Now accepting new patients
Now accepting new patients
Depression is not a bad week. It is the color draining out of things you used to love, a tiredness that sleep cannot reach, and the quiet sense that effort is pointless. If medication has not lifted it, TMS therapy for depression offers a different way forward, one that works directly on the brain rather than your whole body.
FDA cleared since 2008
for major depressive disorder
83 percent
of people who complete a NeuroStar course see measurable improvement
About 62 percent
reach remission with a full course
36 sessions,
19 to 37 minutes each, 5 days per week for about 6 to 7 weeks
No systemic side effects,
nothing circulates in your bloodstream
Major depressive disorder is more than feeling down. It changes how you sleep, eat, think, and move through the day.
Symptom domain
Low mood
Loss of interest
Energy
Sleep
Appetite
Focus
Self worth
Hopelessness
Common impact on daily life
Sadness or emptiness most of the day, most days
Hobbies, food, and people stop bringing pleasure
Simple tasks feel like climbing a hill
Sleeping too much or far too little
Eating much more or much less than usual
Trouble concentrating or making small decisions
Harsh self criticism and guilt that does not fit the facts
A sense that nothing will change
When these symptoms persist despite adequate medication trials, TMS becomes a medically appropriate next step.
In depression, the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a key mood regulating region, is often underactive. Antidepressants try to reach it by traveling through the entire body, which is why side effects are common. TMS sends focused magnetic pulses straight to that region, gently reactivating it and the circuits it controls, including the amygdala.
It is like physical therapy for a weakened part of the brain. Each session strengthens the circuit a little more. No sedation, no anesthesia, nothing in your bloodstream, and you drive yourself home.
Learn more about TMS therapy
A standard course is 36 sessions, 5 days per week, over roughly 6 to 7 weeks, each 19 to 37 minutes. Weekend appointments make the daily rhythm easier to keep.
Step 1
Reach out by phone at (501) 794.6037 or request a consultation online. We answer the simple questions first, including what your insurance covers, at no cost to you.
Step 2
Dr. Janette McGaugh reviews your history, your past treatments, and your goals to confirm that TMS is a medically appropriate next step for you.
Step 3
On your first treatment visit we find the precise spot on your head and set the right dose for you. This mapping visit takes about 1.5 hours.
Step 4
You recline in the chair, feel a gentle tapping, wear earplugs for the clicking sound, and stay awake. Read, listen to music, or just rest. Sessions run 19 to 37 minutes, 5 days per week, for about 6 to 7 weeks.
Step 5
There is no sedation and no downtime, so you drive yourself home and return to normal life immediately.
About the TMS dip: some people feel a little worse around week 3 or 4. It is temporary. It passes, and it is often a sign that change is underway.
Maintenance sessions: after your acute course, some people benefit from occasional weekly or monthly follow up sessions to protect their progress.
Start your free consultation
Feature
How it works
Invasiveness
Common side effects
Works when meds fail
Treatment time
Recovery time
Insurance coverage
TMS
Magnetic pulses target a specific mood circuit
Noninvasive
Mild scalp discomfort that fades
Yes, this is its main use
19 to 37 minutes per session
None, drive yourself home
Widely covered for resistant depression
SSRIs and SNRIs
Medication changes brain chemistry body wide
Oral medication
Weight, sleep, sexual, and energy effects
Often the thing that already failed
Daily pill
None
Widely covered
CBT
Talk therapy reshapes thoughts and behavior
Noninvasive
None physical
Sometimes, varies by person
Weekly sessions
None
Often covered
ECT
Electrical current induces a brief seizure
Requires anesthesia
Memory effects, recovery time
Yes, but more intensive
Multiple sessions with recovery
Needs recovery after each session
Covered, used for severe cases
See if TMS is right for you
Dr. McGaugh was great. Their office is warm and inviting. They don’t make you feel like a “patient” and they will sit and listen to you. My first visit I was so broken…crying…down and uninterested…I was giving up…but the treatments took affect by week 2…they have helped me to back to me that’s been gone for years from dealing with life and tragedies…I can’t thank them enough🩷
Highly recommend Dr. McGaugh! Very knowledgeable, understanding, and reliable. I love working with a smaller practice because you feel more like family rather than just another patient. Also highly recommend her TMS treatment, as someone who has suffered anxiety most of my life but not a big fan of antidepressants and their side effects, TMS has worked wonders!!
Absolutely love Dr. McGaugh and her lovely office staff. Super kind, understanding, and always ready to try something different or make adjustments to find the right fit. If I could leave more stars I would! If you are in Arkansas looking for a psychiatrist look no further! Helpful and up to date on recent research and methods. Thank you Best Life Psychiatry for helping me live my best life!
I suffer from depression and anxiety and the TMS treatment has been working wonders for me.
My mind is not foggy and I can sleep better.
It’s a cozy little clinic and Doctor McGaugh knows what she’s doing.
I’m looking forward to continuing with the treatment!
Coverage for TMS has expanded a great deal. Most commercial insurers and Medicare cover TMS for treatment resistant major depressive disorder, and depression is generally covered when it is documented under that umbrella. NeuroStar reports that more than 300 million people have insurance plans that include TMS coverage.
Our team handles the prior authorization paperwork and verifies your benefits for you before you begin, so there are no surprises.
Get a free benefits check today
Adults with major depressive disorder, especially those who have not found enough relief from one or more antidepressants. NeuroStar is also cleared for teens ages 15 to 21 as an add on treatment.
No. TMS uses gentle magnetic pulses, with no electricity through the body, no sedation, and no memory loss.
Most people feel a tapping sensation. The most common side effect is mild discomfort at the treatment site that usually fades within the first week.
Usually yes. TMS can be combined with your current treatment. Only change a prescription with Dr. McGaugh.
Many people notice change by week 2 or 3, with the fullest benefit after the complete course.
A short period around week 3 or 4 when some people feel briefly worse. It is temporary and tends to pass.
Not always. We confirm your plan’s requirements during your free benefits check.
Most commercial plans, Medicare, and Tricare cover TMS for depression. We verify benefits before you start.
Click here for a free NeuroStar TMS consultation
