Taking the first step is simple, and our team guides you from there. Whether you are reaching out for yourself, for someone you love, or as a referring clinician, here is exactly how to begin.
Two Ways to Begin
For yourself or a loved one. If depression has not improved with therapy or medication, reach out. We will listen, answer your questions, and start a screening to see whether TMS may be a fit. You do not need a diagnosis in hand or any paperwork prepared. A short conversation is enough to get started, and there is no obligation to continue.
For clinicians and referral partners. Providers and Discovery Point Retreat teams can refer a patient for TMS review. We coordinate the screening, handle the clinical documentation, and keep referring clinicians informed throughout the process. If you have a patient whose depression has not responded to standard treatment, we are glad to evaluate whether TMS is an appropriate next step and to keep you in the loop on their progress.
What Happens After You Reach Out
Once you contact us, your care team helps gather what is needed for a screening: your diagnosis, your treatment history, and basic medical safety information. This is a low-pressure step. We are simply building the picture a provider needs to determine whether TMS makes sense for you.
If TMS looks like a potential fit, a psychiatric provider completes an evaluation, reviews consent and education with you, and answers your questions. Before treatment begins, your plan is personalized through a mapping appointment, where the provider locates the precise treatment area and sets your individual dosing. Only then do regular sessions start.
There is no pressure and no obligation. Screening simply helps determine the right next step for you, which may or may not be TMS. If it is not the right fit, we will tell you honestly and help point you toward an appropriate option. To learn more about what the day-to-day looks like, see what to expect during a course of TMS.
Wondering if TMS could be right for you?
Your provider and TMS team determine eligibility. Individual responses vary.
What to Have Ready
You do not need to prepare anything to reach out, but if you want to speed things along, it helps to have a few things in mind:
- A sense of your depression symptoms and how long they have lasted.
- Your history of antidepressant medications and how you responded to them.
- Your insurance information, so we can verify your benefits.
If you do not have all of this on hand, that is completely fine. Our team can walk you through it. The goal of gathering this information is to make your screening as smooth and accurate as possible, not to create hurdles before you can talk to us.
You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone
Whatever you are feeling right now, you do not have to sort it out by yourself. Reaching out is the hardest part, and our team is here to make the rest easier. Use the form below to begin your screening, or call (877) 611-0099 to talk with someone today.
If you are struggling or in crisis, you do not have to wait. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline any time. If this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Key Terms
Screening
An initial review of your diagnosis, treatment history, and medical safety information to determine whether TMS may be an appropriate option for you.
Evaluation
A more detailed assessment by a psychiatric provider that confirms your diagnosis and whether you meet the criteria for TMS treatment.
Referral
A request from another clinician asking us to evaluate a patient for TMS. We coordinate the screening and keep the referring provider informed.
Consent
The process of reviewing the treatment, its benefits, and its risks with your provider so you can make an informed decision before beginning.
Mapping Appointment
A session before treatment begins where the provider locates the precise area of the brain to target and sets your individual dosing for TMS.
Helpful Resources
- NIMH: Help for Mental Illnesses — federal guidance on finding help for yourself or someone else.
- FindTreatment.gov — SAMHSA tool to locate mental health and substance use services.
- MedlinePlus: Depression — plain-language patient information from the National Library of Medicine.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential support, 24/7 by call, text, or chat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Started
How do I start TMS at DTIP?
Reach out for yourself or have a clinician refer you, using the form on this page or by calling our team. We will start a screening to determine the right next step. There is no obligation, and you do not need anything prepared to begin the conversation.
Do I need a referral to start TMS?
No. You can reach out directly for yourself or a loved one, and clinicians can also refer a patient. Either way, a screening and provider evaluation determine whether TMS is appropriate for the individual.
Does reaching out commit me to treatment?
No. There is no pressure and no obligation. A screening simply helps determine the right next step for you, which may or may not be TMS. If it is not the right fit, we will tell you honestly and help point you toward an appropriate option.
What information should I have ready?
It helps to have a sense of your depression symptoms and how long they have lasted, your history of antidepressant medications and how you responded, and your insurance information so we can verify your benefits. If you do not have all of it, our team can walk you through it.
How are clinician referrals handled?
Providers and Discovery Point Retreat teams can refer a patient for TMS review. We coordinate the screening, handle the clinical documentation, and keep the referring clinician informed throughout the patient's course of care.