TMS therapy in Knoxville, TN

Medication-free depression treatment in West Knoxville

If you’ve tried antidepressants 2 or 3 times and are still struggling with depression, you’re not alone, and the next step doesn’t have to be another prescription. TMS is a medication-free, FDA-cleared treatment for depression, and Athena Care delivers it at 10133 Sherrill Boulevard, Suite 220 in West Knoxville, our interventional psychiatry home for East Tennessee. 

You can schedule a free, 15-minute inquiry call to get started. 

How TMS works, without the jargon

Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses focused magnetic pulses, delivered through a coil resting against your scalp, to wake up the mood circuits in the left prefrontal cortex that go quiet in depression. Nothing enters your bloodstream; nothing sedates you, and nothing about it feels like a procedure. TMS has been FDA-cleared for depression since 2008 ^[1] and studied in more than 100 clinical trials ^[3]. It’s built for exactly the situation where medications haven’t worked well enough, which is why insurers frame it around treatment-resistant depression. You may have treatment-resistant depression if you’ve tried antidepressants two or more times and haven’t gotten enough relief from depression

What to expect, session by session

Your first TMS appointment is the longest. We’ll gather your full history, do a contraindication screening, and will motor threshold mapping, which calibrates the exact pulse strength your brain needs. After that, sessions settle into a rhythm: you’re in a recliner, awake, earplugs in, feeling a light tapping with a rhythmic click for 20 to 40 minutes, then you can go straight back to your day. A standard course runs 5 sessions per week for 4 to 6 weeks, and because there’s no sedation, you drive yourself to every one of them. Many West Knoxville patients book before work, since we starts sessions at 8a. We also offer lunchtime and afterschool sessions.

TMS outcomes

• In the largest real-world study of TMS in routine clinical practice, 58% of people with treatment-resistant depression responded to a full course and 37% reached remission. ^[2] For a group that medication has already failed, those are strong, honest odds. And your own curve matters more than anyone’s average, which is why we track your symptoms with standardized scores at every stage, so progress is something you watch happen. 
   
  At Athena Care, we also track outcomes: 

• 88% of Athena Care patients had a clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms and 77% had a clinically substantial improvement 

• 66% of Athena Care patients had at least a 50% reduction in symptoms (“responders”) 

• 32% of Athena Care patients achieved remission (symptom-free) 

• On average, patient depression scores improved by 57%.^[6] 

Safety and side effects

The most common side effect is mild scalp discomfort or a headache in early sessions, and it usually fades within the first week. TMS causes no weight gain, no sexual side effects, no memory problems, and no sedation, because nothing systemic is involved.^[3] It isn’t a fit for people with certain implanted metallic devices near the head, like pacemakers or deep brain stimulators; standard dental work is fine. Seizures are a rare risk, and a trained technician is with you at every session.^[3]

Cost and insurance in Knoxville

Fortunately, most major plans cover TMS for depression once you’ve documented two adequate antidepressant trials plus a course of psychotherapy. We’re in network with Aetna, Ambetter, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Cigna, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare, and our team pulls the records together and files the authorization for you, so the criteria are our paperwork problem, not yours. We also offer self-pay options and payment plans for those without insurance.  

Serving West Knoxville, Farragut, Oak Ridge, and East Tennessee

You’ll find us at 10133 Sherrill Boulevard, Suite 220, Knoxville, TN 37932, in West Knoxville just off Kingston Pike, with free parking right outside. We treat patients from across Knox County and well beyond it: Farragut, Powell, Karns, Oak Ridge, Maryville, and the counties in between, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. For a lot of East Tennessee, this clinic is the difference between doing a daily TMS course and never starting one. In our Knoxville location, we use the MagVenture machine for TMS. 

Why Athena Care Knoxville

TMS here is one tool in a number of options: In Knoxville, we also offer Spravato and ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. Schedule a free, 15-minute inquiry call and a care provider can help you determine the best option for you. In Knoxville we also offer medication management and therapy, which can continue alongside whichever path you take, and treatment is overseen by clinicians who see your scores every week. If your plan needs to change mid-course, your clinic doesn’t. Reach out at 877-641-1155, or start from the Knoxville clinic page for directions.

You can also schedule a free, 15-minute inquiry call with us.  

Meet our Chief Medical Officer

Athena Care’s Chief Medical Officer is the psychiatrist Dr. Amanda Sparks-Bushnell, M.D. She oversees Athena Care’s TMS program.

Dr. Amanda Sparks-Bushnell is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist who maintains a heartfelt commitment to transformative leadership and patient well-being. Her career is marked by a passion for enhancing medical services, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the utmost care for those she serves.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions about TMS in Knoxville

How long does TMS take, per session and overall? 

Sessions run 20 to 40 minutes, 5 days a week for 4 to 6 weeks, typically 30 to 36 sessions in a full course. 

Can I drive and work right after a session?

Yes. No sedation, no downtime. You drive yourself to every session and go straight back to work or the rest of your day.

Does TMS hurt?

Most people describe light tapping with a clicking sound. Early-session scalp tenderness or a mild headache usually fades within the first week.

Does insurance cover TMS in Knoxville?

Most major insurers cover TMS for depression once their criteria are met, typically two adequate antidepressant trials plus psychotherapy. We verify your benefits and file the paperwork before you start. 

Is TMS the same as magnet therapy or PEMF?

No. Consumer magnet products and pulsed electromagnetic field devices are not FDA-cleared depression treatments. TMS is a specific, FDA-cleared medical treatment delivered by trained staff with precisely targeted pulses.^[1] 

How is TMS different from Spravato?

TMS uses magnetic pulses and no medication at all; Spravato is a supervised esketamine nasal spray. We offer both in the same West Knoxville building, along with ketamine. You can learn more about the differences here. We’ll help you determine the best option for you. Schedule a free, 15-minute inquiry call today to get started.  

What if TMS isn’t enough? 

Then the next step is a conversation, not a referral across town: Spravato, ketamine, medication adjustments, and therapy all live in the same clinic with the team that already knows your history. 

One more thing, because it matters: if you’re in crisis right now, don’t wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. 

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