An ultrasound treatment includes applying ultrasound at a first energy level to a region of interest in a subject for activating a cavitation nucleation agent during a first portion of a treatment cycle. Ultrasound at a second energy level is applied to the region of interest during a second portion of the treatment cycle for implementing a desired thermal therapy in the presence of the cavitation nucleation agent activated during the first portion of the treatment cycle. The second energy level is at an energy level different from the first energy level.