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TMS therapy in Sydney — transcranial magnetic stimulation
TMS is a non-invasive, Medicare-supported treatment for depression — and it's coming to our Bondi Junction clinic.
It starts with a video assessment: an honest answer on whether TMS suits you, and a clear written estimate before anything begins.
Sessions take under an hour. You stay awake throughout and drive yourself home afterwards.
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What actually happens in a session
Sit in a chair, stay awake, twenty to forty minutes. Read, listen to something, or chat to the nurse. Then drive yourself home. No anaesthetic, no admission, no day written off.
Medicare supports up to 35 sessions in an initial course for eligible adults, with a shorter retreatment course if symptoms return.
What it costs
Better than most people expect. Medicare rebates apply to sessions in an initial course for eligible patients, DVA and workers compensation pathways may also apply, and your assessment is billed as a standard Dokotela consultation. You'll have a clear written estimate before treatment begins.
TMS may suit you if…
You've been diagnosed with depression and at least two antidepressants haven't done enough.
You haven't had a course of TMS before.
And you'd rather a treatment that doesn't involve anaesthetic or a hospital admission.
Three steps to get started
Ask your GP for a referral to Dokotela, or register your interest and we'll walk you through it.
A psychiatrist with rTMS training reviews what you've tried and confirms whether TMS is appropriate for you.
Sessions at our Sydney clinic, delivered by experienced mental health nurses, with psychiatrist reviews as you go.
Why choose Dokotela
A psychiatrist assesses you, prescribes your course and reviews your progress throughout — the same doctor, start to finish.
Your assessment is by video with a psychiatrist from our national network, so you're not waiting on one local clinic's calendar.
Your GP receives written updates at every stage, so everyone involved in your care is working from the same information.
Register your interest
TMS appointments at our Bondi Junction clinic open late 2026.
Register now and you'll be among the first we contact when bookings open — it takes under a minute.
GPs and health professionals are welcome to register too.
Registering does not create a referral or an appointment. Please speak with your GP about your current care in the meantime.
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Your questions answered
TMS delivers repeated magnetic pulses to specific brain regions linked with mood regulation, while you sit comfortably and stay awake. A typical session takes 20 to 40 minutes. Most people feel a tapping sensation on the scalp; the most common side effects are mild scalp discomfort and headache that usually settle after the first sessions.
Yes, for eligible patients. Medicare supports an initial course of up to 35 sessions, with a shorter retreatment course if symptoms return. DVA covers it for eligible card holders, and it can be approved under accepted workers compensation claims. You'll have a clear written estimate before treatment begins.
TMS uses gentle magnetic pulses while you are awake, needs no anaesthetic, and you can drive yourself home afterwards. ECT is a different, hospital-based treatment performed under anaesthetic. They suit different situations, and your psychiatrist can explain which, if either, applies to you.
Four things decide it: a diagnosis of depression, at least two antidepressants that haven't done enough, no previous course of TMS, and a prescription from a psychiatrist with the required training. A lot of people have quietly met all four for years without knowing it — your assessment confirms whether you're one of them.
We are here to help.
TMS is one of two pathways we offer
Our treatment-resistant depression clinic offers more than one advanced treatment option.
One psychiatrist assessment considers every suitable pathway, so the recommendation is based on what suits you, not what a clinic happens to have.
This is not an emergency service. If you or someone you know needs help right now: Lifeline 13 11 14 · Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 · Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 · MensLine Australia 1300 789 978 · 13YARN 13 92 76 · Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800. In an emergency, call 000.
