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We Provide TMS Therapy in Hoffman Estates IL

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA approved treatment for conditions such as depression, some migraine headaches and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Research is still needed to confirm if it has long-term benefits for Bipolar Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

What is TMS?

TMS stands for “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation” and is also known as “repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation” or “rTMS treatment”.

A machine is used to stimulate a specific part of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex which has been found to be involved in depression and which affects our moods.

The rTMS machine generates a magnetic field that has a similar strength to that used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The magnetic pulses wake up the nerve cells in this specific part of your brain.

There is also another type of TMS called Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS)”. It has mainly been used for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). However, we do not currently provide this service. But some people have found that rTMS is also effective for OCD.

Over 5.6 million treatments performed in over 156,000 patients

Group therapy

A safe, effective depression treatment

The NeuroStar TMS treatment doesn’t produce side effects like medication does.1,9

Most insurance providers now offer coverage for NeuroStar TMS treatment.

A non-invasive treatment available at our Hoffman Estates office that reawakens the connections in your brain.

How long does the TMS therapy take
and what does it feel like?

As mentioned above, this is a repetitive treatment. You can’t just get a large dose of it and be finished. You have to have it five times a week over a period of 4 to 6 weeks to see the real effects.

Each session takes 30 t0 40 minutes to complete and must be done at our TMS clinic in Hoffman Estates.

You may feel a tapping sensation on your scalp as the magnetic field switches on an off creating the pulses and hear a loud, clicking noise. Some people find it can give them a bit of a mild headache until they get used to it. Generally this can be alleviated with normal headache tablets you can get at your pharmacist.

The first time you have it you may feel a slight tingling or twitching in the muscles of your face. However, you should tell the doctor or technician if it feels painful, because we can adjust the strength of the magnetic pulses to make it less painful.

The first time you have it you may feel a little lightheaded or dizzy either during the session or right after it. This dizziness typically subsides quickly after the session and is less noticeable with each treatment.

What happens the first time you have the TMS therapy?

The first thing you need to do is to remove anything you might be wearing or have in your pockets that may interfere with the magnet. For example, metal jewelry and credit cards. We will then give you some earplugs to wear as the rTMS machine makes a loud clicking noise. It is about as loud as an MRI scan. Then you will be able to lie back and relax in our comfy chair.

During your first session, we use the TMS machine to stimulate your motor cortex – the part of the brain that controls your movements. This will cause some muscle twitching. This allows us to determine what setting of the TMS machine will be best for you.

Then we move the machine to stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex – the part of your brain that controls your moods. This is the part we will focus on during all of your TMS therapy sessions.

Your first session will generally take around an hour.

NeuroStar TMS treatment image

Are there any reasons why I might not be able to have TMS?

If you have metal braces or metal dental fillings you can have TMS. But you can’t have TMS if you have:

  • Tattoos on your scalp or face that have been done with metallic ink
  • Aneurysm clips or coils
  • Bullet fragments in your neck or head
  • Neck or brain stents
  • Deep brain stimulators
  • Electrodes.

Note: Please let us know if you have a medical condition that puts you at an especially high risk for seizures as rTMS may not be recommended for you.

Any there any side effects?

Although rTMS is considered a safe and effective procedure with few long-term side-effects, there are still some possible side-effects that you should keep an eye out for. These include temporary hearing loss even after wearing earplugs and for people with bi-polar disorder some can have a manic episode. But probably the most serious possible risk is that of seizures. It is rare, but it can happen due to rTMS. It is important to tell your doctor if this occurs or if you have experienced seizures in the past.

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Any questions?

Contact us using this special contact page to ask any questions regarding TMS.


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    Note: If you wish to make an appointment at the Grinnell or Williamsburg Iowa offices, please complete the contact form via Ardent's MidWest Counseling website.

    Get In Touch…

    Ardent provides counselors near me in IL, IA, NE and IA. If you have insurance, most of the cost of your session may be covered by your insurance. If you don’t have insurance, we provide a sliding scale of fees depending on which therapist you see and your financial situation. We provide face to face counseling if you live in Chicagoland and counseling anywhere via online counseling.

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    Note: If you wish to make an appointment at the Grinnell or Williamsburg Iowa offices, please complete the contact form via Ardent’s MidWest Counseling website. Or call 6412361644 for the Grinnell office or 3196681217 for the Williamsburg office. Note: If you would like to arrange for phone or video sessions or for an intensive retreat, please use this special contact form. It also contains some pricing details.

    Call: (888) 870-1775

    Fax: (847) 349-1619

    Mailing Address:

    2500 West Higgins Road, Suite 105, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60169-7220