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TMS · Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Depression treatment,
without medication.

FDA-cleared TMS therapy at our Pleasant Hill clinic — for adults with major depression or OCD who haven't responded to medication, or who can't tolerate antidepressant side effects.

Book an appointment Call (925) 825-1766

SMS appointment reminders are optional. You may opt in during booking — consent is not required to schedule or receive care. Msg & data rates may apply for opted-in numbers. Reply STOP to opt out anytime. See our SMS Consent & Terms.

A calm, considered consultation room at the UMG Pleasant Hill clinic
Universal Medical GroupPsychiatry · Est. 2008
2008
FDA-cleared for depression
30–36
Sessions over 6–8 weeks
~20
Minutes per session
50–60%
Respond meaningfully
0
Anesthesia & recovery time
FDA-cleared for depression & OCD
Now accepting new patients
Aetna · BCBS · Cigna · United & most insurance
(925) 825-1766
TMS for major depression

Drug-free, non-invasive depression treatment.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive areas of the brain associated with mood regulation.

It is FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder, OCD, and several other conditions — and unlike medication, it has no systemic side effects: no weight gain, no sexual dysfunction, no GI issues. TMS is typically a course of 30–36 sessions, five days a week for 6–8 weeks. Each session is about 19–37 minutes depending on the protocol. You are awake, alert, and can drive yourself home immediately after.

Universal Medical Group offers TMS at our Pleasant Hill clinic. If antidepressants haven't worked, or you can't tolerate the side effects, TMS is often the next step before considering Spravato.

Quick facts

  • FDA cleared2008, for depression
  • TypeNon-invasive, non-systemic
  • Sessions30–36 over 6–8 weeks
  • Per sessionRoughly 20–37 minutes
  • AnesthesiaNone — fully awake
  • Drive home?Yes, immediately
  • InsuranceMost major plans
How it works

A pulse to the part of the brain that needs it.

TMS never enters the bloodstream — which is why it carries none of medication's systemic side effects. Instead, a magnetic coil rests lightly against the scalp and delivers brief, focused pulses.

Those pulses reach the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex — a region that tends to be underactive in depression. Repeated over a course of sessions, the stimulation is thought to gradually restore healthy activity across the brain's mood-regulating network.

Who TMS is for

Eligibility & indications.

TMS is most often used when medication hasn't been enough — or hasn't been tolerable. We screen every candidate thoroughly before starting.

01

Major depressive disorder

Adult MDD with inadequate response to at least one prior antidepressant trial at adequate dose and duration.

Primary indication
02

OCD

FDA-cleared deep TMS protocols for adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

FDA-cleared
03

Anxious depression

Major depression with prominent anxiety features — often the patients who do best with TMS.

Strong response
04

Medication intolerance

Patients who can't tolerate antidepressant side effects — weight gain, sexual dysfunction, fatigue — often do well with TMS.

Side-effect-free
  • Not a candidateTMS is contraindicated in patients with non-removable ferromagnetic metal in or near the head — for example aneurysm clips or cochlear implants. A history of seizure or significantly elevated seizure risk requires careful evaluation. We screen all candidates thoroughly before starting.
What to expect

Your TMS course.

A predictable, step-by-step path — from the first evaluation through response tracking and, where helpful, maintenance.

01

Evaluation & mapping

The first visit (about 90 minutes) reviews history, prior treatments, and confirms TMS is the right step. We then perform a "motor threshold" — calibrating the TMS device to your specific brain anatomy.

First visit
02

Insurance authorization

We submit prior authorization. Most insurance covers TMS for MDD if you have tried at least one — sometimes two — antidepressants without adequate response.

Prior auth
03

Daily sessions, five times a week

You come to our Pleasant Hill clinic each weekday for about 20–37 minutes. You sit in a comfortable chair, the device is positioned over your scalp, and the session begins. You can read, listen to music, or chat. No anesthesia, no recovery time.

6–8 weeks
04

Response tracking

We measure mood weekly using validated scales such as the PHQ-9. Most patients begin to feel meaningful improvement around weeks 3–4.

Measured care
05

Maintenance or re-treatment

Many patients have lasting benefit after a single course. Some benefit from periodic maintenance sessions, or a re-treatment course later if symptoms return.

Long-term plan
Side effects & safety

What to expect during & after.

TMS has one of the cleanest side-effect profiles of any depression treatment. There is no impact on memory, cognition, or alertness.

  • Common & mildMild scalp discomfort or a tapping sensation during the session, a transient headache afterward — usually responsive to over-the-counter medication — and facial twitching during stimulation. Side effects typically fade after the first one to two weeks of treatment.
  • Rare but seriousSeizure — estimated risk under 0.1% per course, and lower with proper screening. We screen for seizure risk factors before starting.
  • No memory effectUnlike ECT, TMS does not require anesthesia, does not cause seizures by design, and has no effect on memory or cognition.
TMS at UMG Pleasant Hill

A comfortable, predictable daily visit.

All TMS treatments are administered at 91 Gregory Lane, Suite 20, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 — Contra Costa County. Patients commute from across the East Bay — Walnut Creek, Concord, Lafayette, Orinda, Martinez — and our schedule accommodates early-morning and end-of-day slots, so most people don't need to take time off work.

Book a TMS consult

Where care is offered

TMS in Pleasant Hill — psychiatry statewide.

TMS is delivered in person at our Pleasant Hill clinic. Evaluation, medication review, and follow-up psychiatric care are available across all four California clinics and by TelePsychiatry statewide.

Pleasant Hill

91 Gregory Lane, Suite 20
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 · Contra Costa County

TMS · Spravato® · full services Locations & directions

TelePsychiatry

Secure video psychiatry from home
All 58 California counties

Evaluation · medication management Explore TelePsychiatry
Frequently asked

TMS FAQ.

No. You'll feel a tapping sensation on your scalp during stimulation. It can be mildly uncomfortable in the first few sessions, but most patients adjust quickly.
TMS does not require anesthesia, does not cause seizures, has no memory side effects, and you drive yourself to and from sessions. ECT is a separate, more intensive treatment used for severe cases.
Most responders notice improvement around weeks 3–4. Roughly 50–60% of patients with treatment-resistant depression respond meaningfully, with about a third achieving full remission.
Usually yes. We typically continue your current medication during the TMS course unless there's a specific reason to change it.
Most major commercial insurance plans cover TMS for treatment-resistant MDD. We handle prior authorization. Coverage criteria vary by plan; we verify your specific benefits up front.
Begin

If medication hasn't worked, there is another way.

Universal Medical Group offers FDA-cleared TMS therapy at our Pleasant Hill clinic for adults with treatment-resistant depression and OCD.

Book an appointment Call (925) 825-1766

SMS appointment reminders are optional. You may opt in during booking — consent is not required to schedule or receive care. Msg & data rates may apply for opted-in numbers. Reply STOP to opt out anytime. See our SMS Consent & Terms.