Now accepting new patients
Now accepting new patients
You did everything right. You took the medication, you tried the next one, and the one after that, and the heaviness is still there. That does not mean you are broken or out of options. It has a name, treatment resistant depression, and TMS therapy for treatment resistant depression was built for exactly this moment.
83 percent
of people who complete a NeuroStar course see measurable improvement
reach remission with a full course
36 sessions
standard course, 5 days per week for about 6 to 7 weeks
19 to 37 minutes
per session, awake the whole time
No systemic side effects,
because nothing circulates in your bloodstream
Treatment resistant depression usually means two or more adequate antidepressant trials have not brought you relief. From the inside, it can feel like the treatments keep changing while the depression stays exactly the same.
Symptom domain
Persistent low mood
Lost interest
Fatigue
Concentration
Sleep changes
Hopelessness
Medication fatigue
Common impact on daily life
Sadness or emptiness that lingers no matter what you try
Things that used to matter feel flat, including people you love
Bone deep tiredness that sleep does not fix
Reading the same paragraph three times, forgetting why you walked in
Sleeping far too much, or lying awake at 3 in the morning
A quiet belief that this is just how things are now
Discouragement from trying drug after drug with little to show
When symptoms persist despite adequate medication trials, TMS becomes a medically appropriate next step rather than just another thing to try.
Oral antidepressants travel through your entire body to reach the brain, which is why the side effects can outweigh the benefits, and why they sometimes do not reach the right target strongly enough. TMS skips all of that. It places focused magnetic energy directly over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the mood regulating region that tends to be underactive in depression, and helps reactivate the circuits that connect it to deeper structures like the amygdala.
It works a bit like physical therapy for a weakened muscle. Each session is a repetition, and over a full course the circuit grows stronger and starts working on its own. No sedation, no anesthesia, nothing in your bloodstream, and you drive yourself home.
Learn more about TMS therapy
Plan for 5 days per week for about 6 to 7 weeks, 36 sessions in all, each one 19 to 37 minutes. With weekend appointments now available, keeping that daily rhythm is far more doable.
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 treatment resistant 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
It is major depressive disorder that has not responded to two or more antidepressants taken at the right dose for the right amount of time.
For many people who have already tried multiple medications, TMS offers a meaningful chance at relief that pills did not provide, because it targets the brain directly rather than working body wide.
Some people notice a brief dip around week 3 or 4. It is temporary and tends to pass, often followed by improvement.
Usually yes. TMS can be used alongside your existing treatment. Never change a prescription on your own, always with Dr. McGaugh.
Many people feel small changes by week 2 or 3, with the fullest benefit after the complete course.
If TMS is not the right fit, Dr. McGaugh can discuss other options, including Spravato esketamine, medication adjustments, or maintenance approaches.
Not always. Some plans require one for authorization. Our team checks this for you during your free benefits check
Most commercial plans, Medicare, and Tricare cover TMS for treatment resistant depression. We verify your benefits before you start.
Click here for a free NeuroStar TMS consultation
