TMS
Adult, Adolescent, and Child Psychiatrist located in Fort Collins, CO
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TMS services offered in Fort Collins, CO
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive therapy that offers rapid improvement of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other mental health conditions. At Psychiatric Services of the Rockies, patient-focused psychiatrist Josiah Ziegler, DO, offers this groundbreaking technology in the Fort Collins, Colorado, office. To learn more about how you can get fast relief, book a consultation online or call the office today.
TMS Q&A
What is TMS?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a drug-free therapy that uses mild magnetic fields to influence brain activity. The magnetic energy travels through a device that’s positioned lightly on your head (a magnetic coil).
Different types of TMS affect different parts of the brain, and the impulses may focus on one or several areas. TMS sends pulses into the part of the brain that’s not functioning correctly, as both under- and over-functioning can have highly damaging effects.
TMS promotes restoration of normal brain signaling by causing the release and balancing of neurotransmitters, which are the brain chemicals that regulate mood. In doing so, TMS can provide fast relief for many people who have highly intrusive mental health symptoms.
What conditions does TMS treat?
TMS is FDA-approved to treat:
Depression
TMS is approved to treat depression, specifically major depressive disorder. It’s typically recommended for patients who haven’t improved significantly with medication and mental health therapy.
Anxious depression
TMS treats anxious depression as well — major depressive disorder with either a co-occurring anxiety disorder or a persistently high level of anxiety.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
TMS is further approved to treat OCD. It was the second psychiatric condition to be approved for treatment by the FDA, following depression.
TMS can also help with other conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What does TMS feel like?
Most people experience a tapping feeling in their scalp, although there’s nothing making contact with your scalp. That’s the effect of the magnetic pulses.
There’s no anesthesia or other special prep needed before TMS, and it’s totally noninvasive. After your treatment, you can go back to your regular activities whenever you like.
How is TMS different from antidepressants?
Antidepressants and TMS both improve neurotransmitter levels in your brain, but that’s where the similarities end.
First, TMS is a drug-free treatment. It allows you to avoid a medication’s side effects and saves time, too. Every new antidepressant you try can take weeks to start working, so you may go months awaiting relief if you have to experiment with several of them in succession.
TMS works far faster. Many people experience symptom relief in a few weeks, and that relief may last for months to years. Depending on your symptoms and whether they resurface, Dr. Ziegler may recommend maintenance sessions to regulate your brain’s neural activity in the long term.
To learn more about TMS, call Psychiatric Services of the Rockies or book an appointment online.
WHAT WE OFFER
TMS
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive therapy that offers rapid improvement of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other mental health conditions. At Psychiatric Services of the Rockies, patient-focused psychiatrist Josiah Ziegler, DO, offers this groundbreaking technology in the Fort Collins, Colorado, office. To learn more about how you can get fast relief, book a consultation online or call the office today.
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SPRAVATO®
Spravato® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved treatment for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and for depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) with acute suicidal ideation or behavior. Unlike traditional antidepressants that primarily target serotonin and norepinephrine, Spravato works through the glutamate system as an NMDA receptor antagonist. This mechanism allows it to promote rapid synaptic plasticity and restore neural connectivity in mood-regulating circuits, often leading to improvement much faster than standard oral antidepressants.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that Spravato, when used in combination with an oral antidepressant, produces significant reductions in depressive symptoms compared to oral antidepressant therapy alone. Many patients experience noticeable improvement within hours to days, particularly in severe cases. In treatment-resistant depression, response rates in clinical studies have ranged from approximately 50–70%, with a substantial proportion achieving remission. These outcomes are especially meaningful for individuals who have failed multiple prior medication trials.
Treatment is administered intranasally in a monitored medical setting to ensure safety and effectiveness. Because Spravato can cause temporary dissociation, sedation, or increases in blood pressure, patients are observed for approximately two hours after each session. The treatment protocol typically includes twice-weekly sessions during the induction phase (first 4 weeks), followed by weekly or biweekly maintenance sessions depending on clinical response and stability.
For individuals who have struggled with persistent depression despite multiple medication trials, Spravato represents a powerful and evidence-based option. By targeting the underlying neurobiology of depression through a novel pathway, it offers hope for meaningful and sustained symptom relief, improved functioning, and restored quality of life.
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Therapy Services
At Psychiatric Services of the Rockies and Therapy Services of the Rockies, we take a comprehensive, integrated approach to mental health care. We recognize that meaningful healing often requires more than a single intervention. By thoughtfully combining psychotherapy with medication management, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and Spravato treatment when clinically appropriate, we create individualized care plans designed to address both the biological and psychological roots of emotional distress. Our team works collaboratively to ensure that each patient receives coordinated, evidence-based treatment aimed not only at reducing symptoms, but at restoring long-term stability, resilience, and overall well-being.
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