- St. James TMS & Psychiatry
914-200-4368
914-200-4368
You’ve probably been on at least one antidepressant. Maybe more than one. Some helped a little, some didn’t help at all, and the depression hasn’t fully lifted. If you’re at the point where you want something that works differently, TMS is worth understanding.
TMS therapy for depression is available in White Plains, New York at St. James TMS & Psychiatry, for adults whose depression has not responded adequately to medication. Treatment is FDA-approved, non-surgical, and drug-free, delivered in person at the White Plains office by a psychiatric nurse practitioner with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and over 12 years of experience across psychiatry and primary care. Insurance is accepted through Headway, where benefits can be verified before your first visit.
TMS uses brief magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. Because it targets brain activity directly rather than working through the body’s chemistry, it produces a different effect than antidepressants and carries fewer systemic side effects.
Each session runs approximately 20 minutes. You sit in a treatment chair, remain fully awake, and the device is positioned near the area of the brain being treated. There is no anesthesia, no surgery, and no recovery time afterward.
TMS is an FDA-approved, drug-free treatment, and TMS therapy at this practice is delivered in person at the White Plains office with ongoing monitoring and adjustments throughout each course of treatment.
TMS is most commonly used for adults with depression that hasn’t responded well to antidepressants. If you’ve tried one or more medications and found they didn’t work, or that the side effects made them hard to stay on, TMS offers a clinically distinct alternative.
For people in White Plains who have tried multiple antidepressants without lasting relief, treatment-resistant depression options covers what’s available when standard medication approaches haven’t been enough.
TMS sits within a broader category of non-medication depression treatment that is particularly relevant for adults who want to avoid or reduce reliance on antidepressants.
Sessions take place in person at the White Plains office, located at 180 S Broadway, Suite 207. You arrive, settle into the treatment chair, and the device is positioned near your head. The session lasts about 20 minutes, after which you can return to your normal day.
Safety checks are conducted before each session. Stimulation levels are monitored and adjusted over the course of treatment based on how you’re responding. Communication happens throughout each session so nothing goes unaddressed.
TMS treatment plans here are shaped by more than a standard protocol, and my background and clinical approach reflects over 12 years working across psychiatry, primary care, and alternative medicine, which informs how I tailor each course of treatment.
TMS billing is managed through Headway when applicable. Before your first visit, you can log into Headway to verify your insurance benefits and confirm what your plan covers, so there are no surprises when you arrive.
Adults in White Plains who’ve been told antidepressants are their only option can schedule a consultation through my Headway portal, where insurance benefits can also be verified before the first visit.
Does TMS actually work, or is it just something doctors suggest when nothing else has?
Yes, TMS is FDA-approved for depression and has a meaningful record of clinical use. It works by stimulating brain activity in areas associated with mood regulation, which is a different mechanism from antidepressants entirely. Some people use it after medication hasn’t worked. Others choose it earlier because they want to avoid the side effects that come with medication.
Is TMS painful?
Most people describe a tapping or clicking sensation on the scalp during treatment. The first few sessions can feel mildly uncomfortable while the settings are being calibrated, but serious pain is uncommon. Stimulation levels are adjusted throughout to keep you as comfortable as possible.
How long does TMS take before I notice a difference?
Some people notice changes within a few weeks of starting treatment. Others take longer. A full course of TMS spans several weeks of regular sessions, and I’ll give you a realistic sense of timeline during your consultation based on your specific situation.
Do I have to stop my antidepressants to do TMS?
Not necessarily. TMS can often be used alongside existing medication. Whether that applies to your situation depends on your full clinical picture, which is why the consultation happens before treatment begins.
If antidepressants haven’t given you the relief you were hoping for, that’s not the end of what’s available to you.
Adults in White Plains who’ve been told antidepressants are their only option can schedule a consultation through my Headway portal, where insurance benefits can also be verified before the first visit.