One-Day TMS for Depression in Denver: How the Ampa One System Is Rewriting What’s Possible

Imagine completing a full course of TMS treatment for depression — not over six weeks of daily appointments, but in a single day. You arrive in the morning. You leave in the afternoon. And over the following weeks, clinical data suggests that most patients will experience a profound lifting of depression that hasn’t responded to anything else.

This isn’t a future possibility. It’s available right now at Peak Interactive Wellness in Denver — and we are one of the first psychiatric practices in Colorado to offer it.

We use the Ampa One system: a next-generation, FDA-cleared TMS platform built around the most advanced accelerated brain stimulation science in the world. One day. Twenty sessions. An 87% response rate and 72% remission rate at three months in clinical data — numbers that traditional TMS, and most psychiatric medications, simply cannot match.

If you’ve been living with treatment-resistant depression, this post is for you.

What Is TMS — And Why Does It Work?

Before we explain why one-day TMS is revolutionary, it helps to understand why TMS works at all.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that uses focused magnetic pulses — similar in strength to those in an MRI scanner — to stimulate specific neural circuits in the brain. No anesthesia. No sedation. No surgery. You sit in a chair, remain fully awake throughout, and can drive yourself home immediately after.

The science behind TMS rests on a principle called neuroplasticity — the brain’s remarkable built-in capacity to rewire and strengthen its own circuits through repeated stimulation. In depression, the brain circuits responsible for emotional regulation, resilience, motivation, and self-control become underactive and weakened over time. The connections thin. The signals fade. And no matter how much you want to feel better, those circuits simply can’t fire the way they’re supposed to.

TMS reactivates them.

By delivering hundreds of precise magnetic pulses to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) — the brain region most strongly associated with mood regulation, executive function, and emotional resilience — TMS systematically rebuilds neural connectivity in the exact areas that depression has damaged. With enough stimulation delivered at the right intervals, the brain strengthens these pathways. Self-control returns. Emotional regulation returns. The weight of depression begins to lift.

This is not a metaphor. PET scan imaging before and after TMS visibly shows the reactivation of underactive brain circuits — metabolic activity returning in regions that had essentially gone dark.

The Problem With Traditional TMS

TMS has been FDA-cleared for treatment-resistant depression since 2008, and its efficacy is well-established. But the standard protocol has always had a significant barrier: time.

Traditional TMS requires patients to come in five days a week for four to six weeks — anywhere from 20 to 36 separate appointments before treatment is complete. Each session runs 19 to 37 minutes. Add travel, parking, and wait time, and you’re looking at a substantial portion of your life devoted to daily treatment visits for over a month.

For many patients — especially those who work full-time, have family responsibilities, live in mountain communities an hour or more from Denver, or are dealing with the very fatigue and anhedonia that depression causes — that schedule is simply not realistic. Thousands of people who could benefit from TMS never start it because the logistics are impossible.

The result? The treatment that could change their lives never gets a chance to.

And the outcomes from traditional TMS, while meaningful, have room to grow. Standard multi-week rTMS protocols demonstrate:

• Response rate: approximately 50–60%
• Remission rate: approximately 30–35%

Effective — but far from the ceiling of what’s possible.

The Science That Changed Everything: From Stanford to Ampa One

The revolution in accelerated TMS began at Stanford University, where Dr. Nolan Williams and his team developed a protocol that would fundamentally rethink how TMS is delivered.

The Stanford SAINT Trials

In 2020, Stanford published a landmark study in the American Journal of Psychiatry introducing SAINT — Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy. The results were unlike anything seen before in TMS research.

Rather than spreading sessions across weeks, SAINT delivered 10 iTBS sessions per day for 5 consecutive days — the same total stimulation dose as a traditional 6-week course, but compressed into five days with precisely calculated inter-session intervals that allow the brain to consolidate neuroplastic changes between rounds.

The results stopped the psychiatric world in its tracks.

In the initial open-label SAINT trial:

• 90.5% of participants met remission criteria (19 of 21 participants)
• In the intent-to-treat analysis: 86.4% remission rate
• No negative cognitive side effects were found on neuropsychological testing

These weren’t response rates. These were remission rates — meaning patients weren’t just feeling somewhat better. They were, by clinical definition, no longer depressed.

The FDA took notice. In 2022, the FDA cleared a commercial application of the SAINT protocol, making accelerated iTBS an officially recognized treatment for major depressive disorder — not just an experimental protocol.

Why Accelerated iTBS Outperforms Traditional TMS

The mechanism behind SAINT’s superior outcomes isn’t just about speed. It’s about neuroscience. Three specific innovations drive the difference:

1. Optimally spaced inter-session intervals The 50-minute spacing between sessions in the SAINT protocol is not arbitrary. It’s calibrated to the biology of synaptic plasticity — specifically, to allow each round of stimulation to initiate neuroplastic changes before the next round begins, creating a compounding effect that single daily sessions cannot replicate. More sessions per day, properly spaced, equals stronger and more durable neural rewiring.

2. Higher overall pulse dose The total stimulation delivered in an accelerated protocol far exceeds what standard daily TMS provides. More pulses, delivered with proper timing, means more cumulative activation of the target circuits — and more profound neuroplastic change.

3. Precision targeting SAINT uses functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) to identify the precise subregion of the left DLPFC that is most directly connected to the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) — a deep brain structure central to the biology of depression. The critical insight from the Stanford team was that the exact location of this target varies by several millimeters from person to person. Standard anatomical targeting misses this target in a meaningful percentage of patients. Individualized, connectivity-guided targeting ensures every pulse reaches exactly where it needs to go — which is why remission rates are so dramatically higher.

The Stanford double-blind, sham-controlled trial published in the American Journal of Psychiatry confirmed these findings were not placebo: SNT (the Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy protocol) was significantly more effective than sham stimulation, with remission rates approaching 79% in some analyses.

For comparison, standard iTBS and rTMS protocols in similar patient populations show remission rates of approximately 32%. The accelerated, precision-targeted approach doesn’t just improve on traditional TMS — it more than doubles its effectiveness.

Ampa One: Taking the Science Further — In a Single Day

The Ampa One system is built on the scientific foundation of SAINT and the decade of accelerated TMS research that preceded it — and then takes it one step further.

Where the SAINT protocol delivers treatment over five days, the Ampa One-Day protocol completes a full 20-session course in a single day.

That’s not a compromise. It’s an evolution — made possible by the Ampa One system’s three core technical innovations.

Innovation 1: Camera-Guided Precision Targeting Without an MRI

Precision targeting was the most expensive and logistically complex element of the SAINT protocol — it required a full resting-state fMRI scan to individualize treatment to each patient’s brain anatomy. The Ampa One system achieves equivalent precision targeting through an embedded camera system and neuronavigation software built directly into the coil, using preprinted positioning caps for consistent targeting accuracy on every session.

The result: individualized, precision-guided stimulation — without the cost and infrastructure of an MRI suite.

Innovation 2: Lightweight, Rapid-Deployment Technology

Traditional TMS systems weigh over 10 pounds and require heavy floor mounting infrastructure. A setup change between patients takes significant time.

The Ampa One coil weighs 2.2 pounds. Setup for each session takes less than one minute. This rapid deployment capability is what makes 20 sessions in a single day operationally feasible — and what makes in-home and on-site TMS delivery possible in ways that traditional systems could never support.

Innovation 3: Medication-Assisted Neuroplasticity

Before TMS sessions begin, patients receive a neuroplasticity-priming pharmacological agent — such as D-cycloserine — that prepares the brain’s synaptic machinery to respond more powerfully to each magnetic pulse. This pharmaceutical primer enhances the brain’s plasticity mechanisms, making every session more potent and the cumulative neuroplastic effect more durable.

This combination — precision targeting + accelerated iTBS + medication-assisted neuroplasticity — is what produces the Ampa protocol’s exceptional outcomes:

• 87% response rate
• 72% remission rate at three months

Compared to traditional TMS:

	Ampa One-Day TMS	Traditional Multi-Week TMS
Total Treatment Time	One day	4–6 weeks
Number of Appointments	1	20–36
Sessions Delivered	20 in one day	1 per day
Response Rate	~87%	~50–60%
Remission Rate (3 months)	~72%	~30–35%
Targeting Method	Camera-guided precision neuronavigation	Standard anatomical placement
Medication-Assisted Neuroplasticity	Yes	No
Time Off Work Required	One day	4–6 weeks of daily appointments

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What Patients Are Saying About the Ampa Protocol

“I have had TMS twice before, but receiving TMS this time has every other treatment beat by far. I felt like a whole new person within 24 hours of finishing treatment.” — Ampa patient

“I used to talk about finding joy in the cracks of life, but I don’t have to look in the cracks anymore. Joy is accessible to me.” — Ampa patient

“This treatment changed my life completely. I think going forward I’ll think of my life in two halves: before this treatment, and after. The relief I feel is impossible to overstate.” — Ampa patient

“For years, I struggled with severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It’s hard to put into words how different my life looks now. I feel free.” — Ampa patient

“Before, it was 2-dimensional. Now, it’s 3-dimensional. It feels like something else has been added inside my head and it is so relieving.” — Ampa patient

What to Expect on Your Ampa TMS Day at Peak Interactive Wellness

Before Your Appointment: Evaluation and Mapping

Your TMS journey begins with a comprehensive consultation with one of our psychiatric nurse practitioners. We review your complete treatment history, current medications, and confirm candidacy — including screening for any contraindications such as metallic implants near the head.

We then perform motor threshold mapping: a brief process that precisely calibrates the stimulation intensity to your individual neurophysiology. No two brains are identical, and this calibration ensures your treatment is optimized specifically for you.

Before your sessions begin, you will receive your neuroplasticity-priming medication — administered on-site under our supervision.

Your Treatment Day

You settle into a comfortable chair in our treatment space. The lightweight Ampa One coil is positioned at your target site using camera-guided precision placement. Each iTBS session runs approximately 3 minutes of active stimulation, followed by a rest interval that allows your brain to begin consolidating the neuroplastic response.

Twenty sessions. Comfortable rest breaks between each. Many patients read, listen to music, or simply rest. The sensation — often described as a light rhythmic tapping or “woodpecker” feeling on the scalp — typically becomes more comfortable as the day progresses.

You can bring a book, download a podcast, or simply use the time for quiet reflection. Our team is with you throughout the day.

After Treatment

You drive yourself home. Many patients feel tired after their treatment day — this is expected and normal, and reflects the significant neurological work your brain has completed. Most patients return to normal activities the following day.

Maximum therapeutic effects typically develop 1 to 6 weeks following treatment as the neuroplastic changes initiated during your session day continue to consolidate and strengthen. Many patients begin noticing meaningful shifts — in mood, motivation, emotional regulation, and sleep — within the first two weeks.

Follow-Up Care

Our team monitors your progress during the weeks following treatment and integrates your TMS outcomes into your ongoing psychiatric care plan — including medication management, functional medicine support, or therapy coordination as appropriate.

Who Is Ampa One-Day TMS Right For?

You may be an excellent candidate if you:

• Have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder or treatment-resistant depression
• Have tried one or more antidepressants without adequate relief
• Cannot commit to 4–6 weeks of daily clinic appointments — one-day TMS was built for you
• Live in a mountain community (Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Evergreen, or similar) and cannot realistically commute for 30+ consecutive weekdays
• Want the highest response and remission rates available in outpatient TMS
• Are looking for a non-medication alternative or want to reduce your medication burden
• Have had standard TMS before with incomplete results — the Ampa protocol’s superior precision and neuroplasticity priming may deliver what previous treatments couldn’t

One-Day TMS for Colorado’s Mountain Communities

For patients in Colorado’s mountain resort towns and Front Range communities, traditional TMS has always been effectively inaccessible. Commuting to Denver five days a week for six weeks isn’t realistic from Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, or Evergreen. The distance alone has kept life-changing treatment out of reach for people who need it most.

The Ampa One system changes that. Because the system is lightweight — fitting into two standard carry-on suitcases — Peak Interactive Wellness is able to offer on-site, one-day TMS service directly to mountain communities across Colorado.

We currently serve, or are actively expanding to serve, patients in:

• Vail and Eagle County — including Vail Village, Avon, Edwards, and Eagle
• Breckenridge and Summit County — including Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Dillon
• Keystone and Arapahoe Basin areas
• Evergreen and Jefferson County foothills — including Evergreen, Conifer, Morrison, and Kittredge
• Boulder and the northern Front Range
• Colorado Springs and the southern Front Range

If you live in a mountain community and have been told TMS isn’t practical for you, call us. One-day TMS means one trip — and we may be able to bring it to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is one-day TMS and how is it different from traditional TMS? Traditional TMS requires daily appointments five days a week for four to six weeks — between 20 and 36 total sessions. One-day TMS using the Ampa One system delivers all 20 sessions of a full treatment course in a single day, using an accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) protocol combined with precision brain targeting and neuroplasticity-priming medication. Clinical data shows response and remission rates significantly higher than standard TMS protocols.

Is one-day TMS as effective as multi-week TMS? The clinical evidence suggests it is more effective. The accelerated iTBS protocol on which Ampa One-Day TMS is based — developed from Stanford’s SAINT research — shows approximately 87% response rates and 72% remission rates at three months, compared to 50–60% response and 30–35% remission with traditional multi-week TMS. The combination of precision targeting, higher total pulse dose, optimally spaced sessions, and neuroplasticity-priming medication accounts for the superior outcomes.

What is the science behind accelerated iTBS? Accelerated iTBS is grounded in over a decade of research originating at Stanford University. The key insight is that multiple iTBS sessions per day, spaced at carefully calibrated intervals, create a compounding neuroplastic effect that single daily sessions cannot produce. Each session initiates synaptic plasticity mechanisms; the next session amplifies them before they dissipate. The cumulative result is significantly stronger and more durable rewiring of the depression-related brain circuits in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).

How long does it take to feel the effects? The Ampa protocol’s maximum therapeutic effects typically develop 1 to 6 weeks following the treatment day, as neuroplastic changes continue to consolidate. Many patients begin noticing shifts in mood, motivation, sleep, and emotional regulation within the first two weeks. Some patients report noticeable change within 24 hours of completing treatment.

Is TMS safe? Are there side effects? TMS has an excellent safety record, with over 3 million patients treated worldwide since FDA clearance in 2008. The most common side effects are mild scalp discomfort and mild headache, which typically resolve within the treatment day or the first week. Neuropsychological testing in SAINT trials found no negative cognitive side effects. TMS is not appropriate for patients with ferromagnetic metal implants near the head. A thorough screening is conducted before every treatment course.

Can I do one-day TMS alongside my current psychiatric medications? Yes. TMS is routinely performed alongside existing psychiatric medications. Some patients experience enhanced effects when TMS is combined with medication management. Your Peak Interactive Wellness provider will review your current medications as part of the candidacy evaluation.

Does Peak Interactive Wellness offer TMS in mountain communities like Vail or Breckenridge? Yes. Because the Ampa One system is highly portable — fitting into two standard carry-on suitcases — we are able to offer on-site, one-day TMS to patients in Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Evergreen, and surrounding Colorado mountain and foothills communities. Contact us directly to discuss on-site service in your area.

How is TMS different from ECT (electroconvulsive therapy)? ECT requires general anesthesia, induces a therapeutic seizure, and is associated with temporary memory impairment. TMS is non-invasive, requires no anesthesia, does not induce seizure, and has no known impact on memory or cognition. TMS is considered well before ECT in the treatment progression for resistant depression.

What does TMS feel like? Most patients describe a rhythmic tapping or light knocking sensation on the scalp during stimulation — sometimes compared to a woodpecker. The sensation typically becomes more comfortable as the day progresses. Your provider will calibrate stimulation intensity gradually, never increasing it beyond what you’re comfortable with.

The Research in Summary

For those who want the clinical evidence in one place:

• 2018, Brain (Williams et al.): Pilot study of accelerated iTBS in highly refractory depression — 5 out of 6 patients achieved remission by day 5
• 2020, American Journal of Psychiatry (Cole, Williams et al.): Open-label SAINT trial — 90.5% remission rate immediately post-treatment in treatment-resistant depression; no negative cognitive effects
• 2022, American Journal of Psychiatry (Cole, Williams et al.): Double-blind, sham-controlled SNT trial — confirmed accelerated, connectivity-guided iTBS significantly outperforms sham stimulation for TRD
• 2022, FDA clearance: FDA cleared the SAINT Neuromodulation System for major depressive disorder
• 2024, Brain Stimulation: Pragmatic accelerated TMS protocol confirmed feasible, safe, and effective in real-world outpatient settings with sustained effects at 4 weeks
• Ampa Health clinical data: 87% response rate and 72% remission rate at 3 months using Ampa One-Day protocol

You don’t have to choose between getting better and living your life. One day of treatment. That’s all we’re asking for. And for most of our patients, that one day changes everything.

[Request a One-Day TMS Consultation →]

Peak Interactive Wellness | 3455 Ringsby Court, Suite 140, Denver, CO 80216 | 6530 S. Yosemite St., Suite 330, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 | 720-460-9084

Also serving Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Evergreen, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and mountain communities across Colorado.

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. SAINT response and remission data sourced from published peer-reviewed trials (Cole et al., 2020 and 2022, American Journal of Psychiatry). Ampa response and remission data sourced from Ampa Health clinical data (nonrandomized trials). Individual results vary. Please consult a qualified provider to determine if TMS is appropriate for your situation.