For families and caregivers
How to help someone you love access treatment
Supporting a family member through treatment-resistant depression is one of the harder things you can do. This page explains what TMS and Spravato are, what you can realistically do to help, and what the treatment experience looks like from the outside.
- Multidisciplinary teamNeurology, psychiatry & care coordination
- Insurance acceptedMedicare, Tricare, most major plans
- Virtual visitsTelehealth for qualifying services
- 2 locationsLong Island and Westchester, NY
- 500+ patientsTrusted by families since 2018
When to encourage a loved one to seek a second opinion
TMS therapy and Spravato are designed specifically for patients whose depression has not responded adequately to standard treatments. If your family member describes any of the following, it may be time to ask about interventional psychiatry options.
Has tried two or more antidepressant medications without adequate improvement
Stopped medications because side effects were intolerable
Has relapsed after previously responding to medication
Describes feeling "numb" or like medications are not doing anything
Has been managing symptoms for years without sustained relief
Has depression alongside anxiety, OCD, or PTSD that is not well controlled
What TMS looks like from the outside
What your family member experiences
- Sits in a chair, fully awake, while a device delivers magnetic pulses to the scalp
- Sessions last 20 to 40 minutes — comparable to a doctor's appointment
- Five sessions per week for four to six weeks, typically Monday through Friday
- No sedation, no medication, no anesthesia
- Drives themselves to and from every session
- Returns to work, school, or daily activities immediately after
- May feel mild scalp discomfort or headache after early sessions, which typically diminishes
What you can do as a support person
- Offer to help with the initial appointment booking — a simple, concrete act
- Help them build TMS into their schedule; consistency matters during the treatment course
- Understand that early weeks may not show obvious changes — improvement typically builds over weeks 2 to 4
- Avoid interpreting slow early progress as evidence the treatment is not working
- Encourage them to attend every session — missing sessions can affect outcomes
- Let them lead the conversation about how they are feeling during treatment
What Spravato looks like from the outside
What your family member experiences
- Self-administers a nasal spray at the clinic, under the direct supervision of a licensed provider
- Remains in the office for a minimum of two hours while monitored for sedation and other effects
- May experience temporary dissociation (a feeling of detachment or altered perception) during the observation period — this is expected and resolves the same day
- Treatment sessions twice per week for the first four weeks, then less frequently over time
- Cannot drive on any treatment day — transportation must be arranged in advance
- Side effects such as dizziness and nausea are common but typically resolve by the end of the observation window
Your role as a support person
- Transportation is required on every treatment day — this is a firm FDA REMS program requirement, not optional
- You are welcome to wait at the office during the two-hour observation period
- Your loved one should not be left alone for extended periods after the session if sedation or dissociation effects linger
- Plan treatment days around driving availability — especially during the twice-weekly induction phase
- Ask questions about what to expect before the first session; our staff can answer them over the phone
What the practice can and cannot share with you
Under HIPAA, Cognifica Health cannot share clinical information about an adult patient without that patient's written authorization. This protects your family member's privacy and is not a barrier you can work around.
Your family member can choose to authorize communication between the practice and you. We encourage patients with active support networks to do this — family involvement in psychiatric care is associated with better adherence and outcomes.
What you can always ask us
- →General information about how TMS or Spravato works
- →What to expect as a support person on treatment days
- →What insurance is accepted
- →How to help your loved one book an appointment
- →What to do if your family member is in crisis
Questions families ask most
Call us before your family member books
You are welcome to call our office with questions before your loved one schedules an appointment. We can explain the treatments, describe what to expect on treatment days, and help you understand how to be most useful during the process.