I have been practicing child and adolescent psychiatry for over 15 years — and before that, I was a schoolteacher. In that time, a lot has changed for teens, mostly not for the better.
The acceleration of information technology, constant screen time, the rise of social media, and mounting social stressors have dramatically increased the rates of adolescent depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidality. Parents, under unprecedented pressure, struggle to hold family systems together. Schools are overwhelmed by new demands. And the mental health care “system,” to quote Walter Cronkite, is neither a system nor terribly caring.
COVID-19 amplified every vulnerability. Teens entered the pandemic already hurting, and emerged deeper in crisis. The reverberations are still with us today.
For years, it has been hard to feel hopeful. Until now.
A New Tool for a New Era
At Krasner Institute, we have introduced Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) into our practice for adolescents. TMS is a safe, noninvasive, nonpharmacological treatment that uses targeted electromagnetic fields to stimulate the brain — specifically the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which I often call the brain’s “Grand Central Station.”
The DLPFC is central to executive function, mood regulation, and decision-making. In adolescence, it is notoriously underdeveloped — and vulnerable to the effects of stress, trauma, and unregulated technology. By stimulating this circuit, we not only treat depressive symptoms but also help strengthen the neural systems of regulation and resilience.
Why TMS Belongs in Adolescent Care
- FDA recognition. TMS is now FDA-cleared for adolescent depression — a major milestone.
- Safety. Unlike medications, it carries no black-box warning for suicidality.
- Rapid action. Many teens show improvements in mood, regulation, and suicidal ideation faster than with medication alone.
- Non-systemic. No sedation, no pharmacologic side effects, no cognitive dulling.
- Evidence-based. Studies consistently demonstrate reductions in depression and suicidal thoughts, with strong safety profiles.
Fitting Into Our Model: Assess. Treat. Plan.
TMS at our practice isn’t offered in isolation. It is layered into our interdisciplinary, integrated care model:
- Assessment first. We evaluate not just symptoms but personality, state of mind, and capacity for regulation.
- Building regulation. Teens often engage first in art-based therapy and outdoor behavioral health experiences — experiential modalities that strengthen regulation and readiness.
- Care coordination throughout. Every family has a dedicated care coordinator as a touch point, ensuring communication and continuity across therapy, school, and psychiatry.
- Shared digital stack. Our therapy, medical, and interventional teams operate on the same digital platform — seamless communication, efficient collaboration.
- Neuromodulation when needed. For teens stuck in treatment-resistant depression or OCD, TMS offers a pathway to stabilization and readiness for deeper psychotherapy.
Our goal is not just symptom reduction. It’s to prepare teenagers to truly engage in psychotherapy, family work, and life — to give them back their futures.
Fire Against Fire
Some say we shouldn’t fight fire with fire. But when unregulated technologies have fueled an epidemic of adolescent mental illness, it’s time to harness powerful, regulated technologies in response. TMS is not science fiction; it’s science realized. And it gives us a chance to meet this crisis head-on.
At Krasner Institute, we are proud to be among the first wave of child and adolescent psychiatrists using TMS to treat depression in teens. For families who have exhausted conventional options, and for clinicians carrying impossible cases, this technology offers new hope.
👉 If your teen is struggling — or if you’re a clinician carrying one of these harder cases — consult with our team today.
