TMS Therapy That Fits a Working Week
Quick Answer
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) is an FDA-cleared, non-medication treatment for adults with major depressive disorder who have not responded adequately to antidepressants. At Bluebird TMS in Greenwood Village, a psychiatrist prescribes and oversees every course, sessions are brief and involve no sedation, and most patients schedule them around a full workday without taking leave.
The scheduling problem TMS solves — and the one it creates
Most people who come to us have already tried antidepressants and are still working, still showing up, and still not well. TMS is a different kind of treatment: a magnetic coil rests against the scalp and delivers pulses to the region of the brain involved in mood regulation, with no medication circulating through the body and no recovery period. The trade-off is time. A standard course is daily weekday sessions over several weeks. Our Denver Tech Center location exists so that time can come out of a lunch break or the edges of a workday instead of out of a job.
Who is a candidate
Adults with major depressive disorder who have not improved enough on antidepressant medication, or who cannot tolerate its side effects. TMS is not for everyone: metal implants in or near the head, a history of seizures, and some other conditions need careful review, and the evaluation screens for all of them before anything is scheduled.
What a course looks like here
- A psychiatrist evaluation, in person or by video, with a standardized symptom score.
- Benefits verified and prior authorization submitted by our team — before your first session, not after.
- Mapping on day one to locate your treatment spot and set your dose.
- Daily sessions of roughly 20 to 40 minutes depending on protocol, booked at a consistent time you can hold — early morning, midday, or end of day.
- Symptom scores tracked through the course; your psychiatrist adjusts as needed.
What you can and cannot do around a session
You can drive yourself, go straight back to work, and keep your normal medications unless your psychiatrist tells you otherwise. You do not need a ride, time off to recover, or a change in diet. The most common side effects are scalp discomfort and headache in the first week, which tend to fade.
After the course
Some patients maintain their response with medication or periodic follow-up; some return for additional sessions later. Your psychiatrist maps that plan with you before the last session, not after.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room.