What Does TMS Therapy Feel Like? A Step-by-Step Guide From Your First Session to Your Last

Starting a new treatment can bring up a lot of questions — especially when it involves your brain and mental health. If you’re considering NeuroStar® TMS therapy at AFG Guidance Center in Northfield on the North Shore of Chicago, understanding what the process entails can help you feel more confident and prepared.

Here’s a step-by-step look at what most patients experience from their very first TMS session through the final weeks of treatment.

Before Your First Session

TMS therapy is performed in a comfortable outpatient setting. You’ll be awake the entire time, seated in a treatment chair, and guided by a trained NeuroStar team member who remains with you throughout each session.

There’s no anesthesia, no recovery time, and no need to adjust your daily schedule afterward.

Days 1–5: Getting Started

During the first week of treatment, most patients focus on adjusting to a new routine and becoming comfortable with the process.

You may:

  • Meet and build rapport with your treatment team
  • Acclimate to the sensation of the magnetic pulses
  • Experience a mild headache or scalp discomfort
  • Mild headaches are common early on and can typically be relieved with Tylenol. For most patients, this discomfort subsides within the first week.

Days 6–10: Settling Into the Routine

As treatment continues, many patients begin to feel more relaxed and confident during sessions.

You may notice:

  • Increased comfort in the treatment chair
  • Growing trust in your NeuroStar care team
  • Less awareness of the treatment sensation
  • By this point, TMS often becomes a predictable, manageable part of your day.

Days 11–25: Early Changes Appear

During this phase, subtle but meaningful changes often begin to emerge.

Patients may:

  • Hear friends or family comment on positive changes
  • Notice improvements in energy, focus, anxiety or mood
  • Become more aware of emotional and behavioral shifts
  • These changes can be gradual, but they’re often encouraging signs that the brain is responding to treatment.

Days 26–30: Building Momentum

As treatment progresses, improvements may become more noticeable.

You might:

  • Feel a greater sense of motivation
  • Experience increased resilience when facing everyday challenges
  • Wonder if additional sessions are necessary because you’re feeling better
  • Even when improvement is evident, completing the full course of treatment is strongly encouraged to achieve the best possible outcome.

Days 31–36: Completing Treatment

By the final phase of NeuroStar TMS therapy, many patients report significant relief from depression symptoms.

Common experiences include:

  • A noticeable reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms
  • Pride in completing the full course of 36 treatments
  • Continued improvements even after the final session
  • Many patients continue to notice positive changes for weeks following the completion of treatment.

What Happens After TMS Therapy Ends?

It’s completely normal to wonder what comes next. After completing NeuroStar TMS therapy, patients are encouraged to work with their care team to outline a plan for continued support and engagement with their practice.

Ongoing care helps maintain progress and supports long-term well-being.

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re considering TMS therapy and want to know whether it’s right for you, the team at AFG Guidance Center is here to answer your questions, verify insurance coverage, and guide you every step of the way.

Call AFG Guidance Center at (847) 853-0234 to learn more about NeuroStar TMS therapy and take the next step toward relief.