Public Figures Who've Talked About TMS Therapy

Why celebrity TMS stories matter

When a public figure talks about their mental health treatment, two things happen. Stigma drops for everyone else considering the same treatment. And a treatment that most people have never heard of suddenly becomes visible. TMS has been FDA-cleared since 2008, but awareness is still surprisingly low. Every public mention moves the needle.

This article documents public figures who have spoken about TMS therapy in interviews, podcasts, social media, or published works. We only include information the individuals themselves have made public. We don’t speculate about anyone’s private medical decisions.

Public figures who have discussed TMS

Athletes and sports figures

The intersection of professional sports and mental health has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. Several athletes have spoken about exploring advanced treatment options including TMS.

Professional athletes face unique mental health pressures — the physical toll of competition, public scrutiny, career instability, and the identity crisis that often follows retirement. Depression and anxiety are common in athlete populations, and the culture has historically discouraged seeking help.

TMS appeals to athletes for practical reasons: no systemic side effects that would affect performance, no medication interactions, and sessions short enough to fit into training schedules. The theta burst protocol — with active stimulation lasting just 3 minutes — works especially well with the time constraints of professional sports.

Several NFL, NBA, and MLB players have referenced brain stimulation treatments in media appearances and podcasts, though we include specific names and details only when the individuals have made clear public statements. As more athletes speak openly, this section will be updated.

Entertainment industry

The entertainment industry has been at the forefront of destigmatizing mental health treatment. Actors, musicians, and writers have increasingly discussed treatments beyond medication and talk therapy.

TMS has come up in entertainment-adjacent media, including wellness podcasts popular in Los Angeles and New York. Several entertainment industry professionals have described their TMS experiences publicly, often emphasizing how the treatment fit into their demanding and unpredictable schedules.

The entertainment industry’s interest in TMS tracks with a broader trend toward “biohacking” and neuroscience-based wellness. While some of this territory borders on pseudoscience, TMS itself is backed by strong clinical evidence — over 60 randomized controlled trials for depression alone.

Tech industry leaders

Silicon Valley’s relationship with mental health treatment has evolved a lot. The tech industry’s optimization culture has led some executives to approach depression treatment with the same data-driven mindset they apply to business problems.

Several tech executives and venture capitalists have discussed TMS on podcasts and in published interviews, often framing it as “brain optimization” or “cognitive enhancement.” That framing can be reductive — TMS is a medical treatment for clinical conditions, not a performance hack — but the visibility these conversations create is genuinely useful.

Read more about how executives are approaching TMS treatment in our patient story series.

Military and public service

Veterans and active-duty service members have been among the most vocal advocates for TMS therapy. The Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded access to TMS for treatment-resistant depression and is studying its applications for PTSD.

Several high-profile veterans and military advocates have spoken about their TMS experiences at congressional hearings, veterans’ events, and in media interviews. Their advocacy has been instrumental in expanding VA coverage and awareness.

Read about one veteran’s TMS journey and learn about VA coverage for TMS.

The impact of public disclosure

Research on celebrity health disclosures shows measurable effects on public behavior. When a well-known person talks about a medical treatment:

• Search volume jumps. Google Trends data shows spikes in “TMS therapy” searches following major media coverage of public figures’ experiences.
• Clinic inquiry rates rise. TMS providers report more consultation requests following celebrity disclosures.
• Stigma decreases. Studies in health communication show that celebrity disclosure reduces perceived stigma around mental health treatment in the general population.

This effect matters especially for TMS because awareness remains a primary barrier to access. Many people who could benefit from TMS — particularly those with treatment-resistant depression — don’t know it exists. Public figures who share their experiences help close that gap.

What we can learn from public TMS stories

Several consistent themes show up across public figures’ TMS discussions:

1. Treatment-resistant depression is common at every income level

Having money, fame, and access to the best healthcare doesn’t make antidepressants work when they don’t work. Treatment resistance is a neurobiological reality, not a failure of willpower or resources. Many public figures tried multiple medications before finding TMS.

2. Schedule flexibility matters

Almost every public figure who has discussed TMS mentions the scheduling advantages. Sessions fit into busy professional lives. Theta burst protocols have made this even more doable, reducing active treatment time to minutes per session.

3. Privacy is possible

TMS doesn’t require hospital stays, general anesthesia, or visible recovery time. Several public figures completed entire courses of treatment before mentioning it publicly — sometimes months or years later. For people in the public eye, that discretion matters.

4. It’s not a standalone fix

No public figure we’re aware of has described TMS as their only treatment. Every account includes ongoing therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication adjustments alongside TMS. This lines up with clinical best practices — TMS works best as part of a full treatment plan.

The responsibility of reporting

We’re deliberate about how we cover this topic. We don’t include unverified claims. We don’t name individuals who haven’t explicitly and publicly discussed their TMS treatment. We don’t conflate general mental health disclosures with TMS-specific ones.

Mental health treatment is personal. The decision to share that information publicly belongs to the individual. Our role is to accurately document what has been shared and provide context that helps you make informed decisions about your own care.

Finding your own path

Whether or not a celebrity has tried TMS is ultimately irrelevant to whether it’s right for you. What matters is the clinical evidence, your specific diagnosis, your treatment history, and your doctor’s recommendation.

If you’re considering TMS therapy:

• Start with our guide to TMS for depression or explore treatment for other conditions
• Read real patient stories from people in a variety of situations
• Find TMS clinics near you and schedule consultations
• Review insurance coverage options to understand costs
• Talk to a qualified TMS specialist about your specific situation

The most important voice in your treatment decision isn’t a celebrity’s. It’s yours.

This article is updated periodically as new public disclosures are made. Last updated February 2026. Information is sourced exclusively from public statements made by the individuals themselves. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.