TMS Therapy in Santa Monica

The Real Success Rate of TMS Therapy

TMS improves the symptoms of depression between 60-80% of the time, depending on the condition treated and protocol used. Research has found that multiple protocols–instead of just one–result in increased response rates to TMS and a higher likelihood for real remission. At
Bespoke Treatment, our independent research has found that we are able to at least markedly reduce particular symptoms 92.5% of the time. Our patients have described the feeling as if “the weight of an elephant has disappeared from [their] chest.” Many patients will remark that events that would otherwise be stressful just don’t feel as stressful anymore after doing TMS in our Santa Monica office. Almost all of our patients experience complete normalization of sleep and a newfound sense of energy.

TMS Therapy Reviews in Santa Monica

While the TMS treatment itself is really revolutionary and scientifically backed, all the research
and technology in the world can’t recreate what makes this place so special. For me that was
the people. I was in a really dark place when I first came into TMS & Brain Health, and the
people who work here played a pivotal role in helping me out of that dark place. Everyone that
works here is so warm, genuine, professional and effective at what they do. – M. M.

Sometimes when life is most difficult and everything can seem impossible… there comes a
place like Bespoke Treatment which gave me both hope and feeling like life can really be
awesome and get better and better. The whole team and their customized TMS program for me
focused on both my chronic pain and depression and was without a doubt a life changing
experience. I’m grateful for all their help and giving me positive possibilities for my future.
THANK YOU all for everything! I highly recommend this treatment and this team to give you a
phenomenal opportunity at having life feel like it’s all truly going to be ok! 🙂 – S. S.

Thank you all for everything! This treatment has been transformative for me, I have gained a lot more hope for the future, and feel more equipped to make important changes in my life. I’ve gotten comments from my mom and boyfriend that my behavior and attitude is different, and I’ve noticed positive changes as well. My technician has been great and compassionate, and everyone in the office was always kind and accommodating. I genuinely got so much out of my follow-ups with Dr. Moussai, more than with my therapist of 8 months. – A. T.

Personalized TMS at Bespoke Treatment

Everyone has slightly different symptoms and physiology. We have mastered the art of fine- tuning individual TMS treatment protocols to increase effectiveness. Based on your results, we’ll tweak your individualized TMS therapy protocol every visit. That can mean changing the
duration of treatment, the frequency of stimulation, the number of sessions, and/or the placement on the head to target different brain areas. These parameters matter a lot when it comes to TMS, but yet they are ignored by most providers. There is no “one size fits all” approach to mental health treatment, and TMS is certainly no exception. Personalization is part of the reason why LA Weekly called Bespoke Treatment the future of mental healthcare. Our Santa Monica office offers the following types of personalized TMS therapy:

Theta Burst Stimulation

In the past, a single TMS session took up to 37.5 minutes. With 5 weekly sessions, you’d be spending over 3 hours a week in treatment—not including parking. Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS) uses a patterned frequency which mimics the natural rhythms of the brain that occur
during neuroplasticity (aka learning). With TBS, your brain learns 10 times faster than with conventional TMS and your sessions only last 3 minutes.

fMRI Guided TMS

fMRI Guided TMS works by combining TMS treatment with functional neuroimaging (fMRI) and advanced brain mapping technology. The latest science suggests that when people do not respond to TMS, it is because an incorrect part of the brain was treated. With fMRI Guided TMS, your psychiatrist can accurately pinpoint specific dysfunctional areas of the brain involved in mood with surgical precision, ensuring that the right part of the brain will always be treated. The result is extraordinarily precise, truly individualized TMS placements for each patient.

Accelerated TMS

Accelerated TMS is an alternative schedule in lieu of the standard TMS course. This approach was most recently popularized at Stanford University, where researchers developed the SAINT™ protocol (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy™), which involved
9-minute sessions, once per hour, for a total of 10 sessions per day for 5 consecutive days and led to an impressive 79% remission rate. Our Accelerated TMS program follows the same schedule of 5 days per week for 10 days, and is available with or without fMRI.

Medication-free treatments for depression and more

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) was first studied in humans in 1985 and received FDA approval for treatment-resistant depression in 2008. Initially, TMS was used for severe depression only, as an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, over time, psychiatrists and researchers realized that TMS could be used earlier in the treatment process due to its safer side-effect profile compared to oral antidepressants. Japan even began offering TMS as an option before medication. Additionally, TMS has received approval in Europe as a
treatment not only for depression but also for PTSD, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease.

TMS for Anxiety

Even though it is yet to be FDA Approved for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, TMS can be a profoundly helpful treatment for anxiety. In fact, many researchers believe that TMS could be a better treatment for anxiety compared to depression. It is not uncommon for our patients with
anxiety to experience a 50% or greater reduction in symptoms during their time with us. Our leadership team has published research regarding decreasing both anxiety and depression using TMS.

TMS for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Multiple studies have found that TMS is helpful for reducing symptoms stemming from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). TMS typically treats the prefrontal cortex, which is not usually considered to be associated with PTSD. However, the area of the prefrontal cortex that we treat is highly connected to a part of the brain responsible for our “fight or flight” response called the amygdala. By stimulating the right part of the prefrontal cortex, we are able to reach and regulate the amygdala. Our patients with PTSD will often remark about how much their sleep and anxiety have improved after beginning TMS.

TMS for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

In addition to depression, TMS is FDA-Approved for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). TMS can reduce the symptoms of OCD by stimulating a different part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex with a different pattern than what’s used for depression. If a patient is coming in for both depression and OCD, we will add-in a protocol for OCD at no cost. TMS is recommended for individuals with OCD who have not responded to medication and psychotherapy.

TMS for Bipolar Disorder

In addition to Major Depressive Disorder, TMS is FDA-Approved for bipolar depression. While TMS is not appropriate for those experiencing manic episodes, TMS can be quite helpful for those with bipolar depression. In fact, some researchers are of the belief that TMS is more effective for those with bipolar depression than unipolar depression, as the brain is “primed” for switching states.

Pros and Cons of TMS in Santa Monica

Before beginning treatment, patients may want to weigh the pros and cons of TMS therapy. The best parts about TMS are that it is safe, medication-free, has a high success rate, and produces results that last long after the treatment is over. Additionally, TMS can be covered up to 100% by most major insurers. The negative aspects of TMS are that it can cause mild headaches in some people and that patients must come into the office every day for 4 to 6 weeks, Monday through Friday.

Are you a good candidate for TMS Therapy?

Bespoke Treatment conducts thorough evaluations to determine if TMS therapy is right for you. Whether you are looking for alternative treatments for depression that don’t involve medication, or you’ve tried a number of medications already with little to no results and are looking for scientifically proven therapies for treatment-resistant depression, you may be a good candidate for TMS. However, there are some situations in which TMS therapy isn’t appropriate, including if you have:

Metal in or around your head (braces and dental fillings are safe)
Pacemakers
Implanted cardioverter defibrillators
Vagus nerve stimulators
Epilepsy

If TMS isn’t right for you, Bespoke Treatment also offers Spravato and ketamine infusions in Santa Monica and Los Angeles.

Meet Your Santa Monica Psychiatry Care Team

Nima Fahimian, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Jacob Moussai, MD
Psychiatrist
Gavin Dawson
Psychiatric Physician Assistant
Amina Hertzog
TMS Technician

Bespoke Treatment TMS Therapy in Santa Monica, CA

Bespoke Treatment’s Santa Monica clinic offers alternative mental health treatments to residents throughout the Los Angeles area. We provide Trancranial Magnetic Stimulation, various ketamine treatments, Prism neurofeedback for PTSD, and offer a comprehensive depression treatment program. These treatments are designed to help with anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and more.

Santa Monica, California is located in Los Angeles County, a beach town on the Pacific Ocean, just west of downtown Los Angeles. It is one of the nation’s most famous cities, bordered by Venice Beach, West Los Angeles, Brentwood, and Pacific Palisades. It is a hotspot for tourism and celebrity resorting, as it rests directly on the coast.

City of Los Angeles Resource Center
Santa Monica Department of Public Health
Welcome to Santa Monica

City population of Santa Monica is estimated at about 90,400 as of 2019. The famous Santa Monica Freeway, I-10, is one of the busiest freeways in North America. It begins at the Pacific Ocean and continues all the way across the country to Jacksonville, FL.

Popular attractions include the Santa Monica pier, Pacific Park, and Palisades Park. Santa Monica also prides itself on delicious and unique local cuisine, strong community, and cultural prosperity. Other well known community the Annenberg community beach house, the Cove
skate park, or any of their historic landmarks for a taste of what Santa Monica has to offer. This town fosters the arts, creativity, and wellness, with frequent community-building events that emphasize diversity and inclusivity by giving a spotlight to local artists and business owners.

The coastal city has emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability by aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. The city also hosts local farmer’s markets and community gardens. Their open-minded outlook extends well beyond the environment, and into mental health.

Santa Monica’s progressive and prosperous nature puts it at the forefront of modern medicine, making it the perfect home for Bespoke Treatment. In fact, the city’s Latin motto is “populus felix in urbe felice”, which translates to “happy people in a happy city”.

Two higher education facilities are located in Santa Monica: Santa Monica College, which is a community college. And Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School. 

The local mental health department is the largest in the United States, offering over 80 direct services to residents and partnering with more than 700 unique providers. This includes a community project with Santa Monica Human Services called “We Rise”, an effort to unite residents with educational events that promote mental health empowerment and destigmatization of mental health challenges.