Sean (Seung) Kim is a psychiatric physician assistant at Axis Integrated Mental Health, a psychiatry clinic for depression in Denver. Before he ever wrote a prescription, he served as a combat medic in the U.S. Army. Today he helps adults with major depressive disorder who’ve tried the usual treatment options and continue to feel depressed.

Sean spent his last role leading TMS clinical and operations at a busy Colorado practice. That means he knows the alternative depression treatment options from the inside: how they work, who they treat, and what it takes to finish a course successfully. If you’re looking for psychiatric treatment focused on treatment resistant depression, trauma-induced stress, anxiety, and knowing more about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in Denver (or Boulder, Westminster, and Denver Tech Center), Sean is taking new patients.

Why is trauma-induced treatment-resistant depression so difficult?

Many people with clinical depression have been through something hard first. Field deployment, a car crash, loss, years of stress at work or at home. Depression and trauma symptoms often show up together, and they can look alike. Both can bring poor sleep, mood dysregulation, numbness, and a feeling that you’re operating on autopilot and reflexes.

Here’s the problem. In most cases, a part of that trauma goes undiagnosed. Medication may lift mood a little while nightmares, jumpiness, or shutting down stay the same. Even after multiple medication trials, people find themselves to not feeling fully themselves or may experience side effects that lead them to experience “treatment resistant depression.”

Having helped veterans and being a combat medic specialist, Sean understands exactly how difficult it can be to talk about mental health. He completes a thorough psychiatric evaluation and applies specialized screening tools to assess the correct diagnosis. This helps Seung (Sean) recommend the right course of action, whether that is medication management, TMS, or Spravato.

Sean’s clinical approach to depression treatment

Sean’s approach is simple to describe and be careful to carry out: get the diagnosis right, measure progress, and match the treatment to the person.

• A full psychiatric evaluation. Your first visit covers your mood, sleep, past treatments, medical history, substance use, and life stress. He wants to know what’s been tried and why it didn’t stick.
• Measurement-based care: He tracks your symptoms with short, standard check-ins, so you can both see what’s changing.
• Medication management done well. Sometimes the next step is a better medication plan. Sometimes it’s a dose change or fewer meds, not more.
• Advanced treatments when they fit. Axis offers Deep TMS (BrainsWay H-Coil), which is FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder, and Spravato (esketamine nasal spray), which is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. Our treatment approach is “beyond meds, not instead of them.”
• Setting you up to finish strong. From his TMS leadership work, Sean knows what helps a course succeed: steady sleep of 7 to 8 hours, a protected schedule, and a plan around alcohol and cannabis. He talks about these up front, not after the fact.
• Teamwork. He coordinates with your therapist and the Axis medical team, so your care moves in one direction.

Who Sean helps

Sean works with adults 18 and older who are tired of feeling stuck. You might be a good fit if:

• You’ve been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and have tried two or more antidepressants without enough relief.
• Your depression started or got worse after a traumatic event.
• You’re a veteran, first responder, or healthcare worker who’s used to pushing through.
• You’re “functioning” at work but feel numb, flat, or exhausted at home.
• You’re curious about Deep TMS or Spravato and want a straight answer on whether you’re a candidate.

Background and credentials

• Education: Master of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (2024). Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Colorado Denver, cum laude.
• Certification: NCCPA board certified physician assistant (PA-C). Current ACLS and BLS.
• TMS leadership: TMS Clinical Lead at a Colorado psychiatric practice, overseeing TMS operations, clinical quality, and staff training. Member of the Clinical TMS Society.
• Continuing education: Best Practices for Mood Disorders, National Network of Depression Centers in collaboration with Mayo Clinic (2025).
• Military service: U.S. Army Combat Medic Specialist (2015 to 2018) at Suwon Air Base, Korea, and Fort Lewis, Washington. Served as Company Senior Medic and Clinic Lead Medic. Awarded the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

Why Sean does this work

Sean’s path into medicine started in the Army, where he was often the first person a soldier saw when something was wrong. After his service, he mentored fellow student veterans through Peer Advisors for Veteran Education while finishing his degree at CU Denver.

Off the clock, you’ll find him following Arsenal (a bold choice to be honest), working on his golf swing, or planning his next trip.

Book with Sean “Seung” Kim at Axis

New patients are usually seen within 7 days, at one of our clinics or by telehealth anywhere in Colorado.

• Schedule your visit
• Call or text 720-400-7025
• Check your coverage