West Phoenix · FDA-cleared · Non-drug
When medications do not work, another option may be TMS.
NeuroStar TMS treats depression at the source in the brain, without medication and without sedation. Sessions run about 19 minutes. You sit in a chair, you finish, you drive yourself home.
Free consultation. Launch rate: $5,400 for the full 36-session course, for the first 20 patients beginning treatment by December 31, 2026. Treatment can begin within two weeks of your evaluation.
Our treatment suite, 4160 N. 108th Ave, Phoenix
Two minutes, no cost
Take the TMS assessment.
Ten questions about how the last two weeks have actually been. Hosted by Neuronetics.
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Who this is for
TMS may be an option worth discussing
It is not a first line treatment. If you recognize yourself in this list, it may be worth a call.
NeuroStar TMS is FDA-cleared for adults with major depressive disorder and, as an add-on treatment, for adolescents aged 15 to 21.
- A diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
- Depression that has not responded to treatment.
- Side effects that cost more than the treatment gave back.
- Depression that comes with heavy anxiety.
- A preference for treatment that does not go through the bloodstream.
- A clinical evaluation determines whether TMS is appropriate for you.
What actually happens
Nineteen minutes in a chair. Watch before you book.
A coil rests against your head and delivers focused magnetic pulses to the region of the brain involved in mood regulation. You stay awake. You will feel a tapping sensation on your head. No anesthesia, no IV, no waiting to be cleared, no driving restriction.
Video courtesy of NeuroStar
Nothing about this is dramatic
That is the point. You keep your clothes on, you stay alert, and you can read or listen to something while the session runs. The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment.
The commitment, stated plainly
A course is 36 sessions. That is the part nobody puts on a billboard.
Five days a week for six weeks, then a short taper. Skipping days weakens the result. We would rather you know this before you call than find out in week two. See the full walkthrough of a TMS course, from the first call to the last session.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1, | Session 2, | Session 3, | Session 4, | Session 5, | ||
| Session 6, | Session 7, | Session 8, | Session 9, | Session 10, | ||
| Session 11, | Session 12, | Session 13, | Session 14, | Session 15, | ||
| Session 16, | Session 17, | Session 18, | Session 19, | Session 20, | ||
| Session 21, | Session 22, | Session 23, | Session 24, | Session 25, | ||
| Session 26, | Session 27, | Session 28, | Session 29, | Session 30, | ||
36 sessions · about 11.5 hours in the chair
Thirty-six sessions means thirty-six drives
We are at 4160 N. 108th Ave, Suite A, Phoenix, AZ 85037. That is a short drive from Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Tolleson, and Surprise. If you are coming from Scottsdale, Mesa, or Chandler, the daily commute will beat you before the treatment does, and we will say so on the phone rather than book you and watch you drop out.
The evidence
What the outcomes data shows
These figures are reported by NeuroStar, not measured at our clinic. They describe other patients, treated under real-world conditions.
of patients saw measurable improvement in depression symptoms. Real-world outcomes, by clinician rating (CGI-S), as reported by NeuroStar.
reached remission. Real-world outcomes, by clinician rating (CGI-S), as reported by NeuroStar.
treatments performed in over 230,000 patients, as reported by NeuroStar.
Source: real-world outcomes by clinician rating (CGI-S) and treatment totals as reported by NeuroStar at neurostar.com, retrieved August 2026. Registry patients were treated under real-world conditions and many were also receiving other depression treatments, including medication. Individual results vary. These figures describe other patients and are not a prediction of your result or a guarantee of outcome.
Patient stories
Patients on their own experience
Individual experiences vary. In NeuroStar's real-world data, 83% of patients saw improvement and 62% reached remission, by clinician rating (CGI-S), as reported by NeuroStar.
Kelly talks about starting NeuroStar TMS and what the sessions were like for her.
Johara describes her experience of depression treatment with NeuroStar TMS.
Richard gives his account of going through a NeuroStar TMS course.
Videos courtesy of NeuroStar. Featured individuals are not Desert TMS patients.
Brochure provided by NeuroStar. Figures and coverage statements are NeuroStar's and may differ from current data. Desert TMS is a private-pay practice and does not bill health plans.
Cost
Launch rate: $5,400 for the full course. One price, nothing added.
That is $150 per session. We put the number here instead of making you call for it, because if it does not work for you we would both rather know now.
The launch rate applies to courses beginning on or before December 31, 2026, and is limited to the first 20 patients.
Payment plans available through CareCredit.
Private pay, and what that removes
Desert TMS is a private-pay clinic. We do not bill insurance and we do not accept Medicare or Medicaid.
What that removes: no prior authorization, no step therapy. You book the consultation, you get evaluated, and if TMS is right for you, treatment can begin within two weeks of your evaluation.
If the price is not workable right now, say so on the call. We will tell you plainly rather than push you toward a payment plan you should not sign.
Next step
Request a consultation
A member of the Desert TMS team calls you back, usually the same business day. The consultation is free and there is no obligation to start treatment.
Questions
Before you call
Does it hurt?
You will feel a tapping sensation on your head during the session. NeuroStar reports the most common side effect is mild to moderate pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site, which typically subsides within the first week of treatment. There is no anesthesia because none is needed.
Is this the same thing as electroconvulsive therapy?
No. ECT induces a seizure under general anesthesia and carries memory effects. TMS uses focused magnetic pulses similar in strength to an MRI, you stay awake, and you drive yourself home afterward. Different treatments, different risk profiles.
Is there anyone TMS is not safe for?
Yes. NeuroStar should not be used with patients who have non-removable conductive metal in or near the head. A history of seizures or a condition that raises seizure risk, and cochlear implants or implanted brain stimulators, also rule TMS out. TMS carries a rare risk of seizure, under 0.1% per patient. Every patient gets a full medical review before a single session is scheduled, and your provider goes through the complete risk profile with you before you consent to anything.
Do I have to stop my antidepressant?
No. TMS is designed to work alongside medication and therapy. Any medication change is a decision between you and your prescriber, not something TMS requires.
How soon would I notice anything?
According to NeuroStar, many people see their depression symptoms improve after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment. Some notice earlier, some only near the end of the course, and some do not respond. Anyone who promises you a timeline is guessing.
What happens on the first visit?
A clinical evaluation and a review of your medication and medical history to confirm TMS is appropriate. If it is, the next visit is a mapping session where your provider measures the exact coil position and pulse strength for you. Treatment sessions start after that.
Do you take insurance?
No. Desert TMS is private pay only, and we do not accept Medicare or Medicaid. The launch rate is $5,400 for the full 36-session course, which covers the consultation, mapping, all 36 sessions, and remapping if it is needed. Nothing is billed on top. The launch rate applies to courses beginning on or before December 31, 2026, and is limited to the first 20 patients.
Do you treat adolescents and young adults?
Yes. NeuroStar is FDA-cleared as an add-on treatment for depression in adolescents aged 15 to 21, with parental consent for patients under 18 and a full clinical evaluation first. Read about TMS for ages 15 to 21.
One call decides whether this is worth your time
You will know by the end of it whether you are a candidate, what it costs, and what the schedule would look like. No one will pressure you into booking.