, and preferences.
TMS Therapy at Our New York Location
Aesthetic + Mind MD also offers TMS therapy at our New York location. Patients who split time between the two areas sometimes continue a course across both sites; whether that is practical depends on protocol and scheduling, and is worth asking about directly.
Why Choose Aesthetic + Mind MD for TMS Therapy in Wellesley, MA and New York, NY
- Expert Leadership: Under the guidance of Dr. Tola T’Sarumi, a double board-certified Psychiatrist and addiction expert, treatments are carefully tailored for each patient. Her expertise ensures safe and effective care grounded in clinical research.
- Comprehensive Approach: We combine TMS therapy for depression and anxiety with holistic wellness strategies, addressing both neurological and emotional well-being. This integrative care model enhances long-term outcomes.
- Personalized Treatment Plans: Each program is customized to your mental health history, symptoms, and progress. We adjust protocols to deliver consistent and measurable improvements in mood and focus.
- Comfortable Environment: Our clinic offers a calm, supportive space designed for relaxation during each session. You’ll feel at ease knowing you’re receiving expert care in a compassionate setting.
- Proven Results: Patients report significant reductions in depressive and anxious symptoms, improved motivation, and a renewed sense of balance after completing TMS therapy.
Areas We Serve
Aesthetic + Mind MD provides TMS therapy at 332 Washington Street, Suite 360, Wellesley, MA 02481, serving patients from across MetroWest and Greater Boston:
- Wellesley Hills
- Waltham
- Needham
- Natick
- Framingham
- Weston
- Newton
- Dover
- Sherborn
- Brookline
- Boston
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TMS therapy work?
It helps many patients and does not help all of them. In studies of treatment-resistant depression a meaningful proportion of patients respond and a smaller proportion reach remission, but individual results vary and no one can promise an outcome in advance. Your psychiatrist can discuss what the evidence supports for a presentation like yours.
Is TMS therapy safe?
TMS has a well-characterized safety profile and is generally well tolerated, with headache and scalp discomfort the most common side effects. Seizure is a rare but recognized risk, which is why screening for seizure history and implanted devices happens before treatment. No treatment is risk-free, and your provider will review the specific risks that apply to you.
Will I need to stop my antidepressant?
Usually not. TMS is frequently delivered alongside medication. Any change to your prescriptions is a decision for your psychiatrist, not a prerequisite for treatment.
How long is each session, and can I drive afterward?
Typically 20 to 40 minutes depending on your protocol, and yes — no sedation is used, so patients drive themselves to and from appointments.
Is TMS covered by insurance?
This is the most common question patients ask before starting and should be answered plainly here.
What happens if TMS does not help me?
That is a real possibility and we plan for it. If you do not respond, your psychiatrist will discuss other directions — a different stimulation protocol, ketamine or esketamine, a medication change, or a combination. Not responding to one treatment does not mean you are out of options.
Talk to a Psychiatrist About TMS Therapy
If you have been managing depression without the relief you hoped for, a consultation is the place to start — it establishes whether TMS is appropriate for you before anything else is decided. Visit us at 332 Washington Street, Suite 360, Wellesley, MA 02481, call (617) 668-1239, or send a message online to schedule.
