Booking a consultation about transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) does not commit you to treatment. It gives you time to discuss whether the approach suits your needs, weigh the risks and consider alternatives. A little preparation can leave more room for the questions that matter most to you.
TMS uses magnetic pulses delivered through a coil placed against the scalp. For depression, it may be considered when standard treatments have not helped enough. The consultation helps establish whether it is an appropriate option for your circumstances.
1. Confirm the booking requirements
Before your appointment, ask the clinic what referral it needs and which records to send. Booking requirements can vary between services. Check who will assess you and whether the consultation is in person, along with what it will cost.
Ask whether the clinic would like letters from your GP or psychiatrist in advance. If you need help obtaining records, let the team know. You do not need a perfectly organised medical file before getting in touch to ask for advice.
2. Make a treatment timeline
Write a short account of previous treatment for depression. For each medicine, include the name, dose and approximate dates, along with whether it helped, caused side effects or became difficult to continue. Add psychological therapies and any previous brain stimulation treatment to the same timeline.
If you cannot remember a dose or date, leave a gap rather than guessing. Your GP, pharmacist or previous treating team may be able to help fill in the missing details.
Bring a separate list of everything you take now, including prescription medicines, non-prescription sleep aids, vitamins and herbal supplements. Do not stop or change medication to prepare for TMS unless your prescribing clinician advises it.
3. Describe your symptoms and goals
Note how you have been feeling recently and what has become harder in daily life. You might describe disrupted sleep or withdrawing from friends, as well as any difficulty with ordinary tasks. These details give the clinician more context than simply saying you feel better or worse.
Choose two or three changes you hope treatment could help with. You might want enough energy to prepare meals or to take part in family activities again. Goals can help guide a conversation about what meaningful improvement would look like for you, without promising that a particular treatment will deliver it.
4. Prepare for the safety discussion
The team needs your medical and mental health history to assess safety. Tell them about implanted devices or metal in your body, including pacemakers, cochlear implants and surgical clips. Bring device details if you have them. Some implants may prevent treatment, while others require individual assessment, so leave that decision to the treating team.
Also mention any seizures, family history of epilepsy, significant head injuries, bipolar disorder or previous episodes of mania. Disclose pregnancy or plans for pregnancy and alcohol or other substance use, along with any previous experience with TMS.
Tell the clinician about other health concerns too, even if you are unsure whether they are relevant to treatment.
5. Write down questions about benefits and risks
Ask why TMS is being considered for you and what alternatives remain. Response is not guaranteed, so discuss how progress would be assessed and when the team would review whether treatment is helping.
Ask about common side effects, including scalp discomfort and headache, as well as uncommon but serious risks such as seizures or mania. Find out how hearing protection is used and what you should do if you develop symptoms between appointments.
You can also ask what a session feels like. TMS does not usually require anaesthesia, but knowing what sensations to expect and how safety procedures work can make the decision feel less unfamiliar. Request explanations in plain language and take notes if that helps.
6. Work through attendance and costs
If you are exploring TMS therapy in Melbourne, consider which location you could realistically reach throughout a course. Ask about the proposed number and frequency of appointments, how long each visit lasts and arrangements for missed sessions. Find out whether the first appointment takes longer than later ones.
Check the clinic’s advice about driving and whether you should arrange support or transport. Think about how appointments would fit around work or caring responsibilities, allowing for travel time before agreeing to a schedule.
Request a written estimate covering the consultation, treatment and any follow-up appointments. Ask the team to assess whether Medicare rebates apply to your circumstances and clarify the likely out-of-pocket cost. If you plan to use private insurance, check any benefit directly with your insurer rather than assuming cover.
7. Leave with a clear next step
Before leaving, summarise your understanding of the recommendation. Ask who will coordinate with your usual treating clinician and whether further information is needed, as well as whom to contact with questions.
You can request time to consider the information before consenting. The aim is an informed decision, whether that means proceeding, exploring another option or gathering more details first.
This guide provides general information, not an individual treatment recommendation. Your treating clinician can advise how these considerations apply to your health and care plan.
