Burling

Mindful Health Solutions – Burlingame

You Deserve to Feel Better

1860 El Camino Real, Suite #250, Burlingame, California 94010

General Information

We’re a team of clinicians and staff who have dedicated our lives to research, education, and treating those with mental health conditions. We’re especially passionate about helping those with Treatment-Resistant Depression and providing the most advanced therapies available, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and esketamine nasal spray, both FDA-approved for advanced depression.

Mental health conditions can be profoundly painful and isolating, making it difficult to seek help. Our team provides a unique, patient-centered experience to help you find the appropriate treatment and relief from your symptoms. We’re grateful to be practicing psychiatry during this era in which there are so many new treatment possibilities and new hope for those with mental health conditions.

Antidepressants are invaluable aids in the treatment of clinical depression and other mood disorders, but they’re not for everyone. According to the World Journal of Psychiatry, antidepressants don’t improve symptoms in 10–15 percent of people with depression and only partially improve symptoms in 30–40 percent. Also, many people experience side effects from antidepressants that can impact their overall well-being. On the other hand, TMS therapy has shown significantly better results than antidepressants with a small risk of experiencing mild, short-term side effects. One in two patients treated with TMS had a 50% reduction in their symptoms and about 30% of patients experience full remission, which means that their symptoms go away completely. While most patients begin to show improvement after two to three weeks of TMS treatments, it can take up to six weeks to achieve the maximum benefits. It is important to understand that mental health treatment plans are not a one-size-fits-all situation. Treatment plans may take longer or require different treatment option combinations to work best for certain patients. It is important for patients to communicate clearly with their provider about how their treatment plan is working. Collaboration between patient and provider can greatly impact the results of a patient’s wellness journey.
TMS is a safe treatment. While it is a relatively new mental health treatment, it was FDA-approved for the treatment of depression in 2008. Since then, there have been millions of individual treatment sessions performed in the United States. Our clinicians who administer TMS treatments are professionally trained and put each patient’s comfort first. TMS treatments do not hurt during or after each session. There are very few side effects of TMS therapy. Most side effects are mild and short-lasting, and can include: headaches, sleepiness, lightheadedness, scalp discomfort, twitching or tingling of the facial muscles. Many patients find the headpiece to be uncomfortable on their scalp and mild headaches are common during the first few treatments, but these generally go away within the first two weeks as people get used to the sensation. Patients rarely drop out of TMS because of side effects. More serious side effects happen very rarely, but can consist of: seizures, hearing problems from the loud clicking noise that occurs. during treatment, mania, which is more likely to occur if an adolescent has bipolar disorder However, our expert providers will use their professional knowledge to help avoid serious side effects like the ones listed above. Generally, patients will feel just like their normal selves. They will be able to drive and go back to their regular activities. Some people report feeling a little tired or having a mild headache, but that usually goes away after the first week or two. Other people report more energy and better focus, as well as the ability to ignore obsessive, anxious thoughts after treatment.
TMS delivers localized electromagnetic pulses to the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of your brain that regulates mood. These electromagnetic pulses stimulate neurons, which release neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. Depression and other mental health conditions are linked to an imbalance of these neurotransmitters. TMS for depression works to restore that balance and can provide a more lasting impact on relieving depression symptoms than other treatments, such as antidepressants. During a TMS treatment, the patient sits in a comfortable chair while the TMS coil is properly set in place on their head. (While this may sound intimidating, it really isn’t!) After the headpiece is in place, electromagnetic pulses are sent to the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of the brain responsible for mood. While the pulses are being sent to the brain, patients can watch TV, listen to music, or talk with our staff. If they want and are comfortable, they can also have a friend or family member in the room with them during their TMS treatment session. Each treatment lasts about 20-30 minutes. The full course of treatment of TMS for depression will generally be five days a week for four to six weeks. We know that coming in five days a week for weeks on end is a commitment, but the results could impact your mental well-being for a lifetime.
Anxiety is sometimes treated with TMS, along with migraines and OCD. There is evidence that TMS may help for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, certain types of chronic pain, smoking cessation, PTSD, and autism in adults. There is also evidence TMS may help in recovery from stroke. There is evidence that it may help in mild dementia and certain other neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis may benefit as well.
Yes! Most major insurances cover TMS, and we’ll work directly with your insurance provider on your behalf to help you get covered.
OPENING HOURS
monday   8AM-6PM
tuesday   8AM-6PM
wednesday   8AM-6PM
thursday   8AM-6PM
friday   8AM-6PM
Treatments
Talk Therapy
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Spravato (Esketamine)
Ketamine Infusion
Psychiatric Services
Conditions Treated
Major Depressive Disorder
Anxiety
OCD
Bipolar Disorder
PTSD
Depression
Accepted Insurances
Optum
United
Blue Cross
Other
TriCare
VA-TriWest
Kaiser
Anthem
BlueCrossBlueShield
Cigna
Magellan Health
Aetna
MHN
Manufacturers Used
MagVenture

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Providers

Rama Dronamraju

Dr. Rama Dronamraju works with her patients as partners in treatment, helping them understand their symptoms, the nature of their illness, and the treatment itself. She sees them as a whole person with a full life, and compassionately works with them to provide knowledge and insight into their struggles and often bringing their families into the fold. She helps them remain in treatment and avoid relapse, providing them with tools to lead meaningful, functional lives.

She has found that for patients with mood disorders, response to standard medication and therapy is often limited. She has treated with Electroconvulsive Therapy for many years and has witnessed her patients find relief and recovery. She looks forward to treating patients with TMS as a treatment modality as it has the potential to benefit various types of patients and is non-invasive, not requiring anesthesia and having few if any side effects.

Rama Dronamraju joined Mindful Health Solutions in the Fall of 2019.

Benjamin Cheyette

Since high school if not earlier, Dr. Benjamin Cheyette has been analytical about human behavior and interested in the brain. While initially leaning towards academia, he found great satisfaction in direct patient care during medical school and beyond. Throughout his years of research and professorship, he continued to treat patients and is passionate about helping people overcome emotional challenges.

He has a collaborative approach that emphasizes sharing his deep formal expertise and clinical experience to help patients make well-informed decisions. He recognizes that for all patients in the outpatient setting, treatment for mental health is a choice, and so a patient must be on board with any proposed therapeutic approach. He has found the best way to achieve this is by offering a thorough explanation of his thought process, so that his patients understand his rationale for recommending a course of treatment.

Having spent several decades in academia as a research scientist, Dr. Benjamin Cheyette is interested in cutting-edge innovations such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), the emerging field of psychedelic medicine, and applying these treatments to patient care in an evidence-based manner.

Kimberly Dow

Kimberly Dow is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who provides her expert care at our Burlingame clinic. She practices general psychiatry and is able to help patients with a variety of cases. However, her specialties include working with mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. She fell in love with psychiatry after taking her first psychology class in college. She is passionate about understanding her patients on a personal level to find them the best treatment options possible.

Kimberly joined Mindful Health Solutions with an admiration for our evidence-based practices. Also, working in a clinic that is patient-centered was a top priority for her. She wants to have a significantly positive impact on patients through cutting-edge treatments including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy and esketamine nasal spray. Overall, she wants to be a part of an organization that allows providers to spend time getting to know their patients as people.

As a practitioner, Kimberly Dow embraces a collaborative approach with her patients. She wants to provide knowledge and experience so as to empower her patients to make informed decisions about their available treatment options. Her style is grounded in the mind-body connection by blending mindfulness, behaviors, and holistic interventions with medications.

Matthew Peters

Dr. Matthew Peters, M.D. is a board-certified psychiatrist who focuses on depression, anxiety, and interventional treatments for those who have not found relief with medications. While in college, he worked part-time as a local journalist in the Bay Area. On the job, he met many people on the streets who suffered from severe mental illness. He enjoyed learning their stories, how their minds worked, and wanted to help alleviate their suffering—and so he pivoted from journalism. He graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and went on to medical school to become a psychiatrist.

When working with patients, Dr. Peters takes a holistic view of the person and the circumstances that have brought them to seek professional assistance. He pursues a collaborative approach that is informed by evidence-based principles, to maximize the chance of success and minimize the potential risks of treatment. Unfortunately, many patients end up misdiagnosed by previous providers and receive treatments that are unhelpful or even potentially harmful. Dr. Peters will work with you, when appropriate, to ensure you have a thorough and accurate evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment plan that is tailored to your needs and preferences.

After making a careful diagnosis, Dr. Matthew Peters provides treatment via medications and brief cognitive-behavioral and supportive psychotherapies; he can also help patients plan their treatment goals and provide advice on what kind of therapist may best suit their specific needs. Dr. Peters also specializes in treating patients with depression who have not found relief after trying multiple medications. For these patients, he uses new approaches such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy and esketamine.