Mental Health Clinic & Psychiatry located in Washington, DC

My experience at Vital TMS was nothing short of transformative. Heidi Sankofa and Dr. Zinnes embody a rare blend of professionalism and deep humanity. Their presence is so gentle and so attuned that even someone hesitant or unsure about their own mental health would feel safe in their care. You can sense immediately that they hold your well‑being at the center of everything they do.

And then there is Dr. Biko, Carol Muhammad, and David George. There truly are no words that fully capture what they gave me. They treated me like family from the very beginning. Each session felt like stepping into a warm cocoon of care, where I was seen, supported, and quietly cheered on. Their encouragement felt personal, as if my healing mattered to them on a soul level.

By week four, the dark cloud that had been following me for so long began to lift. I found myself looking forward to my daily sessions, not only for the treatment but for the conversations that left me lighter, brighter, and genuinely hopeful again.

This entire team is a gift. I am deeply grateful for this circle of people who helped me remember what it feels like to feel well.

Amazing staff and treatment. They always were able to work with me and my schedule to ensure my treatment was consistent and easy for me to continue. The treatment itself was a tremendous help and was explained throughout to ensure my understanding and price of mind. I would highly recommend Vital TMS Therapy to anyone that is in need.

What a truly life changing experience. I have dealt with depression for most of my life and had accepted that it just wasn’t going to get better. I started out very skeptical of TMS because it seemed too good to be true. The staff and doctors were very nice and patient with answering all of my questions and making sure I felt comfortable with the process.

During treatment it was like a light switch turned on. I started to feel better about halfway through the process. I kept saying it was like a wet heavy blanket was lifted off of me. I started to actually have motivation to do things again, I didn’t feel like everything was difficult to do. I woke up each day not dreading it but instead I was hopeful that it was going to be a good day. It was incredible!

By the time I completed treatment it was like night and day from the way I felt before. People could tell that something had changed in me for the better, that I was doing better.

I know it’s a time commitment but if you’re on the fence, do it. The staff will be there to help throughout the whole process, there’s hope at the end of the dark tunnel. You don’t have to go through life feeling bad, do the TMS treatment!

Tomorrow is my last day for treatment, and to say it was a success would be an understatement. Medication had a negligible effect on me, and I was largely unable to leave my apartment.

Fast forward to today and not only am I able to get out, but I have a bounce in my step and a smile ok my face. I can take better care of myself and my apartment, too. I’m also eating healthier. Of course, please know that your mileage may vary.

It is a treatment, not a cure, so I do have more work ahead of me post-TMS, but I have the hope now that I can do that work, and the motivation to get started.

I had struggled with major depression for most of my life and TMS was my hail mary shot after failing one med after another. I’m so glad I found this, TMS has helped me enormously! I haven’t felt this good in years. The staff was wonderful and the entire process was very easy. If you’re on the fence about this treatment go for it!

The treatments have helped alleviate symptoms substantially. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly while the office was very metro accessible.

This is my second time working with Vital TMS for my depression symptoms. I have had an overall positive experience both times. The staff are friendly, knowledgable, and make the process easy. I also appreciate that the location is metro accessible. I will be sure to return for any future TMS treatments.

I have struggled with PTSD, depression, and anxiety for most of my life. Prior to trying to TMS, I tried dozens of medications and alternative treatments, like ketamine and acupuncture, and water fasts. TMS worked when nothing else had. The team at Vital TMS is unbelievable – their compassion and care is always above board – and it’s their unwavering commitment to my wellbeing that led to the breakthrough in eliminating my symptoms in week 6 of the 7 week treatment. Dr. Biko & Heidi – I cannot thank you enough. Depression is a form of suffering that taints every aspect of one’s life. Thank you for believing I could get better and ensuring that I did.

My TMS therapy experience has been extremely positive.

Heidi was incredibly helpful navigating the health insurance authorization process and scheduling my sessions. Dr. biko’s gentle demeanor and genuine concern created a safe and comfortable environment for the treatments. TMS therapy has helped me achieve and maintain a positive attitude and balanced equilibrium helping me manage my anxiety and depression. Thank you!

I found the staff at Vital TMS to be professional and caring. Dr. Biko Sankofa was very knowledgeable about TMS and also gave me important advice that helped me to deal with the stressors of everyday life. I noticed how simple the TMS treatments were. Besides the benefits of the treatment, it was a quick and relaxing process. The time commitment for the TMS sessions was overall worthwhile. I definitely recommend Vital TMS to anyone who is looking for a team of caring and professional experts who are willing to provide an individualized treatment plan that will address and resolve your needs.

When I started TMS I had severe depression and no motivation. It was very difficult to do the simplest tasks. I’m at the end of my treatment now and I have relief from the weight of the depression. I have hope again. I’m now thinking about my future, job prospects, and going back to school. These are thoughts I couldn’t have had before doing TMS. And it’s a pleasure everyday coming in and talking to Dr. Biko, Heidi, and Patrick. I’m very grateful for Vital TMS.

I’ve had a wonderful experience with Vital TMS. My levels of anxiety and depression have been greatly reduced. Dr. Biko and Heidi made me feel very comfortable and answered any questions I had. They have a high level of compassion and care for patients. I am thankful to have found Vital TMS.

I am incredibly satisfied with my experience at Vital TMS. First of all, this treatment really works and has made a night and day difference in my depression over just a few weeks. The entire team, especially Dr. Biko, have been so helpful and compassionate. They arranged everything easily with my insurance and schedule and have done a great job explaining everything and monitoring my progress. I wish I had known about TMS many years ago because this is a painless, fast-acting treatment for depression that really works.

I had a great experience with Vital TMS. They dealt with my insurance company to ensure I had coverage, worked with my inflexible schedule to find convenient appointment times, and explained TMS as the process progressed. Full stars!

Life changing experience for sure! TMS has helped more than anything I have tried in the past. It is painless and delivered quick results for me.

Dr. Biko, Heidi, and Carole were outstanding by providing compassionate, educational and patient guidance. Their care and support were essential to the entire experience .

I highly recommend this therapy and would be willing to talk to any prospective patients about my experience

TMS definitely helped my depression. I am not feeling ‘flat’ anymore!

I was always greeted with a smile and enjoyed working with such warm, caring and professional people.

I noticed a significant change in my depression level and I know this because it is usually the hardest time of the year for me with the darker days.

Going to vital TMS was a lovely experience. Dr. Biko and Heidi and all the staff were so kind, compassionate and professional. By the time I completed my TMS sessions I was depression and anxiety free. Along with other interventions, I am grateful to have this as another tool in my tool chest.

I had a very positive experience at Vital TMS and with TMS generally. I arrived a month a half ago feeling very depressed and hopeless and am leaving much happier and hopeful. The staff at Vital are friendly and professional, and I found them very responsive to any concerns or questions I had. I recommend this treatment and this center highly.

I had a great experience with the clinic. The staff is professional, accessible and accommodating. Dr. Biko, David, and Heidi were very friendly and knowledgable which made the experience less intimidating and more comfortable.

I was lucky to see results in a couple of weeks and have had a significant reduction in my symptoms.

Very kind and professional staff. My depression and anxiety have improved significantly over the course of treatment. The process was made very easy despite being a daily time commitment. I would definitely recommend to others!

This treatment changed my life. For the past 25 plus years I’ve tried everything anyone could thing of that could possibly depression. And, all I ever got to was a level of manageability. After only two weeks the world felt fresh and lively and I wanted to get out of bed.,this is my last session and i couldn’t be more greatful to this kind staff and this amazing technology!! .

I am a retired cyto-technologist who has had numerous episodes of depression, beginning in my mid-twenties. I have been on many different medications throughout the years, although most did not work or worked only a short time. I tried TMS based on my daughter’s insistence that I try something new to treat my depression. My depression symptoms abated during the course of this therapy. I would recommend to anyone who suffers from depression to try TMS.

I used Vital TMS to treat Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss after standard treatments of steroids and antivirals were not effective in restoring all of the hearing that I lost. I believe Vital, which followed the protocol from published studies to treat SSHL with rTMS, helped me gain some of my hearing back. I can’t say enough good things about everyone that works at Vital TMS, especially Heidi. They went out of their way to accommodate my unusual case and were the only TMS facility in the DC area that would even consider it helping me. Their location is easy to get to and their office and treatment rooms are pleasant and soothing. My top thanks to everyone there!

TMS helped improve my anxiety and depression symptoms considerably – better and faster than therapy and medications combined. Heidi, Dr. Biko, and the Vital TMS Therapy staff are outstanding, and it’s been a pleasure working with them during my treatment journey.

I came in to TMS therapy with severe depression and anxiety that I was dealing with for years. I was a bit skeptical at the beginning but I was desperate to try anything. I had previously used antidepressant and was seeing a therapist but nothing seems to improve. TMS therapy really helped me specially with intrusive thoughts. I started to feel calmer by week 3 or so. My therapy lasted for a little more than 2 months and I still feel calmer and centered.

Excellent experience . The staff was highly professional, efficient and supportive. The TMS equipment was state-of-art. I had a positive effect . I would highly recommend Vital TMS.

Two months ago, I completed 7 weeks of TMS. My treatment focused on depression, anxiety, and rumination. If TMS seems right for you, I strongly encourage you to work with Vital TMS Therapy. I drove 45 min each way, M-F, and it was worth it. The staff are brilliant, respectful, and caring people. I felt welcome and supported as a person of color and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. That does not always happen when seeking health care. I’ve managed MDD and GAD (with incorrect diagnoses along the way) since adolescence. I’ve dedicated 15 years to therapy, personal growth, and finding a med mix that helps. It has gotten me far. But, my depression and anxiety settle deep in my body, brain, and spirit. TMS woke up parts of my brain to dramatically shift my energy and gave me a reprieve from rumination and obsessive thoughts. Though the effects lessened over time the process gave me an opportunity to experience the world with an ability to shut thoughts down and an ability to concentrate and focus on tasks for an extended period of time. I feel like part of my brain came back. I haven’t been suicidal since treatment. Living is nowhere near as exhausting as it was before TMS.

After 7.5 weeks of TMS, I have a new job, I joined a gym, and I actually feel like getting out of bed in the morning. The best way I can describe it is that it lifted the oppressive fog of depression that was there even on days I was feeling good. I feel like I have a higher baseline to work from and can finally change my way of thinking, which–hopefully–will help prevent me from slipping back under. You still have to do the work in therapy, but TMS makes it so much easier. And the people at Vital are so fun to talk to!

Vital TMS was a lifesaver. After one week I definitely noticed a change in mood and energy, no longer needing that 3pm coffee run. After 2 weeks my friends and family said I was much more alert and upbeat. Halfway through my treatment, my father passed away. It was a tough loss for me but I cannot imagine how much tougher it would have been emotionally without 3 weeks of TMS under my belt. After the funeral, I returned to complete treatment and it was such a welcome and useful tool in navigating depression and grief. Since TMS, my medication regimen has not changed and my doctor is considering a lower antidepressant dosage. As if TMS itself wasn’t amazing enough, the Vital TMS family are so incredibly kind, thoughtful, and professional. The results are real and almost immediate. My only regret is not having started TMS sooner.