Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic’s TMS Therapy can help

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression. 

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The weight of depression is real. Many people spend years fighting it, adjusting medications, managing side effects and wondering if this is simply how life is going to feel.

According to the World Health Organization, depression affects 5.7% of the global population. In Utah, those numbers are higher. The Utah Department of Health reports that the rate of self-reported lifetime depression is 26.1%, compared with a national average of 21.4%.

Despite how common it is, many people don’t find lasting relief from medication alone. If you or someone you love has tried the usual avenues of treatment and still feel stuck, that experience can be difficult to put into words. You can do everything you are supposed to do and still not get the outcome you hoped for.

But feeling like yourself again is still possible.

There are additional treatment approaches that many people have not heard of, particularly for those who have already tried antidepressants for years with no success. 

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): A nonmedication solution to persistent depression

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS, first became a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved option for treatment-resistant depression in 2008. Since then, it’s steadily grown as a first-line option for those whose symptoms don’t respond to medication. 

And yet, this may be the first time you’ve heard of it.

To understand how it works, it helps to start with the brain. For people with persistent depression or OCD, the part of the brain responsible for mood regulation can be underactive. TMS uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate those areas back into healthier activity. 

A typical session lasts 20 to 30 minutes, and all you have to do is sit comfortably in a reclined treatment chair. The clinician places an electromagnetic coil against your scalp at the mapped treatment location. The device delivers magnetic pulses to the targeted brain region, which many patients describe as a tapping or clicking sensation.

Sessions take place five days a week for four to six weeks. There’s no anesthesia, no sedation, no medication and no recovery time. Patients remain fully awake and can drive themselves home afterward.

Why TMS is different at Harper Clinic

With a treatment like this, precision matters. Many clinics offer TMS, but Harper Clinic uses the Magstim Horizon 3.0 with StimGuide Pro Navigation. Believed to be the only one of its kind in Utah, this machine is capable of delivering treatment to a target less than half a centimeter wide with an accuracy of under 0.2 mm. 

Rather than relying on a general target, Harper Clinic’s technology maps each patient’s brain individually so that they can deliver treatment exactly where it’s most likely to be effective.

A physician also oversees each case, so it’s not left to the technician alone. Many patients find comfort in that level of consistency and oversight over the course of their treatment.

Harper Clinic takes a multipronged approach to your care, you will also have discounted access to IV nutrient therapy, supplements, massage therapy, breathwork and sound bath classes all designed to help you feel better.

 

Who is this treatment for?

This kind of treatment is suited for people who feel like they’ve tried all the usual options and are still searching for something that works. TMS may be worth exploring if you fall into one of these three categories:

• You’re an adult with depression that hasn’t responded to medication.
• You’re an adult with OCD who needs more than medication or therapy alone.
• You’re the parent of a teenager age 16 or older who’s looking for a nonmedication path to treat their depression.

Will insurance cover TMS?

In many cases, yes. Most major insurance plans including Select Health, Medicaid, and United Health Care cover TMS. Plus, Harper Clinic works with additional insurance providers including Cigna, Aetna and UMR. You can visit harperclinicutah.com/tms-therapy-utah to learn more about insurance coverage.

Coverage typically requires you to have tried antidepressant medications in the past. If you haven’t, Harper Clinic’s physician can help guide you through the next steps. That might mean starting a short medication trial or building a clinical case for why another approach may be more appropriate. 

The clinic’s team will guide you through the authorization process from start to finish so that you know exactly what to expect.

Treating the whole person — not just the symptoms

Because of their philosophy that mental health recovery is a whole-person process, every patient receives a Harper Clinic Membership as part of their care. This includes free access to weekly sound bath, breathwork and yoga classes at the clinic, plus 20% off massage services, IV therapy and supplements. 

These services are supportive measures, not add-ons. For patients who already carry the heavy load of depression, having this type of care in one place can ease the burden of coordinating across multiple providers. 

How to learn more

Living with treatment-resistant depression can make you feel like there’s no clear next step. But there may be a different path that could offer relief.

If you’ve tried medication but want to explore other options, Harper Clinic offers a free, no-pressure 15-minute consultation. This is just a simple conversation to find out whether TMS could be the right fit for you or someone you love.

For more information, visit harperclinicutah.com/tms-therapy-utah or call 801-306-2345.

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This is a sponsored article brought to you by KSL TV in conjunction with the advertiser. The advertiser paid a fee to promote this article and may have influenced or authored the content. The views expressed in this article are those of the advertiser and do not necessarily reflect those of KSL TV, its parent company, or its staff.