Drug-Free TMS Therapy, Now Cleared For Teens.
Deep TMS treats major depressive disorder in adolescents with targeted magnetic pulses: no pills, no anesthetic, no downtime. FDA-cleared as an adjunct therapy in November 2025.
Ask us anything
30 Sessions of Deep TMS Response Rate
30 Sessions of Deep TMS Remission Rate
Years Treating Depression in OH
Five Star Google Reviews
Is this your teen?
When therapy and medication aren't getting them there.
TMS for teens isn't where care starts - it's an adjunct. We work alongside your teen's existing psychiatrist or therapist, not as a replacement for them.
What it does
A magnet, not a medication.
Deep TMS sends magnetic pulses painlessly through scalp and skull to stimulate the prefrontal cortex — the mood-regulating brain region that under-functions in depression. Over a course of sessions, that region functions more typically, with nothing chemical entering your teen's bloodstream.
For adolescents, the appeal isn't just effectiveness - it's the absence of chronic side effects. No weight gain, no libido effects, no daily pill, no withdrawal. TMS is local, not systemic - which is why families often turn to it after SSRIs.
We use BrainsWay Deep TMS - the only system FDA-cleared for ages 15 to 21 (November 2025). Real-world data on 1,120 adolescents showed a 66.1% response rate after 36 sessions. The H-coil reaches three to four centimeters into the cortex - deeper than the figure-8 coils most clinics still use.
A NOTE FOR TEEN READERS
Reading this for yourself?
You're welcome here.
Under 18? A parent or guardian will be part of the consultation and consent process. 18 or older? You can book on your own. Either way, you can call us directly if that's easier than going through this page.
Your journey
From first call to last session.
Coordinating with their team
TMS is FDA-cleared as an adjunct therapy - we work alongside your teen's existing psychiatrist or therapist, not as a replacement. We coordinate with them directly before treatment starts.
Insurance check
Monday through Friday, between 7am and 5:30pm. Each session runs 20 to 30 minutes. You'll see the same small team throughout.
Midpoint review
On your last day, Dr. Blair reviews how you responded and talks through what comes next - maintenance sessions, other treatments, or nothing further if you're done.
Outcomes meeting
On the last session, Dr. Blair reviews how your teen responded and walks through what's next - maintenance, returning to their existing care team's plan, or nothing further.
Maintenance, if it helps
Optional top-up sessions for teens who respond and want to hold the gains. Insurance doesn't typically cover maintenance - we quote up front so it's your call.
Your teen's first visit
20 minutes in the chair
The first visit runs longer than the rest - we spend extra time calibrating the machine to your teen's motor threshold (a quick, painless setup that maps the right pulse intensity for their brain) and walking you both through what to expect. Parents are welcome in the room during the consult and welcome to wait in the suite during treatment.
During the session, your teen reclines. A technician fits the BrainsWay helmet, positions the coil, and stays with them the full time. They'll hear a steady clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation across the treatment area. Most teens read, listen to music, scroll their phone, or do homework — the sessions are 20 minutes once setup is complete.
When the session ends, they walk out and carry on with their day. No recovery, no driver, no time off school. Most families schedule sessions before school, after school, or during a free period — we'll work around what's realistic for your teen.
Cost & insurance
Coverage is catching up. We'll tell you where yours stands.
FDA cleared adolescent TMS in November 2025. Most insurers are still updating their policies - some cover the full course already; many don't yet. We run your benefits and confirm in writing before you commit.
With insurance
Coverage varies by carrier.
Some commercial plans cover adolescent TMS now; others are still updating. We submit prior authorization and tell you the answer before you commit to a course.
Plans we run benefits against
Without insurance
Self-pay rate
Available immediately if coverage isn't there yet or you don't want to wait on prior auth.
$200 initial consultation, billed once before treatment.
CareCredit financing available for your share, subject to approval.
No referral needed to book.
Prior authorization paperwork is filed by our team. Most insurers respond inside two weeks.
The Optimum difference
Same Treatment. Different Experience.
What families tell us they don't get at most adolescent TMS clinics - and what we've built into the standard at Optimum from day one.
Founded and led by a board-certified psychiatrist
A team your teen will remember by name
BrainsWay Deep TMS - the only system FDA-cleared for ages 15 to 21
Treatment backed by real-world data on 1,120 adolescents
We work alongside your teen's existing psychiatrist or therapist
Costs confirmed in writing before you start
Typical Clinic
✕
✕
✕
✕
✕
✕
What You're Probably Wondering
Straight Answers to the Questions We Hear Most.
Is TMS safe for teens?
Yes. The FDA cleared BrainsWay Deep TMS for ages 15 to 21 in November 2025, based on real-world evidence from 1,120 adolescents treated across 35 US centers between 2012 and 2024. The published data showed a 66.1% response rate after 36 sessions, with meaningful improvements in both depression and anxiety symptoms — and a safety profile consistent with how TMS performs in adults. The most common side effect is mild scalp discomfort during the first few sessions.
How is this different from medication?
TMS works on the brain locally rather than systemically — it stimulates the specific region involved in mood regulation without putting anything chemical into your teen's bloodstream. There's no weight gain, no effect on libido, no daily pill, no withdrawal if you stop. It's not a replacement for therapy or for medication if your teen's psychiatrist still recommends them, but it doesn't carry the chronic side-effect profile.
Will my teen miss school?
Most families schedule sessions before school, after school, or during a free period. Each session is about 20 minutes, and your teen walks out and goes about their day — no recovery time, no fatigue, no transportation needed. We'll work around your family's schedule rather than the other way around.
How long before we know if it's working?
Most teens who respond start to notice changes within two to three weeks. The full course is 36 sessions over about seven weeks. By the end of the course, the published data shows about two-thirds of adolescents respond meaningfully. If your teen isn't responding by the midpoint, Dr. Blair will say so directly and discuss next steps with you and your teen's existing care team.
Does my teen need to be on medication too?
FDA-cleared as adjunct therapy — meaning TMS is meant to work alongside other treatment, not as a standalone. If your teen is on medication and it's helping a bit, they should stay on it; TMS adds to that effect. If they're in therapy, they should stay in therapy. We work with your teen's existing psychiatrist or therapist; we don't replace them.
What if it doesn't work?
You won't be the first family that's true for, and we won't push you to keep going. About a third of adolescents in the published data didn't respond meaningfully. If we reach the midpoint and the needle hasn't moved, Dr. Blair has an honest conversation with you and your teen — usually that includes returning to other treatment paths with your teen's existing care team.
Is there anyone who shouldn't have TMS?
Yes. Adolescents with a history of seizures, non-removable metallic implants in or near the head (pacemakers, cochlear implants, aneurysm clips, deep brain stimulators), active psychosis, or active manic episodes shouldn't have TMS. Standard dental work like braces or fillings is fine. Dr. Blair screens for all of this at the initial consultation. If TMS isn't safe for your teen, we'll say so and discuss alternatives.
Who runs the clinic?
Optimum is led by Dr. Mark Blair, an ABPN board-certified psychiatrist with over 24 years in practice. He's a US Air Force veteran, founded Optimum TMS in 2017, and personally oversees every patient's treatment plan. Initial consultations are conducted by Dr. Blair or one of our psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Hear from our patients
Real reviews from real patients.
65+ Five Star Google Reviews →
Find Out If TMS Is Right For You
Start with the 90-second check - no obligation.
Prefer to phone?
614-933-4200
