What To Expect On Your First TMS Appointment

By Your Health Magazine

Thinking about any new treatment can feel like a huge step, especially when the name sounds so technical. If you’re feeling a little nervous or just plain curious, that makes perfect sense. We want to take a moment to pull back the curtain and tell you, in simple, human terms, what this journey is really like.

The most important thing to know is that your first TMS therapy session is all about you: your comfort, your questions, and your sense of safety. Think of this not as a cold medical procedure, but as a hopeful, supportive, and gentle first step toward feeling like yourself again.

So, What is TMS, Really?

Let’s break it down. “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation” is a way of saying we use gentle magnetic pulses to reawaken the parts of your brain that help regulate your mood.

Imagine the part of your brain that controls happiness and motivation is like a path in a garden that has become overgrown and isn’t used much anymore. TMS is like a gentle, helping hand that clears that path, allowing energy and communication to flow freely again. It’s a way of encouraging your brain to rebuild its own healthy connections, all without surgery or medication.

Each TMS therapy session is a simple outpatient visit, meaning you can come in, have your session, and then go right back to your day.

82% of patients who complete a full course of TMS therapy experience a meaningful improvement in their symptoms.

How TMS Helps with Major Depressive Depression

Living with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can feel like you’re carrying a heavy weight that no one else can see. It’s exhausting, and it can be incredibly discouraging when treatments like medication don’t provide the relief you need. The most important thing to know is that this is not a matter of willpower or control, it’s a matter of how the brain is communicating with itself.

Think of the parts of your brain that manage mood, motivation, and happiness as a team of close friends who are supposed to be in a constant, easy conversation. In a brain affected by depression, that conversation has become quiet and disconnected. Some of the “friends” have stopped talking to each other, leaving the others to carry the load all alone.

TMS is like a warm, gentle encouragement to get that conversation started again. The magnetic pulses are like little nudges, reminding those quiet brain cells how to talk to one another. It doesn’t force a new or artificial conversation. TMS simply helps your brain remember its own natural, healthy one.

As this communication is reawakened, session by session, the weight often begins to lift. This is why TMS is an FDA-cleared treatment for Major Depressive Disorder and has offered so much hope to those who felt they had run out of options.

The Initial Consultation

At Mindfully Fairfield, OH office, before your treatment begins, you’ll sit down and have a conversation with one of the care providers. This isn’t an interrogation. It’s just a quiet, unhurried chat to make sure the TMS treatment process is a safe fit for you.

This is your chance to share your story, ask all of your questions (no question is too small!), and for us to truly listen. This conversation is the foundation of your partnership, ensuring you feel seen, heard, and hopeful as we move forward together.

Preparing for the First Appointment

We want you to walk into your first TMS session feeling relaxed and prepared. The good news is, there isn’t much you need to do.

The most important thing is to be comfortable. Wear whatever makes you feel at ease. You’ll be resting in a comfy, reclining chair.
You can eat and take your medications as usual. Just bring a list of your current meds with you, so we can have a friendly chat about them.
We’ll handle the boring stuff. You’ll have some standard paperwork, but our team is here to walk you through it and answer any questions you have about insurance.
We’ll do a quick safety check. The treatment uses magnets, so we’ll just have a simple conversation about any metal implants you might have.

TMS Treatment Process

This is the part most people are curious about, and we promise, it’s much gentler than it sounds. Here’s what it’s like to have a TMS therapy session:

First, you’ll get settled in. We’ll get you comfortable in a relaxing chair and give you earplugs to soften the clicking sound the machine makes. You’ll be awake and alert the whole time.
We’ll find your perfect spot. During the first visit, we do something called “mapping.” It sounds technical, but it just means we find the precise location and energy level that is tailored perfectly for you. It’s how we make sure your treatment is both safe and incredibly effective.
The treatment will begin. You’ll feel a light tapping sensation on your scalp. Many people say it feels like a tiny woodpecker tapping, and it’s very tolerable.
It’s over before you know it. The sessions are surprisingly short, often just 20 to 30 minutes. Afterward, you can hop in your car and get right back to your day.

Monitoring Progress and Adjustments

This isn’t something you do alone. Think of us as your partners on this journey. We’ll check in with you regularly to see how you’re feeling and to celebrate your progress.

These simple check-ins during each TMS therapy session help us make sure we are on the right track and allow us to make any small adjustments needed. Showing up for your sessions is like giving your brain steady, gentle encouragement to build those new, healthy pathways.

Potential Side Effects

It’s important that we talk about this, because your comfort and safety are everything to us. The wonderful news is that TMS side effects are typically very mild and temporary.

The most common things people feel are a light headache or some tenderness on their scalp right after treatment. This usually only happens at the beginning and tends to go away as your body gets used to the sensation.

Serious side effects are extremely rare. Our initial conversation is designed to make sure this is a safe path for you. Please, always feel comfortable sharing any worries you have with us.

Taking the First Step with TMS

Your first tms therapy session is so much more than an appointment. It’s a powerful, hopeful step you are taking for yourself. It’s a chance to try a gentle, effective treatment that has helped so many people feel the weight of depression lift.

You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to take the first step.