Dr. Brett Greenberger
The Premier Provider for TMS for Teens
- #1 TMS psychiatrist for teens in the region
- #10 Nationwide for TMS treatment for adolescents
- Treated over 150 patients since 2018
Education:
Boston University
7 year BA/MD Program
University of Maryland
Adult Psychiatry Residency
University of Maryland
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Neurostar® Advanced Therapy TMS For Teens
New hope for adolescents and their parents.
If your teen is exhibiting signs of depression, it’s easy to let fear drive decision making. Don’t let the seriousness of the situation and doubts over what to do next turn into hesitation and inaction. Have a conversation with them, listen, encourage them to take the next step toward relief, and include them in the process of seeking treatment.
Watch Video Presentation (60 minutes)
Safe and Effective for Adolescent Depression
Ongoing studies show that TMS is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and improving the overall well-being of teenagers who have not responded to other treatments.
Nearly 10,000 adolescents have been treated with over 300,000 NeuroStar sessions. (Based on 169,000 global patients treated. Data on File, 2024)
For those with treatment-resistant depression, TMS can offer hope for young people living with depression, allowing them to be successful at school, home and in the community.
Benefits of TMS Therapy for Teenagers
Non-Invasive
TMS is a non-invasive treatment, which means it doesn’t involve surgery or the use of medications that can have systemic side effects. This can be particularly appealing for teenagers and their families who are concerned about the potential risks and side effects of other treatment options.
Minimized Medication Use
TMS offers a safe alternative to medication for teenagers with chronic and significant depression. Some individuals and their families prefer TMS as a treatment option because it doesn’t involve the use of multiple psychotropic drugs, which can have unwanted side effects and raise concerns about addiction.
Outpatient Treatment
TMS treatments occur in our warm, friendly office environment. Teens come to CC TMS for their treatment appointments with our master’s level, highly trained TMS Technicians. Immediately following each visit, your teen can resume their daily activities, including school, extracurricular and work during the entire treatment course.
“I watched this fall as my teenager fell back into depression despite psychiatric medications and therapy. When our doctor suggested trying TMS, we figured it was better than yet another guessing game with yet another med; I chose the Collaborative Counseling Center because the NeuroStar device is FDA approved for adolescents and Dr. Greenberger is board certified for adolescents. The biggest challenge was committing to going to the office every day, but the staff made it easy to schedule and the treatment itself was a quick in & out. It took a few weeks, but I began to see glimmers of my kid returning. By the time we were through, I saw a tremendous change for the better. I am so glad we tried this, and so glad to know it’s something we can return to again if we need it. I can’t recommend it enough!”
- Parent of 15 year-old TMS Patient
Is TMS Therapy Safe for Teenagers?
Ongoing research shows that TMS treatment consistently demonstrates a strong safety and efficacy profile for teenagers and adolescents between the ages of 13 to 21 with reports of minimal side effects in comparison to antidepressants. The most frequent complaint is headache, with less common scalp pain. Overall, the minimal occurrence of side effects along with the high response rate of TMS supports the use of this alternative approach to treat depression in children and adolescents. TMS for adolescents can be highly effective to reduce depressive symptoms and help teens live a healthy and productive life!
For those with treatment-resistant depression, TMS can offer hope for young people living with depression, allowing them to be successful at school, home and in the community.
Clinical Research on TMS and Teens
Who We Serve
Our office is in Columbia, and we treat families from Ellicott City, Clarksville, and throughout the greater Baltimore and Washington, DC area. For many Howard County families, we are the closest practice offering adolescent TMS under a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist.
Frequently Asked Questions
TMS is an FDA cleared treatment for teen depression, approved for ages 15 to 21, that uses magnetic pulses instead of medication and is used alongside your teen’s existing care. Our Parent’s Guide to Teen TMS covers safety, what sessions look like, insurance, and how to know if it’s the right fit for your child.
Yes. NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adolescent patients ages 15 to 21.
Antidepressants work systemically and carry a black box warning for increased suicidal thoughts in young people. TMS targets specific brain regions directly, is FDA cleared for ages 15 to 21, and does not carry that warning. It’s typically used alongside a teen’s existing treatment rather than as a replacement. See our full TMS vs Antidepressants comparison here
TMS is cleared as an adjunct treatment, meaning it is used alongside existing care rather than replacing it. Any change to your teen’s medication is a decision made with their prescribing physician.
The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. It is temporary, occurs during the treatment course, and for most patients does not continue after the first week.
Session length depends on the treatment protocol prescribed. The first visit, which includes motor threshold determination, runs about 60 to 90 minutes. Our Clinical Coordinator will walk you through the full schedule at your free consultation.
Sessions are scheduled around school where possible. Patients remain awake throughout and return to normal activity immediately afterward, including driving.
Anxiety frequently occurs alongside adolescent depression. Dr. Greenberger evaluates the full clinical picture during the assessment. See our page on TMS for anxious depression.
Call (443) 546-1100 to schedule a free consultation. There is no cost, and no commitment to treatment.
