TMS Therapy in Crystal Lake, IL

What TMS Therapy is, and how it works

TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) uses gentle magnetic pulses to activate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. These are the same regions that tend to underperform in major depressive disorder.

During treatment you sit in a chair, awake and alert, while a cushioned coil rests against your scalp. You can read, listen to music, or just rest. It's FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder and is performed right here in our office. No hospital, no anesthesia. Targeted specifically for a non-drug, non-medication, brain stimulation, as a stand alone treatment or to fit into your existing treatment or alongside your existing medication.

Book A Free TMS Consultation

Is TMS Therapy right for you?

TMS may be a fit if you:

Have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder
Haven't gotten enough relief from antidepressant medication
Want an option without the systemic side effects of medication

TMS isn't for everyone. It's not used if you have metal in or around the head (like aneurysm clips or cochlear implants). A history of seizures doesn't automatically rule it out, but it's something to discuss with your provider. The fastest way to know: book a consultation and we'll review your history together.

What to Expect

A typical course is five sessions a week for four to six weeks. Most providers will recommend about 36 sessions. Each session is about 20 minutes and there's no downtime.

Most patients go straight back to work or continue with their day. The most common side effects are mild scalp discomfort or headache during the first week, which usually fade as treatment continues. Serious side effects are rare. You'll meet with your care team regularly so we can track how you're responding and adjust if needed. A clinician is present in our office throughout treatment.

How TMS for depression compares to other types of treatments

No single treatment is right for everyone. We think TMS is one of the most effective solutions available with up to 82% of patients experiencing significant symptom relief and fewer long-term side effects. And when compared to traditional antidepressants, this medication-free, FDA-approved approach has fewer side effects.

Here’s how they differ on the things patients ask about most.

Compare	TMS	ECT	Medication	Spravato	Talk therapy
Drug-free	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
No anesthesia or sedation	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Drive yourself home after	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
No memory loss	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
No daily pills	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Zero downtime, back to your day	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
FDA-cleared or approved for depression	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
How it works	Focused magnetic pulses stimulate the brain areas that regulate mood. No drugs, no surgery.	Brief, controlled electrical stimulation under anesthesia triggers a short seizure that can reset brain chemistry in severe depression.	Daily pills that adjust brain chemistry body-wide.	Nasal spray that acts on glutamate, a different pathway than standard antidepressants. Given in-clinic with monitoring.	Regular sessions with a therapist to change patterns of thought and behavior driving depression.
Time commitment	5 days a week for 4 to 6 weeks. Sessions run 20 to 40 minutes.	2 to 3 times per week for 2 to 4 weeks. Half-day appointments with prep and recovery.	A pill a day. Each drug takes 4 to 6 weeks to judge; many people try several.	Twice a week for 4 weeks, then weekly. Every visit includes 2-hour monitoring.	Weekly 45 to 60 minute sessions for months, ongoing as needed.
Common side effects	Mild scalp tingling or headache in early sessions. Fades for most people.	Headache, muscle soreness, confusion after treatment. Short-term memory gaps.	Weight gain, sexual side effects, nausea, sleep changes, mental fog. Varies by drug.	Dissociation, dizziness, nausea, blood pressure rise during monitoring.	None physical. Sessions can feel emotionally heavy.
Best for	Depression that has not lifted with medication, or when drug side effects are intolerable.	Severe, urgent, or highly treatment-resistant depression when rapid response matters.	First-line treatment for most people. Often combined with TMS or therapy.	Treatment-resistant depression in adults already taking an antidepressant.	Mild to moderate depression, or paired with TMS or medication.

Compare

TMS

ECT

Medication

Spravato

Talk therapy

Drug-free

Yes

No anesthesia or sedation

Yes

Drive yourself home after

Yes

No memory loss

Yes

No daily pills

Yes

Zero downtime, back to your day

Yes

FDA-cleared or approved for depression

Yes

How it works

Focused magnetic pulses stimulate the brain areas that regulate mood. No drugs, no surgery.

Brief, controlled electrical stimulation under anesthesia triggers a short seizure that can reset brain chemistry in severe depression.

Daily pills that adjust brain chemistry body-wide.

Nasal spray that acts on glutamate, a different pathway than standard antidepressants. Given in-clinic with monitoring.

Regular sessions with a therapist to change patterns of thought and behavior driving depression.

Time commitment

5 days a week for 4 to 6 weeks. Sessions run 20 to 40 minutes.

2 to 3 times per week for 2 to 4 weeks. Half-day appointments with prep and recovery.

A pill a day. Each drug takes 4 to 6 weeks to judge; many people try several.

Twice a week for 4 weeks, then weekly. Every visit includes 2-hour monitoring.

Weekly 45 to 60 minute sessions for months, ongoing as needed.

Common side effects

Mild scalp tingling or headache in early sessions. Fades for most people.

Headache, muscle soreness, confusion after treatment. Short-term memory gaps.

Weight gain, sexual side effects, nausea, sleep changes, mental fog. Varies by drug.

Dissociation, dizziness, nausea, blood pressure rise during monitoring.

None physical. Sessions can feel emotionally heavy.

Best for

Depression that has not lifted with medication, or when drug side effects are intolerable.

Severe, urgent, or highly treatment-resistant depression when rapid response matters.

First-line treatment for most people. Often combined with TMS or therapy.

Treatment-resistant depression in adults already taking an antidepressant.

Mild to moderate depression, or paired with TMS or medication.

Real results

This is not a leap of faith. It is a studied treatment with published results.

In an independent head-to-head study, 59.7% of patients treated with Deep TMS reached remission, meaning their depression symptoms were essentially gone. That is more than five times the remission rate of medication alone (11.1%).

In the large multicenter trial that led to FDA clearance of the Brainsway Deep TMS device, 38.4% of patients responded to treatment and 32.6% reached full remission, significantly higher than the sham group.

The benefits last. In 12-month follow-up data on the accelerated TMS protocol, fewer than 1 in 4 patients needed a medication change or another round of TMS.

Individual results vary, and your provider will walk through what these numbers mean for your situation.

Book My Free TMS Consultation

Filipcic et al., Journal of Psychiatric Research, July 2019; Levkovitz et al., World Psychiatry, 2015; Brainsway SWIFT 12-month durability data, Clinical TMS Society Annual Meeting, 2026.

I could not be more satisfied by my experience with Mindful TMS. Claudia was a pleasure to work with . She is very professional and did an excellent job of thoroughly explaining the process before we got started. I especially appreciate her willingness to engage me in conversation during the procedure to distract me from focusing on the physical sensation during the procedure. There is nothing painful about the procedure but given the fact that it is an unusual sensation, the conversation directed my focus elsewhere. The results I got were dramatic and I would highly recommend TMS and in particular Mindful TMS.

jay dee

Apr 15, 2026 · via Google

Our family’s experience with Mindful TMS in Crystal Lake has been absolutely transformative. From beginning to end, everything about the process has been exceptional. Claudia is truly the heart of the experience—she goes above and beyond in handling everything, including the insurance approval process, scheduling, and the TMS sessions themselves. She is not only amazing at her job but also incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely friendly. She made what could have been a stressful process feel smooth and supportive every step of the way. We are so grateful for the care and expertise provided here. TMS has been life-changing for our family, and we can’t recommend Mindful TMS Crystal Lake enough!

Nancy Solorio

Sep 6, 2025 · via Google

I had excellent experience at mindful TMS. Claudia was especially great to work with. She is very professional and friendly at the same time. I highly recommend going here. The results are very good as I feel much better have more energy and can concentrate more and feel less depressed.

Mark Larson

Jul 14, 2025 · via Google

Not knowing what to expect when I started the TMS program, I was quickly put at ease with the technicians and the doctor. The technicians approached my care with the utmost in professionalism, kindness, sensitivity and caring. They were considerate of my feelings and comfort every step of the way through the process. They answered every question I had and were extremely knowledgeable about the entire procedure. I would highly recommend Mindful TMS to anyone who suffers from depression and anxiety and who is looking to change their lives for the better.

Chris Kozlowski

Mar 1, 2023 · via Google

Rage. A lot of it. Carried since the death of my father after my 13th birthday. Fast forward 55 years. Rage is still there, anger, depression, self loathing, Major Depressive Disorder. Tried antidepressants. They worked for a little while, but my body adjusted to them which meant they had to be changed. Taken off of one, put on another, and round and round until I just stopped taking them. I was fed up. Inside my head was a scary place to be. On the outside? Larger than life, laughing, smiling...On the inside? Alone. Permanently sad. Hating the person looking back at me in the mirror. Then I saw an ad for Mindful TMS. I went to the website, read everything I could about the treatment. Read studies from Mayo Clinic, Northwestern, anywhere really. And did nothing with the information. Until I pushed myself to call. Claudia returned my call and after chatting with her for a little while, I set my first appointment. I mean...no side effects to speak of, TOTALLY non-invasive, and fully covered by insurance. What do I have to lose? First appointment I met the doctor, and Jonathan, the tech that oversaw my treatment. A caring, compassionate man. (I met Claudia a few days later. Another wonderful human being). Had 34 sessions at 84%. (think of a steel-beaked woodpecker tapping at the same spot on your head for 15-20 minutes a session.) The rage I carried for so many years? GONE. Self-loathing? GONE Anger? GONE. Some of the depression is still there, but talk therapy can mitigate that. On the whole, I cannot say enough GOOD things about my experience. My family noticed a change (my "edge" is gone), my wife says I'm a nicer person now. Softer, in a sense. If you need the help, GET IT. That first phone call is hard to make, but you'll be glad you did. Claudia, Jonathan, and Dr. Rao did for me in a few weeks that years of anti-depressants couldn't. Put a smile on my face.

John Diskin

Mar 28, 2024 · via Google

New Jersey Locations

Illinois Locations

Crystal Lake at a Glance

Treatments Available

Spravato

Amenities

Languages Spoken

What TMS Therapy is, and how it works

Is TMS Therapy right for you?

What to Expect

How TMS for depression compares to other types of treatments

Meet the team at our Crystal Lake office

Real results

Covered by major insurance providers