CALMING THE ANXIOUS BRAIN: HOW NEUROTHERAPY BALANCES STRESS, SLEEP, AND FOCUS (Podcast Episode 9)

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

When I work with clients struggling with anxiety, one of the first things I notice is how fast everything feels—racing thoughts, shallow breathing, tense muscles, and a nervous system that just won’t settle. Clinically, we call this sympathetic dominance. It’s a state where fast brain waves, especially beta, are overproduced, while calmer states like alpha and theta struggle to break through. Neurotherapy allows me to see these patterns clearly and guide the brain back toward balance. When the brain’s “symphony” of delta, theta, alpha, and beta plays in proportion and at the right times, sleep deepens, focus sharpens, and stress responses soften. This approach reframes anxiety not as a personal failing, but as a pattern of neural activation that can be trained and improved.

One of the most powerful tools I use in this process is vagus nerve stimulation. The vagus nerve is a direct line to the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of the body responsible for rest, digestion, and repair. By applying gentle stimulation near the left tragus with a small electrical current, I can help shift the nervous system away from chronic arousal. This often leads to a noticeable reduction in both mental and physical symptoms. Many of my clients with anxiety also report digestive issues or inflammation. Because the vagus nerve influences gut function and systemic calm, stimulating it can ease those burdens as well. After sessions, clients frequently describe a surprising sense of quiet—deeper sleep, steadier energy, and a calmer response to situations that used to trigger them.

I also use targeted neurostimulation to deliver calming, parasympathetic frequencies to specific areas of the brain. Research has identified at least 13 distinct anxiety profiles, many of which involve excessive beta activity in different regions. For example, overactivity along the midline (CZ) is often linked to insomnia and restless nights, while more widespread fast-wave dominance can drive constant worry. By mapping these patterns, I can apply precise inputs that encourage alpha and theta states when needed and reduce runaway beta when it’s unhelpful. The goal isn’t to suppress thinking—it’s to restore flexible control, so the brain can ramp up when needed and quiet down when it’s time to rest.

Even without a formal anxiety diagnosis, chronic stress takes a toll. I see this often in executives, athletes, and high performers who live in a near-constant buzz. That state fuels inflammation, disrupts sleep, and drains focus. Neurotherapy helps counter these effects by improving blood flow, rebalancing networks, and supporting recovery. I sometimes incorporate LED light therapy or pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) technologies as well. While these are more commonly used for tissue healing and inflammation, they complement brain-focused work by reducing the systemic load that contributes to mental strain.

Tracking outcomes is essential. Many of my clients notice changes within a day or two—better sleep, less reactivity, and a calm that feels unfamiliar but welcome. I use standardized tools like the GAD-7 for anxiety and the PHQ-9 for mood to measure progress. These scores help us see where we started and how we’re moving forward. As the numbers drop, clients often describe real-life wins: staying grounded during high-stakes meetings, falling asleep without spiraling, or simply feeling like they’re not stuck in high gear all day. These moments build confidence and reinforce the brain’s learning.

Education is part of every session. I help clients understand that beta isn’t “bad”—it’s just out of proportion. Delta supports deep sleep, theta fuels creativity, alpha bridges conscious and subconscious processing, and beta organizes thought and focus. Neurotherapy doesn’t erase life’s stressors; it strengthens the system that meets them. Over time, the nervous system learns to exit overdrive more quickly, protecting sleep, mood, and performance. That’s how training the brain becomes a path to daily resilience—not just symptom relief.