“Neurodivergence and Nervous System Healing: How MCN Supports Emotional Regulation, and More”
What is Neurodivergence?
Neurodivergence may be a word that you have heard often used, especially if you sought out this blog specifically as a neurodivergent individual, or for someone in your world who is neurodivergent. So, let’s start by defining neurodivergence. Neurodivergence simply is a word used to describe any neurotypes outside of the “bell curve” of neurotypical brains. A bell curve is the name used to show a shape made by charting statistically a normal range of many things, and can be used to show atypical or diversities in a population. This could include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Sensory Processing Disorder, and other neurologically distinct presentations.
You might have seen a bell curve in school—used to illustrate everything from test scores to population trends. Here's an example of a bell curve of neurodiversity that shows neurodivergence in a population. As you can see most of the population lives within the neurotypical range of neurotype. We can see in this bell curve, that on one side, an advantage is given with neurodivergence, and on the other, a disadvantage. Of course, anyone who is neurodivergent knows that these two lines meet somewhere in the middle, and neurodivergent individuals sometimes have both intellectual and sensory advantages that can also sometimes be disadvantages. That’s the beautiful part: those with alternative cognitive patterns often possess extraordinary abilities right alongside their challenges. Someone on the autism spectrum might struggle with sensory overload, but they may also have brilliant pattern recognition. Someone with ADHD may find task focus difficult, but they may also be remarkably innovative, intuitive, and fast-thinking.
Simply, neurodivergence is a natural variation in a population that includes Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Dyslexia, and other similar variations in neurotype. Let’s be clear: neurodivergence isn’t a disorder to be “fixed.” It’s a natural, essential part of human variation.
The Struggle to Find Support That Fits
Now that we have a basic understanding of neurodivergence, we can dive into the challenges that neurodivergent individuals have in receiving neurodivergent affirming care when it comes to mental and emotional suffering. Despite the increasing awareness and visibility of these neurological differences, many people still struggle to find mental health support that truly understands and honors their experience. Most therapeutic practitioners do not receive much, if any, training in giving therapy to neurodivergent populations. The focus in graduate school is currently on social justice and multiculturalism, and while that’s great, the gap in neurodivergent therapeutic interventions is severely lacking.
As awareness of neurodivergence grows through apps like Tiktok and Instagram, adults (especially adult women) are realizing they may be neurodivergent through this sharing of information. Many women never received testing as children because of the lack of education on neurodivergence in girls, and now are feeling empowered and curious about their neurodivergence. With these clients turning toward testing, therapists must begin to teach themselves how to best help neurodivergent individuals. The answer to that problem is often NOT traditional talk therapy.
Why Talk Therapy Might Miss the Mark
There are many reasons traditional talk therapy might fall short for clients with alternative cognitive styles. Many therapists may not be aware that certain behaviors of neurodivergent individuals are considered ok or normal for people with various neurodivergences. For example, someone on the autism spectrum may avoid eye contact—not out of dishonesty or discomfort, but because it’s simply overstimulating. Therapists may misunderstand this as dishonesty, when in fact it is just highly uncomfortable for someone with ASD to make eye contact. On the flip side, someone who has spent their life masking (performing neurotypical behavior to fit in socially) might maintain intense eye contact in sessions, having learned that it’s expected—yet feel emotionally exhausted afterward, and their therapist may incorrectly interpret that staring as aggressive, intense, and abnormal.
In addition, many neurodivergent individuals have alexyithymia, or difficulty describing or identifying emotions, which can make talk therapy difficult as much of talk therapy lies in exploring the emotional landscape. Also, individuals with ASD, for example, may take the metaphoric plane of therapy very literally, and there could be misunderstandings between the therapist and client in the realm of communication.
Individuals with ADHD may find talk therapy difficult as their impulsivity may be incorrectly labeled as disorders, like eating disorders, addiction disorders, gambling disorder, or hypersexuality disorders, when their behavior is normal within the range of ADHD. ADHD individuals may also find therapists misinterpreting their fidgeting for dishonesty, boredom, or worse, resistance.
Overall, therapists may focus on reducing behaviors that are in fact normal and authentic to individuals with neurodivergence. This can lead to more harm done to the individual. This emphasis on “normalizing” behaviors can be not only ineffective but deeply invalidating. Instead of healing, clients leave feeling misunderstood. Therefore, it can be helpful to explore alternative therapeutic interventions. The growing curiosity and research around alternative therapeutic interventions, within or without therapy treatment, is promising. In addition, open ended conversation can be exhausting for individuals with ASD and ADHD. A different type of processing is needed. But what does that look like? Read on.
Of course, some people with alternative neurological styles find therapists who truly “get” them—who have done their own education and approach the work with genuine curiosity and humility. In those cases, talk therapy can be a wonderful source of insight and growth. But even then, many clients find that they benefit from supplementing talk therapy with something else. That’s where Microcurrent Neurofeedback (MCN) comes in.
The Limits of Medication—and the Potential for More
Medication can be a useful tool for managing some aspects of ADHD or anxiety—especially when symptoms interfere with daily functioning. However, medication alone rarely addresses the interpersonal challenges, emotional dysregulation, or nervous system overwhelm that many non-neurotypical individuals experience. Stress, social tension, emotional reactivity, and sensory overload often remain, even on medication. That’s why more people are looking for holistic interventions that support the brain in building new, healthier patterns over time. One of the most promising options is Microcurrent Neurofeedback.
So, What is Microcurrent Neurofeedback?
Microcurrent Neurofeedback (MCN) is a non-invasive, short procedure lasting about 20-30 minutes that disrupts the brain’s maladaptive looping, using the brain’s neuroplasticity to form new connections. Simply, it helps the brain move from disordered or maladaptive thought patterns to new, self-corrective forms of thinking. During MCN, a skilled practitioner places electrical nodes around the client’s head and neck, and stimulates the brain to make this change. Please note that the client does not feel anything, and the current used is equivalent to the charge from a double A battery. During this time, the client is welcome to just sit and relax. Over time, this helps quiet anxiety, improve focus, and reduce emotional overwhelm.
Why This Works So Well for Neurologically Unique Brains
Here’s what makes MCN such a great fit for neurodiverse individuals. For one, it doesn’t require verbal processing. This can be a game-changer for folks who struggle with expressing emotions or articulating experiences. Secondly, MCN doesn’t pathologize—it doesn’t ask the brain to conform to “normal.” Instead, it helps the brain become more adaptive, calm, and regulated on its own terms.
And the research backs this up.
1. In the article “Neurofeedback for Autism Spectrum Disorder: a review of the literature”, researchers discuss the use of neurofeedback to help with various unwanted maladaptations that go hand in hand with ASD, like difficulties with neuroregulation, and difficulties with metabolic functioning. In conclusion, neurofeedback was shown to benefit individuals with these issues.
2. In the article “Neurofeedback for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: 25-Month Follow-Up of Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial” researchers found that the enduring benefits of neurofeedback were as encouraging as behavioral treatments and medication.
3. In the article “Effects of Neurofeedback in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review”, researchers found that the effects of neurofeedback interventions in children with ADHD showed improvements in impulsivity, attention, motor control, and behavior.
As you can see from the research, there is great reason to believe that neurofeedback, including less invasive and more simplistic and peaceful methods of neurofeedback, like Microcurrent Neurofeedback, can be very helpful for neurodivergent individuals who are wanting help with parts of their neurodivergence, and/or just parts of life, like anxiety. This means MCN isn’t just calming—it’s supportive of long-term change.
What Could It Look Like For You?
Clients who engage in a full course of MCN (typically 14–20 sessions) report real changes in their day-to-day lives. These might include:
1. A reduction in anxiety, which the individual may experience more intensely than a neurotypical individual as a result of dealing with neurotypical interactions in the world.
2. A reduction in the state of being in fight/flight/freeze/fawn, as a neurodivergent individual’s sympathetic nervous system may be stuck here more often than a neurotypical individual.
3. A reduction in sensory overload, which can be an overwhelming experience that isolates many neurodivergent individuals
4. Potential for improving executive functioning in individuals with Audhd or ADHD.
5. Cognitive improvement in the areas of memory and clarity, issues that many neurodivergent individuals struggle with.
6. Reduction in emotional reactivity and impulsivity, a much reported issue in the lives of people with ADHD.
In addition to these specific possible benefits, overall clients who experience MCN report feeling a sense of peace, a great reduction in anxiety, and overall wellness after only 1-5 sessions. These improvements are often subtle at first—a little more patience in traffic, a little less dread before social interactions. But over time, they add up to something powerful.
A full course of MCN is 14-20 sessions, then a client may greatly reduce their reliance on MCN for these benefits, only needing “touch-up” sessions every once and awhile. If you’re someone who experiences the world through a neurologically distinct lens—whether that’s ASD, ADHD, or a blend of both—you might find yourself longing for ease. Not to become someone else, but to move through your life with more peace and presence. MCN offers that possibility.
How Microcurrent Neurofeedback Evolved from Traditional Neurofeedback
Traditional neurofeedback has been around for decades. It involves training the brain through repetition and feedback—often using visual or auditory cues. Clients might watch a movie or play a game, and their brain’s performance determines how the screen reacts. Over time, the brain learns to shift into more optimal states.
This method can be incredibly effective but is often time-intensive and may not be ideal for people who struggle with focus, attention, or sitting still for long periods.
Microcurrent Neurofeedback emerged as a solution to these limitations. Instead of requiring active participation, it uses passive stimulation to nudge the brain out of its stuck places. This shift makes it accessible to a wider range of people—including those who find talk therapy or traditional neurofeedback exhausting or overwhelming.
MCN doesn’t just help the brain “see” itself; it helps it reorganize itself. That reorganization can lead to profound and lasting changes in how someone feels, thinks, and reacts.
How MCN Has Been Used to Treat Anxiety and Depression
One of the most promising areas of research for Microcurrent Neurofeedback is its impact on anxiety and depression. These conditions are often linked to dysregulation in brainwave patterns—either too much high-frequency activity (as in anxiety) or too little (as in depression).
MCN helps smooth out these imbalances. Rather than suppressing symptoms with medication, it encourages the brain to shift into more regulated, adaptive patterns. The result? A greater sense of peace, a reduction in intrusive thoughts, and an increase in emotional flexibility.
Clients with anxiety frequently report feeling calmer, more grounded, and less reactive after MCN. Those dealing with depression often say they feel lighter, more motivated, and able to experience joy in a way they haven’t in years.
Ready to Try It? Erin is Here to Support You
If you’ve felt like traditional therapy or medication hasn’t quite met your needs—or if you’re simply looking for a deeper level of healing—Microcurrent Neurofeedback may be the missing piece. Erin Rosenblum, MFT, is a skilled and compassionate provider who brings both clinical expertise and a deeply affirming approach to her work.
At Erin Rosenblum, MFT, you’ll find a warm, understanding environment that honors the whole of who you are. Erin is not only trained in Microcurrent Neurofeedback—she’s also deeply affirming of neurological diversity and tailors every session to your needs. She’s worked with a wide range of clients, from children to adults, helping each one find greater self-regulation, calm, and resilience.
Even if you’ve had frustrating experiences in traditional therapy… even if you’re skeptical of new modalities… even if you’re not sure what’s “wrong”—MCN might be worth exploring.
What if a few short sessions could help reduce the overwhelm you carry daily? What if your nervous system could feel safe enough to rest? What if there’s a version of your life where things feel just a little bit easier?
You deserve the chance to find out.
**Book a Microcurrent Neurofeedback session with Erin today**, and take the first step toward a more peaceful and supported experience of life. Whether you’re navigating sensory overload, emotional reactivity, focus struggles, or just the day-to-day challenges of being neurodiverse in a neurotypical world—there is help, and there is hope.
You don’t need to explain everything. You don’t need to mask. You just need to show up—and let the healing begin.
Research Links:
“Neurofeedback for Autism Spectrum Disorder: a review of the literature”