TMS Therapy

A safe, effective, FDA-approved treatment for depression in Denver, CO

Awake throughout, no downtime
No prior auth, no waiting to start
Board-Certified MD Psychiatrists

4.7 from 37 Google reviews

$ 0

All-inclusive standard course

0

Sessions, one a day over 6-8 weeks

0

Board-certified psychiatrists

0

Treating patients in Denver since

The short version

TMS at Confluence, in brief

What it is
A full course of TMS for depression, overseen by a psychiatrist.
What happens
Short sessions in a reclining chair. You're awake throughout, and you drive yourself home.
Who it's for
Adults and teenagers from 15 whose depression hasn't improved on medication or therapy.
How long it takes
3 options accelerated 1-2 days, 5 days, or 6-8 weeks standard
Cost
$3,800 standard, all in. $5,500 for the 5-day, $2,800 for the 1–2 day.
Note
We don't bill insurance for TMS. Credentialing is in progress, and we'll tell you where it stands on your call.

The TREATMENT

What is TMS?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation uses gentle, MRI-strength magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain networks involved in mood. There is no anesthesia, no surgery, and no systemic medication. Most people return to normal activities immediately after sessions. Intermittent theta burst (iTBS) is available, shortening each session from around 20 minutes to between three and ten minutes.

How does it work?

TMS for depression repeatedly activates an area of the brain suppressed in depression and returns this activity over time to a healthy state

Suitability

Who can TMS help

TMS could be a good fit if
  • You'd prefer not to take medication.
  • Medication helps, but not enough.
  • You get side effects from medication that are difficult to live with.
  • You'd rather not take something every day.
  • You want treatment with no recovery time, so you can drive yourself home.
We'd check carefully
  • Whether you have a history of seizures.
  • Whether you have metal implants in or near your head.
  • Whether you're likely to respond to treatment and tolerate it well.

No prior authorization required, and no waiting list to start. TMS isn't right for everyone. We check all of this before anything is booked, and if it isn't the right treatment for you, we'll say so.

AGES 15 TO 21

Treating a Teenager?

TMS is an option for teens whose depression hasn't lifted on antidepressants, running alongside their current care.

Adolescent care is led by Dr. Nandakumar, fellowship-trained in child and adolescent psychiatry.

FDA-cleared as an adjunct treatment for major depressive disorder in patients aged 15 to 21 who haven't responded to prior antidepressant medication.

What happens

Your first visit, start to finish

The free call


We take a few details, then a psychiatrist calls you back, usually within 24 hours. Ten minutes on what you've tried, and an honest answer on whether TMS is worth pursuing.

Evaluation and mapping


A full evaluation confirms you're a candidate and screens for anything that would make TMS unsafe. Your psychiatrist then finds the exact coil position and sets your stimulation level.

Your course


A reclining chair, a clicking sound, a light tapping. Read, listen to music, or just chat. Then drive yourself home.

Follow-up


Your psychiatrist tracks your progress and adjusts if it stalls. Touch-ups within six months are included.

The equipment

The system we use

We treat with Ampa One:

Camera-guided targeting

A camera keeps the coil in the same spot every session, not by measurement alone. FDA-approved, prescription-only.

A dose set from you

Set from your own physiology, not an average.

Short sessions

A few minutes at a time, so the accelerated schedules work.

What happens

Three ways to do this

Three schedules. All three all-inclusive.

Most people start here

Standard

One session a day for six to eight weeks.

Sessions 36
Schedule One a day, 6–8 weeks
Price $3,800
Best for Fitting it around work

5-Day Accelerated

The full course in one week instead of six.

Sessions 50
Schedule Over one week
Price $5,500
Best for Done in one week

1-2 Day Accelerated

A brief intensive, 20 sessions over two days.

Sessions 20
Schedule Over two days
Price $2,800
Best for Can't spare a week

Every course includes your evaluation, all follow-up visits, and free touch-up sessions within six months. Not sure which fits? That's what the free call is for.

Pricing

What it costs

Most clinics bill these separately. Here it is one number.

Standard Course
BILLED
With Us
Initial clinical evaluation
Separately
Included
36 treatment sessions, over 6–8 weeks
Per session
Included
All follow-up visits
Per visit
Included
Touch-up sessions within six months
Full price
Included
Total, all-inclusive
$3,800
We don't currently accept insurance for TMS. Credentialing is in progress. Ask on your call and we'll tell you exactly where it stands. Until it goes through, you pay one fixed price with nothing to claim back, appeal or chase. For some people that's simpler. For others it's the reason to look elsewhere, and we'd rather you knew now than found out later.

Questions

What do people ask before they call

Straight answers to the questions we hear most.

  • How much is it, all in?

    $3,800 for the standard course, $5,500 for the 5-day and $2,800 for the 1-2 day. Every course includes your evaluation, all follow-ups and any touch-ups within six months. There is no per-session billing on top.

  • Do you take my insurance?

    Not for TMS. We're self-pay while credentialing goes through. Everything is billed at one flat rate with no hidden fees. If in-network cover is what decides it for you, say so on your call and we'll tell you where things stand.

  • How long does treatment take?

    The standard course is one session a day, five days a week, for six to eight weeks. The 5-day accelerated course condenses that into a single week, and the 1-2 day course into a weekend or less. Most people fit the standard course around work.

  • What does a session actually feel like?

    You sit in a reclining chair, fully awake and alert. You'll hear a clicking sound and feel a light tapping on your head. You can read, listen to music, or just chat. Most people find it uncomfortable at first and get used to it within a few sessions.

  • Will I need to stop my medication?

    Most patients continue their medication through TMS, and any changes are made by your psychiatrist as part of the evaluation.

  • How soon might I feel better?

    Most people who respond start noticing something between the second and fourth week, often before they can say what has changed. Families sometimes spot it first. The advice is to finish the full course before concluding.

  • Is TMS the same as ECT (shock therapy)?

    No. TMS uses focused magnetic pulses while you're awake. ECT passes electrical current through the whole brain under anesthesia. TMS needs no anesthesia and has no recovery period.

  • Do you treat teenagers?

    Yes, from 15. Adolescent care is led by Dr. Nandakumar, who is fellowship trained in child and adolescent psychiatry, so a teenager is assessed by a specialist rather than treated as a smaller adult.

  • What if it doesn't work for me?

    TMS doesn't work for everyone, and we'd rather say that plainly. The free call and the evaluation exist to filter out people who are not good candidates before anyone spends anything. If you complete a course and symptoms return within six months, touch-up sessions are included.

Why us

Real doctors, for whatever you’re facing

Two board-certified psychiatrists and a whole practice behind your care, whichever treatment brings you in.

All ages

Children, adults, and teenagers seen by a specialist.

Physician led

board-certified psychiatrist, not a technician or NP.

Seen quickly

A psychiatrist calls back within 24 hours.

Clear on cost

You'll know the cost before you commit.

Care that adapts

The right treatment for you, from a full range.

Whole-picture care

Depression, anxiety, ADHD and addiction, one practice.

Who treats you

Board-certified psychiatrists. One of them will evaluate you and oversee your course personally.

Dr. Charles Shuman, Founder · Psychiatrist

Dr. Charles Shuman

Founder · Psychiatrist

Trained at Temple University, the University of Florida and the University of Colorado, where he has also taught on the faculty. Founded Confluence in Denver in 2016.

Dr. Shankar Nandakumar, Psychiatrist

Dr. Shankar Nandakumar

Psychiatrist

Fellowship-trained in child and adolescent psychiatry, and leads adolescent care at the practice.

Patient stories from Ampa, the TMS system used at Confluence.

What patients say

The Confluence difference

Where the difference actually shows.

Other clinics
Speaking to a doctor
Before you schedule
After you've booked
Evaluation
Board-certified psychiatrist
Often an NP or PA
Mapping
Your doctor, personally
A technician
If it stalls
Your doctor adjusts it
Escalated, if anyone's free
Price
One flat rate, published
Quoted after assessment
Touch-ups
Free within six months
Charged per session

Find out whether TMS is right for you

Ten minutes with a psychiatrist. No charge, no commitment, and an honest answer either way.