Seven questions to ask before starting TMS.

Who will evaluate me and oversee treatment?

Ask for the name and professional role of the clinician responsible for your care, who will carry out each session, and how to reach the responsible clinician if a concern comes up. Ask what training the team has with the device and treatment being proposed.

The answers should make the responsibilities understandable. A job title or a photograph alone does not tell you how the team will communicate with you during a course of care.

What will the evaluation cover?

Ask what information to bring about previous treatment, medications, and health history. Mayo Clinic's TMS preparation guidance describes medical and mental-health evaluation and the importance of discussing medicines, implanted devices, and seizure history with the provider.

You can also ask how the clinician will explain other options if TMS does not fit. An appointment's length alone cannot tell you how thorough it will be; ask what happens during it and whether there will be time for your questions.

Which device and treatment schedule are being proposed?

Ask for the device name, the condition being treated, and an explanation of how the proposed use relates to the device's FDA clearance. Ask how long each visit takes, how often you would attend, and how many weeks the team expects the course to last.

Write down the schedule for your proposed treatment, including any initial assessment or mapping appointment. Add travel, parking, and time away from other responsibilities before deciding whether it is manageable. Ask how the team handles missed visits and scheduling conflicts.

What might treatment feel like, and what happens if I have side effects?

Mayo Clinic lists scalp discomfort and headache among possible side effects. Serious effects, including seizures, are rare. Ask the treating clinician about your individual risks, how discomfort is handled, and whom to contact between appointments.

For practical planning, ask what to expect after the first session and whether anything in your circumstances changes the advice about driving or returning to work.

What will I pay, and what is still uncertain?

Ask for a written explanation of the expected charges, insurance checks, and any authorization steps before committing. Confirm what is included in an estimate and what might change it. Ask whom to contact if the insurer's answer differs from the clinic's estimate.

Keep the answers with your appointment notes so you can compare options without relying on memory.

How will progress be reviewed?

Ask how the team will discuss changes in symptoms and daily functioning, when reviews happen, and what happens if progress is limited. If a clinic quotes a success rate, ask where it comes from, which patients it describes, and how improvement was defined.

A study result or a clinic average cannot tell you exactly how you will respond. The follow-up conversation matters as much as the headline number.

What happens after the course ends?

Ask who will coordinate ongoing care, how the TMS team communicates with an existing therapist or prescriber, and what to do if symptoms change later. Ask when the first follow-up is planned and whom to contact if symptoms return. Getting these details in writing gives you a contact and a next step beyond the final treatment visit.