TMS Therapy (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

When ongoing stress, caregiving exhaustion, or burnout tips into clinical depression or an anxiety disorder, TMS can help. Deep TMS works by restoring healthy activity in the brain regions that regulate mood, so it’s most effective when stress has led to persistent low mood, anxious depression, or treatment-resistant depression — not everyday pressure on its own. That’s why TMS at CTT is rarely delivered in isolation. It’s integrated with complementary CBT and other supports, so we’re addressing both the brain activity driving your symptoms and the patterns and pressures fueling them in daily life.

Yes. Many of the physical symptoms people struggle with — disrupted sleep, fatigue, low energy, trouble concentrating — are tied to the same brain circuits involved in mood and anxiety. By stimulating those regions directly, Deep TMS can help restore healthier regulation, and patients often report better sleep and more energy as their treatment course progresses. Because TMS at CTT is guided by qEEG brain mapping, we can target the specific areas linked to your symptoms rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

Yes. MediCard financing is available, and our team will help you understand your options before you commit to anything.

TMS is most commonly recommended for people who have navigated depression, OCD, anxious depression, or PTSD and have not experienced adequate relief through medication or talk therapy alone. It is also explored for off-label applications based on physician assessment. The best way to find out is to book a free information session at our Oakville clinic. We will review your history and give you an honest answer.

A standard course runs five days a week over about four to six weeks, with each session lasting 20 to 40 minutes. Most people don’t feel a dramatic change overnight — relief tends to build gradually over the weeks of treatment, and some notice improvements in sleep or energy before shifts in mood. For those who need a faster path, CTT also offers accelerated TMS, an evidence-based protocol that condenses treatment into multiple sessions per day over a much shorter window — an option that sets our clinic apart in Ontario. Whichever course is right for you, your psychiatrist checks in partway through to review your progress, and a second qEEG at the end documents the changes in your brain activity, so your progress is measured rather than guessed at.

Each TMS session is $250. Those purchasing multiple sessions may qualify for a reduced rate. MediCard financing is available. Financial barriers should never stand between you and the treatment that could help you most.

TMS at CTT Wellness may be covered through several funding pathways, including MVA insurance claims, Veterans Affairs Canada, WSIB, the Ontario Autism Program, and extended health benefit plans, depending on your policy. Our team will help you understand your options and navigate the paperwork.

Yes. TMS is approved by Health Canada and the FDA and has been used in clinical settings for over 20 years. It is non-invasive, requires no sedation, and carries no systemic side effects associated with medication. The most commonly reported side effect is mild scalp discomfort or a headache during the first few sessions, which typically settles quickly. Your safety is assessed thoroughly by a CTT psychiatrist before treatment begins.

TMS is well tolerated, and its side effects are generally mild and short-lived. The most common are temporary scalp discomfort at the treatment site and a mild headache, both of which usually ease within the first week or so and respond to ordinary over-the-counter pain relief if needed. Unlike medication, TMS doesn’t cause weight gain, sexual side effects, fatigue, or “brain fog,” and there’s no recovery time. Serious side effects are very rare — BrainsWay Deep TMS has been used on more than 100,000 patients worldwide with a serious adverse event rate of less than 0.1 percent. Your psychiatrist reviews your history beforehand to confirm TMS is safe and appropriate for you.

Most people describe it as a mild tapping or knocking sensation on the scalp during the magnetic pulses. You may also hear a clicking sound from the device. Both are completely normal and temporary, and the sensation typically becomes more comfortable after the first few sessions. You remain fully awake and can read, listen to music, or simply relax. There is no pain and no sedation. Most people find this easy to get used to within the first session or two. Some notice mild scalp tenderness or a dull headache early in their course, which typically fades as treatment continues. You can drive yourself home and return to your day immediately afterward.

That’s exactly who TMS is designed for. Treatment-resistant depression — depression that hasn’t responded to one or more medications — is one of the most well-established uses of Deep TMS. It works through a completely different mechanism than medication, stimulating the brain directly rather than changing its chemistry from the inside, which is why it can help when other approaches haven’t. Previous treatments that didn’t work don’t count against you here. If anything, they’re often the reason TMS makes sense.

TMS is delivered in person at our Oakville clinic, located inside Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. It is the only CTT location currently offering BrainsWay Deep TMS and qEEG brain mapping. Patients travel to Oakville from across Ontario for their treatment course.

TMS is safe for most people, but certain conditions may make you ineligible. These include metallic implants in the head or neck (such as cochlear implants, aneurysm clips, or deep brain stimulators), a history of epilepsy or seizures, recent stroke, brain tumour, or implanted medical devices like pacemakers. Standard dental fillings and braces are generally safe. Our psychiatrist will review your medical history thoroughly during your consultation.

Many people experience meaningful, lasting relief after a course of Deep TMS, and a good number stay well for months or longer. As with any treatment, results vary, and some people benefit from occasional maintenance sessions to protect their progress over time. That’s why your care at CTT doesn’t end when your sessions do — we build a personalized aftercare and maintenance plan, and the post-treatment qEEG gives us a clear baseline to monitor against if symptoms ever begin to return.