NeuroStar

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses painless, safe magnetic waves to improve function in the brain’s mood center. The licensed therapists at Desert View Counseling & Consulting in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona, use NeuroStar® advanced TMS for the best results. NeuroStar helps patients with major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression, reducing symptoms even when other treatments fail. Call Desert View Counseling & Consulting to inquire about your suitability for NeuroStar TMS, or book an appointment online today.

What is NeuroStar?

NeuroStar is a cutting-edge TMS device. Desert View Counseling & Consulting uses it to treat patients with mental health problems when other therapies aren’t working.

NeuroStar isn’t a drug, so you won’t experience the common side effects medications can cause. Neither is it a form of shock therapy, and it involves no invasive surgery. Instead, a device on your head transmits magnetic waves into specific areas of your brain.

Depression treatments usually focus on antidepressant medication to improve brain function and mood. However, drugs must travel through your digestive system and bloodstream to reach the brain. NeuroStar TMS treatments directly affect the areas of your brain controlling mood.

When would I need NeuroStar TMS for depression?

Your provider at Desert View Counseling & Consulting might recommend TMS therapy if you have depression that’s resistant to other treatments.

Depression is a long-term mental health problem that affects millions of people every year. It causes feelings of despair, self-loathing, and misery so intense they’re impossible to shake off.

Depression can become so severe you’re unable to function normally, affecting your work and home life. Untreated depression can worsen, triggering suicidal thoughts and actions.

Antidepressant medication and talk therapies are effective treatments for most people. But for some, depression doesn’t improve even after many months, even years, of therapy. Talk to the dedicated team at Desert View Counseling & Consulting about NeuroStar TMS if you’re in this position.

Can NeuroStar help other mental health conditions?

In addition to its value for patients with depression, NeuroStar TMS can be helpful for several other mental health conditions, including:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Substance use disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Eating disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

TMS use is considered “off-label” unless it has FDA approval, as is the case with major depressive disorder. However, it’s a safe approach for other psychiatric conditions that many people find beneficial. Desert View Counseling & Consulting will advise if it’s suitable for you.

What happens during a NeuroStar TMS treatment?

During a NeuroStar session, your provider places a cushioned “figure-8” coil against your head. The coil transmits magnetic pulses that target the brain’s mood center. NeuroStar’s unique contact sensing technology ensures you receive the prescribed dosage at every stage, making it a safe procedure for most patients 15 years and over.

You may sense tapping, a warming sensation, or tingling under the coil, but this soon passes and often stops after a few treatments. You’ll be awake and alert during NeuroStar TMS and can return to your regular activities afterward.

NeuroStar treatment sessions last around 19 minutes. Most patients visit Desert View Counseling & Consulting daily for six weeks, but this is variable depending on each patient’s needs.

Learn more about NeuroStar TMS by contacting Desert View Counseling & Consulting. Call the nearest office or book an appointment online today.