TMS Therapy for Depression
What Is TMS?
When antidepressants help some people but not others, it's rarely a failure of effort or willpower. Depression is a brain-based condition, and for a meaningful number of people, medication simply doesn't move the needle enough — or the side effects make it hard to stay the course.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) offers a different path. Using gentle, targeted magnetic pulses, TMS stimulates the specific brain circuits involved in mood regulation — the same circuits that tend to be underactive in depression. It is FDA-cleared, well-studied, and delivered entirely in-office, without anesthesia, without systemic side effects, and without interrupting your daily routine.
At Austin Mind & Wellness, TMS is not a standalone offering. It is one part of a thoughtfully integrated approach to care — considered when it's clinically appropriate, explained in detail, and overseen personally by Dr. Mathews.
Who Is TMS For?
TMS may be a good fit if you:
Have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) or OCD
Have tried one or more antidepressants with limited benefit, or couldn't tolerate the side effects
Want a treatment option that does not involve systemic medication
Are looking for an evidence-based approach backed by decades of clinical research
During your consultation, Dr. Mathews will discuss whether TMS is appropriate given your specific history and presentation — not as a default, but as a considered clinical choice.
What TMS Is Not
It's worth being direct about what TMS does not do, because a lot of misinformation circulates about brain-based treatments.
TMS does not cause weight gain, sexual side effects, or memory loss. It is not ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) — there is no electricity, no seizure, and no general anesthesia involved. Most people tolerate it well, remain fully alert throughout each session, and return to normal activities immediately afterward.
The most common side effect is mild scalp discomfort or a light headache during the first few sessions, which typically resolves as treatment progresses.
What should I expect during TMS treatment?
A standard TMS course involves daily sessions, Monday through Friday, over approximately four to six weeks. Each session lasts around 5-30 minutes depending on the protocol used.
You'll sit in a reclined chair while a small coil is positioned against your scalp. You'll hear clicking sounds and feel a gentle tapping sensation. No sedation is needed. Most people read, listen to music, or simply rest during treatment.
Response typically builds gradually over the course of treatment, with many patients noticing meaningful improvement by weeks four through six. Some continue to improve in the weeks following the final session.
Does insurance cover TMS therapy?
TMS is covered by most major insurance plans when there is a documented history of prior antidepressant trials that have not produced adequate response. Dr. Mathews’s office will work with you to determine whether your history meets coverage criteria, and our team will assist with prior authorization. Currently, the practice is only in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and most Aetna plans.
For those without insurance coverage, self-pay options are available. We're transparent about cost from the outset — no surprises.
Why choose Austin Mind & Wellness for TMS therapy?
TMS has become big business. A growing number of clinics — many running TMS as their primary revenue model — push patients toward treatment without a thorough psychiatric evaluation or an honest conversation about whether it's the right fit. The economics drive the recommendation, not the clinical picture.
That's not how this practice works.
Austin Mind & Wellness is an independent private practice. Dr. Mathews brings Johns Hopkins Hospital and NIH-trained expertise to every new patient evaluation, and TMS is recommended here only when it genuinely makes clinical sense — not because it's the next item on a sales checklist.
When TMS is the right choice, we use the Magstim Horizon system — the same technology cited in over 16,000 published studies worldwide and used in hospitals, clinics, and research centers globally. The Magstim system delivers precise results with no pulse decay, ensuring the correct dosage is delivered consistently across every session. It is FDA-cleared for MDD, OCD, and anxious depression — and is currently the only TMS system cleared to treat MDD, anxious depression, OCD, and adolescent depression with a single treatment coil.
Your initial assessment and treatment planning are done personally by Dr. Mathews. Once mapping is complete and your course of TMS begins, sessions are administered by a trained technician — the same model used in academic medical centers. Dr. Mathews remains involved in monitoring your response and adjusting the plan throughout.
You'll always know who is responsible for your care, and why a given treatment was chosen.
Ready to find out if TMS is right for you?
Schedule a consultation with Austin Mind & Wellness to review your history and discuss whether TMS fits your situation. We serve patients in Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, and the surrounding Austin area.