BrainsWay Deep TMS
Deep TMS for depression and OCD — directed by the physician, with both coils.
FDA-cleared magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression and OCD. Dr. Beasley treats with both the H1 and H7 coils, plus theta-burst and accelerated protocols — and he personally oversees your treatment, setting and adjusting your protocol throughout.
Medically reviewed by C. Britt Beasley, MD · Last reviewed June 10, 2026
The treatment
What Deep TMS is
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses focused magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain regions involved in depression and OCD. It is non-invasive — no anesthesia, no sedation, no systemic drug — and you are awake and alert throughout. TMS is FDA-cleared and is one of the better-established non-pharmacologic treatments for major depressive disorder.
Deep TMS refers to the BrainsWay system specifically. Its distinguishing feature is the H-coil: where standard TMS machines (such as NeuroStar) use a figure-8 coil, BrainsWay's H-coils produce a deeper and broader magnetic field. That's a difference in how the field is delivered — a technology difference, not a promise of better results than any particular competitor.
What sets this practice apart
Both coils — H1 and H7
Most Richmond TMS clinics run a single, depression-only device. Dr. Beasley treats with both BrainsWay coils.
FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder. The H1 stimulates the prefrontal cortex, with emphasis on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex — a key target in the treatment of depression.
FDA-cleared for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The H7 targets the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex. Deep TMS for OCD is genuinely uncommon in Richmond — having the H7 in active use means OCD patients have a real interventional option here.
Protocols
More than one way to run a course
Standard acute course
Roughly 36 sessions over several weeks, typically five days a week, followed by a taper. Each session takes about 20 minutes.
iTBS (theta burst)
Intermittent theta-burst stimulation delivers treatment in a shorter per-session format, which can compress the time you spend in the chair while you remain awake and alert.
Accelerated protocols
For appropriate patients, an accelerated schedule delivers multiple sessions per day over fewer days, rather than spreading the full course across weeks. Whether it fits you is a clinical decision Dr. Beasley makes with you — it isn't right for everyone.
What a session is actually like
You sit in a chair, awake. A cushioned helmet containing the coil is positioned over your head. During the pulses you'll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping on your scalp. The first session includes a “mapping” step, where Dr. Beasley determines your motor threshold to calibrate the right stimulation level for you.
A typical session runs about 20 minutes (less with theta burst). You can drive yourself, return to work, and resume your day immediately — there's no sedation and no recovery period. The most common side effect is scalp discomfort or headache early in the course, which usually settles as you continue.
Are you a candidate?
Deep TMS is generally considered when:
- You have treatment-resistant depression — typically, two or more antidepressants tried at adequate dose and duration without getting well; or
- You have OCD that hasn't responded adequately to medication and/or therapy.
There are safety screens — certain implanted metal devices near the head are contraindications — which Dr. Beasley reviews at your evaluation. The honest version: the way to know is an evaluation. Request one and we'll tell you directly whether TMS is the right move.
The standard here
The physician directs the care.
At many TMS clinics, a technician runs the device under loose physician oversight. Here, Dr. Beasley personally oversees your treatment, sets and adjusts your protocol, and is on-site for your care. A trained clinical team may deliver your sessions, but the physician directs the course. That's the practice's standard, not an upgrade.
Insurance
Deep TMS is covered by many insurers for treatment-resistant depression and, increasingly, for OCD — though rules and prior-authorization vary by plan. We review your specific coverage before you commit to a course.
How insurance worksDeep TMS questions
Common questions
How long does TMS take to work?
Is Deep TMS painful?
What's the difference between BrainsWay Deep TMS and standard TMS?
Can I get TMS for OCD in Richmond?
Now accepting new patients
Find out if Deep TMS is right for you.
Request an evaluation and Dr. Beasley will tell you directly whether TMS — H1, H7, theta-burst, or accelerated — is the right move. Most new patients are seen within days.