Providing Patients With New Hope
If you struggle with depression that won’t go away, you know how isolating and hopeless it can feel. It may seem as though you’ve tried everything, and that you won’t ever get back to a happy, more hopeful place. You’re not alone. In fact, one in three people who suffer from depression will try several antidepressant medications without success.
The good news is that when medications and counseling haven’t worked well or even at all, brain stimulation – therapies that aim to change patterns of activity in the brain – can be highly effective. As recognized leaders in the field, the brain stimulation team at Atrium Health has the experience and tools to help.
Our Approach to Brain Stimulation Techniques
We bring to the table a deep understanding of mood disorders, and how brain stimulation techniques can help our patients reclaim their lives and build a better future. Our dedicated team of board-certified physicians, registered nurses and certified technicians has the expertise and advanced training to perform innovative brain stimulation therapies, including both transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and modern electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
We will partner with you and your mental health provider to decide which option is better for you, and to ensure these therapies are part of your complete care plan. Brain stimulation is often used in combination with other therapies, including:
- Medications
- Counseling
- Exercise
- Nutritional counseling/healthy eating
- Group therapy
Brain Stimulation Treatment Options: TMS and ECT
Our expert team takes a personalized approach to your care, tailoring your treatment to meet your individual needs. Brain stimulation treatments include:
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) – a non-invasive treatment that uses repetitive magnetic pulses to stimulate and “reset” the area of the brain associated with mood. TMS is conveniently offered in our offices and with no need for anesthesia, so you can go back to your regular daily activities right away.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – ECT is one of the most proven therapies for treating treatment-resistant depression. This therapy has a long history of success, and today’s ECT treatments have improved considerably from the past. For your comfort, the treatment is done under brief general anesthesia.
What Sets Us Apart in Delivering ECT and TMS?
We offer our patients:
- An expert medical team with advanced training. Our clinicians have extensive experience in treating mood disorders as well as in-depth, hands-on training in the use of TMS from nationally renowned physicians who first pioneered its use .
- Individualized treatment plans. We believe in tailoring brain stimulation services to meet each individual patient’s needs. We also have experience with carefully adjusting therapies based on the way each patient responds to treatment.
- Expertise in both techniques. We are one of the few healthcare systems in the region to offer both ECT and TMS. That means if one option isn’t working, patients can easily transition under the same care team to try the other treatment approach.
- Easy access to your doctors during TMS treatment sessions. Our trained technicians stay with patients during each and every treatment and our doctors are always on-site if needed, which is not always the case at other facilities.
We’re Here for You
Most of the patients we see have battled depression and other mental health conditions for many years – sometimes, even decades. It’s easy to lose hope when nothing else is working, but brain stimulation may help. Many of our patients are able to return to work or school. They also report feeling less depressed and anxious and more optimistic about their lives and futures.
We are here for you through every step of your journey. If you think you might benefit from these brain stimulation services, talk with your mental health provider about making a referral to our program. Please click here to download our referral form.
We are here for you through every step of your journey. If you think you might benefit from these brain stimulation services, talk with your mental health provider about making a referral to our program. We are happy to answer any questions. Please call us at 704-512-7578 .
Learn more about the advanced TMS and ECT treatments offered at Atrium Health.
In Crisis? Reach out
If you are in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, dial 911 for immediate help. This is an emergency.
You can also find support by calling the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255. suicidepreventionlifeline.org
This free service is available 24/7.
Our Brain Stimulation Treatment Locations
For Consultation
Carolinas HealthCare System Behavioral Health - Charlotte
501 Billingsley Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28211
Carolinas HealthCare System - Davidson
16740 Davidson-Concord Rd. (Hwy 73)
Davidson, NC 28036
For TMS
Carolinas HealthCare System Behavioral Health - Charlotte
501 Billingsley Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28211
For ECT
Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center
2001 Vail Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28207
Atrium Health Huntersville
16455 Statesville Road
Huntersville, NC 28078
For More Information
Make a Referral for Brain Stimulation Services
Our primary goal is to partner with you and your patients to provide the best behavioral health services to help improve their mental health and quality of life.
To learn more or to make a referral, call 704-512-7578 .