Meet Jen McNaughton, LCSW
Therapy that works with your nervous system — not against it.
Arnica Mental Health offers research-grounded, neurodivergent-affirming therapy for adults navigating ADHD, ASD, OCD, trauma, and nervous system overwhelm. This work is designed to honor the way your brain naturally operates and to give you support that actually fits.
Hi, I’m Jen. I’m glad you’re here.
I am a therapist, a researcher-at-heart, and a neurodivergent human who understands the internal chaos.
As someone with lived experience of neurodivergence, I know how confusing it can feel when your mind or nervous system reacts faster than you can make sense of it. That lived experience helps me recognize the moments when someone is masking, feeling pressured, or trying to show up as the “easier version” of themselves.
Here, none of that is required.
Feel free to settle in however you need. Move, stim, pause, take a break. Your body and nervous system get to have a say.
Alongside that, I bring evidence-based modalities like IFS, EMDR, ERP, CBT/DBT, and somatic tools. I love research (I read the studies so you don’t have to), but what matters most is the relationship we build and the steadiness we create together.
Who I Support at Arnica Mental Health
Thoughtful, capable adults navigating overwhelm, OCD, ADHD, or trauma.
Many of my clients are bright, self-aware people who have tried books, podcasts, and even other therapy — but still feel stuck, flooded, or confused by their reactions. I specialize in helping adults with:
- ADHD, ASD and other forms of neurodivergence
- OCD and intrusive thoughts
- Trauma and complex trauma
- Shutdown, burnout, or chronic overwhelm
- Nervous system dysregulation
- Emotional reactivity or difficulty slowing down
- Sensory processing and management
You don’t need more willpower. You need support that aligns with how your system actually works.
How Therapy Works Here
Arnica Mental Health is warm, collaborative, and grounded in the science of the nervous system.
A neurodivergent-affirming space
- Your brain isn’t a problem to solve. We work with your wiring, not against it.
Trauma-assumed care
- You never need to prove your history. Pacing always respects your window of tolerance.
Evidence-based, practical tools
- We use approaches shown to help ADHD, ASD, OCD, and trauma — not vague advice or endless talking.
Sensory-friendly environment
- Lighting, sound, movement, pacing — everything is flexible.
Identity-affirming & inclusive
- I welcome people of all identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences. Your complexity belongs here.
Together, we build clarity, regulation, and long-term steadiness — not just temporary relief.
My Path to Becoming a Therapist
A life shaped by curiosity, community, and understanding how people adapt.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in arts nonprofits, education, and community-based settings, roles that taught me how resilient, layered, and resourceful people can be. I’ve lived in mountain towns, worked across different communities, parented, and listened to countless stories that shaped my understanding of how people protect themselves when life gets overwhelming.
My clinical training in both private practices and mental health organizations in Wyoming and Colorado helped me develop the approach I use today: evidence-based treatment, nervous-system-informed pacing, and a steady, collaborative relationship that supports real change.
My practice philosophy
I believe in therapy that honors the way your brain works and makes room for your whole self to show up.
You shouldn’t have to hide, mask, or prove anything to get effective support. Many clients come in after years of feeling misunderstood or pushed toward strategies that never matched their minds or their bodies.
Arnica Mental Health exists so you can have a different experience — one where your wiring makes sense, your protective patterns are respected, and the pace of therapy meets your capacity.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, “too much,” “not enough,” or simply tired of trying to change yourself just to be understood, you’re in the right place.
What you can expect
At Arnica Mental Health, therapy feels...
Human and grounded
Welcoming to your quirks, pacing, and processing style
Collaborative, not passive
Evidence-based, with tools you can apply in daily life
Respectful of your nervous system, not demanding of it
You don’t need the “polished” version of yourself to show up.
You don’t need the perfect story or the right words.
We’ll explore things together — gently and steadily.
Ready to See If This Is a Good Fit?
A consultation call is free, low-pressure, and simply a chance to get a sense of what working together could feel like. You can schedule a consultation directly through my secure client portal by clicking below.