HOW TARGETED NEUROTHERAPY CAN RESTORE FOCUS FOR ADHD (Podcast Episode 12)

by Heather Putney, PHD, LMFT, CSAT-S, QEEG-DL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FOUNDER
Untethered Therapy and Transformative Neurotherapy

ADHD is often described as a problem of attention, but in my clinical experience, the deeper issue is regulation. I see minds that race ahead while the brakes lag behind, creating daily friction at school, work, and home. What’s often missing from the conversation is how neurotherapy—guided by brain mapping—can move us from broad labels to precise interventions.

Instead of guessing, I use quantitative EEG to read the brain’s electrical activity. This allows me to identify specific profiles and apply targeted stimulation to speed up sluggish regions, calm overarousal, and improve timing across networks. Every brain is unique, and the right intervention depends on the underlying pattern—not just the symptoms.

One common profile I encounter is a low-voltage, fast, overaroused brain. These individuals often feel anxious, reactive, and keyed up, gravitating toward self-soothing habits that briefly calm their nervous system. Stimulants tend to worsen this profile by revving the system further, which explains why some people with an ADHD diagnosis feel worse on medication. Neurotherapy helps by nudging excitability toward balance, building the “calm-and-chill” capacity their brain lacks.

Another profile shows slow-wave excess in frontal or midline regions. These clients often describe feeling groggy, unfocused, and mentally foggy. Stimulants can help, but neurotherapy allows me to directly strengthen these regions, improving focus and working memory without relying solely on medication.

Where neurotherapy truly shines is in mixed profiles—which are more common than most realize. Imagine a fast, distractible frontal system paired with slow midline processing. Global medications struggle here because they either speed everything up or slow everything down. Neurotherapy lets me calm the hot zones while boosting the sluggish ones, delivering location-specific changes that medications simply can’t match. This is especially valuable for those who have “failed meds”—not because change is impossible, but because the treatment wasn’t precise.

Brain mapping also helps me collaborate with prescribers. When we understand the profile, we can choose medications that complement the neurotherapy or taper thoughtfully as regulation improves. It’s not about replacing medication—it’s about making smarter, more individualized choices.

Tailoring sessions across age groups is essential. For kids, I use lighter intensities, fewer modalities, and sometimes iPad distractions to help them tolerate setup. Teens and adults can handle higher intensities and often engage in executive function exercises during stimulation to reinforce gains. Modalities may include LED photobiomodulation, pulsed electromagnetics, and gentle electrical currents, layered to optimize response. The structure remains consistent: assess first, target precisely, then adapt dosage and environment for comfort and adherence.

The outcomes go far beyond attention. Parents report calmer moods, fewer meltdowns, and better impulse control. Academically, I often see improvements in reading and language when posterior networks are supported—especially in cases with dyslexia or dysgraphia overlaps. Adults notice quieter anxiety, improved task initiation, fewer unfinished chores, and better throughput on non-preferred tasks. When the brain has better brakes and cleaner signal flow, cognitive strategies finally “stick.”

It’s also crucial to recognize that not every ADHD-like presentation is truly ADHD. Brain mapping can reveal paroxysmal activity, absence seizures, or unstable electrical patterns that require referral to neurology. Sleep disorders like apnea or restless legs can masquerade as attention problems. In these cases, the right next step is a medical workup or sleep study—not neurotherapy. This differential work protects clients from the wrong medications and opens doors to the right care.

When neurotherapy is indicated, it pairs beautifully with psychotherapy and coaching. Together, they create a feedback loop: better regulation enables skill use, and skill use reinforces regulation. The result is a quieter baseline, stronger focus, and a life that feels more intentional and less reactive.