Antidepressants don’t work for everyone. For roughly 1 in 3 people with major depressive disorder, two or more medications have failed to bring meaningful relief. That is not a failure of willpower. That is biology, and there is a clinically proven path forward.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved, non-invasive therapy that targets the specific brain regions involved in mood regulation. No sedation. No systemic drugs. No recovery time. Patients finish a session and drive themselves home.
Seniors living with decades of treatment-resistant depression. Adults who have cycled through four medications with no real results. Teens whose parents want a drug-free option. All of them are asking the same question: Is there something else?
TMS therapy is something else.
At Iris TMS Wellness in Woodland Hills, CA, every TMS treatment plan is overseen by Dr. Elena Kapustina, PsyD, a specialist with deep clinical training in TMS, neurofeedback, and mental health care across the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles County.
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TMS therapy is a brain stimulation treatment that uses magnetic pulses to activate underactive nerve cells in the mood-regulating region of the brain. It is FDA-approved, drug-free, and does not require surgery or anesthesia.
In people with depression and related conditions, a specific region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex becomes measurably less active. Think of it as a dimmer switch that has been turned too low. TMS delivers focused magnetic pulses to that region, turning the activity back up over a full course of treatment.
TMS does not require surgery, anesthesia, or medication entering your bloodstream. The magnetic pulses are similar in strength to those produced by an MRI machine. The FDA cleared TMS for major depressive disorder in 2008. Since then, millions of treatments have been administered across the United States.
It works when other treatments have not. That is the single most important fact about TMS therapy.
A magnetic coil is placed against the scalp, directly over the left prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain most associated with mood and emotional regulation. The coil delivers focused pulses at a precise frequency. Those pulses pass through the skull painlessly and stimulate neurons in the target area.
Over a full course of treatment, this repeated stimulation builds new neural activity patterns. The brain responds to consistent, targeted stimulation by forming new connections. Scientists call this “neuroplasticity,” the brain’s ability to change and rewire itself. This is why TMS produces lasting results rather than just short-term symptom relief.
TMS is not electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT requires general anesthesia and intentionally triggers a controlled seizure. TMS does not. There is no seizure, no anesthesia, and no memory loss associated with properly administered TMS therapy.
TMS is also not a medication. It does not enter your bloodstream. It does not affect your liver, kidneys, or digestive system. Patients who cannot tolerate antidepressants because of weight gain, sexual side effects, or other medical complications are often ideal TMS candidates for exactly this reason.
Every TMS treatment plan is overseen by Dr. Elena Kapustina, PsyD, not handed off to unsupervised technicians.
The FDA cleared TMS for major depressive disorder in 2008. Millions of treatments have been administered across the United States. This is not experimental, it is proven.
TMS works by delivering precise magnetic pulses to the brain during a series of outpatient sessions. Each session takes under 40 minutes. You are awake the entire time.
Your first TMS appointment is longer than a standard session, typically 45 to 60 minutes. The clinical team uses this appointment to identify your motor threshold: the exact magnetic pulse strength that produces a visible response in your hand muscles. This number is individual to every patient. It ensures every subsequent session delivers the correct dose to the correct location in your brain.
This calibration step is what separates careful TMS care from a rushed protocol. At Iris TMS Wellness, Dr. Kapustina oversees this mapping process personally before any treatment begins.
You sit in a reclined chair. A magnetic coil is positioned against your scalp. The device delivers a series of rapid pulses. You will hear a clicking sound and feel a light tapping sensation on your scalp. Most patients describe it as mild and fully manageable.
You are awake and alert the entire time. You can listen to music, talk with your technician, or simply rest. No sedation is needed. The session ends and you leave. You can drive, return to work, and carry on with your normal daily activities without any restrictions.
A standard TMS course is 36 sessions. Sessions are typically delivered 5 days per week over 6 to 7 weeks. Each session runs between 19 and 37 minutes depending on the protocol used. Some patients also complete a 6-session taper period after the main course to consolidate their progress.
Accelerated TMS protocols, including theta burst stimulation (TBS), can shorten this timeline significantly. Some patients complete a full course in 5 days. Dr. Kapustina will discuss which protocol fits your clinical picture and schedule during your initial consultation.
Theta burst stimulation (TBS) can compress a full TMS course into as few as 5 days. Ask Dr. Kapustina if an accelerated protocol is right for your schedule and clinical picture.
TMS therapy is FDA-approved for major depressive disorder and OCD. It is also used for anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, and other conditions. Insurance coverage depends on the condition and your specific plan.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the primary FDA-cleared indication for TMS therapy. It is especially effective for patients who have tried one or more antidepressants without adequate response. Clinical data shows response rates above 58% and remission rates near 37% in treatment-resistant populations. Those are outcomes that adding another antidepressant rarely achieves in this group.
TMS therapy is used for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety. Protocols targeting the right side of the prefrontal cortex show meaningful symptom reduction in published studies. Many patients also experience significant anxiety relief as a secondary benefit during depression treatment. For patients whose primary diagnosis is anxiety, targeted TMS protocols are available.
Treatment resistant depression (TRD) is formally defined as depression that has not responded to at least two adequate antidepressant trials. TMS was specifically studied and cleared for this population. If you have been told your depression is hard to treat or that you have tried everything, TMS therapy may be the clinical path you have not yet taken.
The FDA cleared deep TMS (dTMS) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in 2018. Clinical studies also support TMS use for PTSD, chronic pain, migraines, and smoking cessation. These applications use protocols beyond the standard depression indication. so insurance coverage varies by carrier. Dr. Kapustina will review clinical evidence and coverage options with you during your evaluation.
Medicare covers TMS therapy for beneficiaries with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Many seniors in the San Fernando Valley and across Los Angeles County have lived with depression for decades, cycling through medications that never fully worked or caused side effects they could not tolerate. TMS offers a drug-free path to real, lasting relief, and Medicare pays for it.
Iris TMS Wellness has a dedicated intake process for Medicare patients, including full prior authorization support and free benefits verification.
TMS therapy is clinically effective. Published data from large multicenter trials is consistent across thousands of patients.
of patients show meaningful clinical response, meaning significant symptom reduction
achieve full remission, meaning they no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for depression
of responders maintain their improvement at the 12-month mark
Across published clinical studies:
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) includes TMS in its clinical practice guidelines for major depressive disorder. The FDA cleared TMS for depression in 2008 because the evidence met their approval threshold. This is not an experimental treatment. It is a proven one.
Verify your insurance coverage for TMS today, at no cost to you.
Studies tracking patients at 12 months after completing TMS show that 60 to 70% of responders maintain their improvement. Many patients schedule one or two maintenance sessions per year to preserve those gains long-term, similar to how some patients manage seasonal depression.
Factors that support lasting results include completing the full treatment course, addressing lifestyle factors alongside TMS, and working with a clinical team that monitors your response throughout treatment. That is exactly how Dr. Kapustina structures care at Iris TMS Wellness.
The APA includes TMS in its clinical practice guidelines. FDA clearance came in 2008 after the evidence met their approval threshold.
This is not experimental. It is proven.
Many patients schedule one or two maintenance sessions per year to preserve their long-term gains, similar to how some patients manage seasonal depression.
TMS therapy is right for adults who have not found adequate relief from antidepressants, who cannot tolerate their side effects, or who want a drug-free treatment path.
TMS is appropriate for adults who meet one or more of the following criteria:
TMS therapy is not appropriate for all patients. Contraindications include the following:
A clinical evaluation with Dr. Kapustina will confirm whether TMS is safe and appropriate for your specific medical history. This evaluation happens before any treatment begins.
TMS therapy has a much milder side effect profile than most antidepressant medications. No memory loss. No weight changes. No sexual side effects.
Mild, localized to the treatment site. Typically fades within the first week as the patient gets used to the sensation.
The rhythmic pulse feeling is not painful for most patients. A small number find it uncomfortable during the first few sessions. It becomes routine quickly.
Occasionally reported. Patients are advised to sit for a minute before standing.
The risk of seizure is estimated at less than 1 in 10,000 sessions when proper screening and protocols are followed. There are no systemic effects because TMS does not enter the bloodstream.
TMS therapy does not cause memory loss, cognitive slowing, or the sedation that patients sometimes experience with ECT or certain antidepressants.
Yes. For most patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, insurance covers TMS therapy. Prior authorization is required in most cases, and our team handles that process for you at no cost.
Medicare Part B covers TMS therapy as an outpatient procedure. For seniors with treatment-resistant depression who have not responded adequately to antidepressant medication, TMS is a covered, proven option. This is one of the least-known mental health benefits available to Medicare recipients, and Iris TMS Wellness prioritizes making it accessible to patients across Woodland Hills and the San Fernando Valley.
Our team verifies your insurance benefits at no cost to you before you commit to anything. Same-day response in most cases.
Not all TMS programs are the same. The quality of your clinical team, the precision of the mapping process, and the consistency of how sessions are delivered all shape your outcome.
At Iris TMS Wellness, every patient’s care is overseen by Dr. Elena Kapustina, PsyD, not handed off to unsupervised technicians. Dr. Kapustina brings specialized clinical training in TMS, neurofeedback, and the treatment of complex, treatment-resistant cases across the San Fernando Valley. Her approach is built around your history, your biology, and your specific goals.
Your calibration measurement is taken carefully before any treatment begins. We do not use generalized settings applied to every patient.
Dr. Kapustina reviews your progress at regular check-ins during treatment and adjusts the plan when your response indicates a change is needed.
For patients whose presentations include emotional dysregulation, attention challenges, or trauma history, neurofeedback can be added to the treatment plan as a separate, drug-free therapy alongside TMS.
Our intake was built around the needs of Medicare patients. Senior-friendly scheduling, full benefits verification support, and coordination with your primary physician when appropriate.
Iris TMS Wellness is located at 20300 Ventura Blvd, Suite 275, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. We serve patients from across the western San Fernando Valley and surrounding Los Angeles County communities.
TMS therapy and neurofeedback services are available to patients traveling from:
Free parking in the building lot. Sessions are 20–40 minutes. Easy to fit a session into a mid-day break or morning routine.
No. Most patients describe a light tapping sensation on the scalp during sessions. Some experience mild scalp sensitivity or a dull headache in the first week. Both typically fade as the course continues.
A standard course is 36 sessions over 6 to 7 weeks, typically 5 days per week. Accelerated protocols can shorten this timeline. Your exact session count is determined during your clinical evaluation with Dr. Kapustina.
Yes. TMS does not require sedation. You are fully alert after each treatment and can drive, return to work, or carry on with any normal activity right away.
For many patients, yes. TMS was specifically studied in patients who had already failed antidepressant trials. Response rates in that group exceed 58% in published clinical data from FDA trials.
Yes. Medicare Part B covers TMS for beneficiaries diagnosed with major depressive disorder who have not had an adequate response to antidepressant medication. Our intake team handles prior authorization at no cost.
Studies show 60 to 70% of responders maintain their improvement at the 12-month mark. Many patients schedule one or two maintenance sessions per year to preserve gains over time.
Depression that has not responded to medication is not the end of the road. TMS therapy has helped thousands of patients find real relief when nothing else worked, including seniors on Medicare, adults with complex treatment histories, and people who had nearly stopped believing they could feel better.
Iris TMS Wellness is in Woodland Hills, CA. Dr. Elena Kapustina and her team are ready to answer your questions, verify your benefits, and walk you through whether TMS therapy fits your situation.
No commitment required. Free, same-day response.