Individual & Couple Therapy in Austin or Online Across Texas
NEURODIVERGENCE • CHILDHOOD TRAUMA • RELATIONSHIPS

helping sensitive nervous systems
regulate, grow, & reconnect

So you or your partner might be NEUROSPICY…

...and at first it felt so easy! You could be your authentic self around your partner; they were quirky, and you might have even said, “They aren’t like anyone else I’ve been with!”

But now you’re stuck in an exhausting cycle of arguments that quickly spiral into one or both of you feeling completely overwhelmed. You’re unable to explain what is distressing, your partner never seems to understand the things that trigger you, and maybe you’re starting to think:

“I guess I’m just too much.”
or
“I will never be enough”.

Hi I’m Kyle!

A young man with light skin, brown hair, and a beard is smiling outdoors, wearing a pink button-up shirt. This is Kyle Rutherford, LMFT-Associate, who offers neurodiverse couples therapy and individual EMDR therapy for clients with CPTSD in Austin TX

Kyle Rutherford, LMFT-Associate

Supervised by
Angela Funke, LMFT-S

I help neurodiverse individuals and couples
re-ignite their connection,
find sensory safety,
and regulate

through overwhelming experiences like
past trauma reminders,
relational conflict,
and shame spirals.

Whether you feel
frozen, lost, or alone…

have a partner willing to join you here or not…

or just don’t know what to do about the
constant overstimulation, dysregulation, or fear that you are not good enough…

You are not too sensitive.

You are not too much.

You are not too late.

Specialties

While there is no "perfect client," I specialize in working with couples and individuals who struggle to manage neurodivergence and the pervasive effects of trauma in their relationships. I typically work with:

  • I assist partners who face challenges such as communication issues, distrust, infidelity, negative cycles of conflict, or emotional distance. By working together, we can uncover unmet needs, improve communication, and rebuild a connection that is grounded in trust and vulnerability.

    Explore Couple Therapy and Intensive Sessions.

  • I provide a safe space for those dealing with post-traumatic stress, including the lasting effects of childhood trauma.

    Those who have experienced ongoing neglect, abandonment, or emotional abuse may struggle with trust, emotional regulation, and forming secure relationships while people who were impacted by a jarring traumatic event may experience flashbacks, anxiety, emotional numbness, or struggles with emotion regulation.

    Explore EMDR, Walk-and-Talk, Individual or Couple Therapy, and Intensive Sessions.

  • I support clients who have difficulties with intimacy, fear of abandonment, or emotional dependency. I will work with you to develop healthier, more balanced relationships by addressing unprocessed attachment wounds and fostering secure connections.

    Explore EMDR, Individual and Couple Therapy, and Intensive sessions.

  • As an ADHD’er in a neurodiverse relationship myself, I know the struggle of maintaining meaningful connection. I support neurodivergent adults who struggle with communication, emotional regulation, overstimulation, and connection in the context of their most important relationships. Whether we work in a couple setting or individually, we will work together to improve coping mechanisms, self-compassion, mutual understanding, and relational dynamics - all in a way that meets your unique needs.

    Explore Walk-and-Talk, Couple Therapy, and Intensive Sessions.

Brain-Informed Services

Book a free consultation!

Honoring Neurodiversity

Different Brains. Different Needs.

At The Rooted Brain, we affirm that there is no “one right way” for a brain to work. Some brains need quiet, some need movement. Some prefer directness, others metaphor.
Whether you’re autistic, an ADHDer, highly sensitive, or exploring your own neurotype, I tailor therapy to your brain’s unique:

  • Sensory needs (lighting, sound, pace, space)

  • Communication style (direct, visual, expressive, or reserved)

  • Processing patterns (fast, nonlinear, delayed, or deep-diving)

  • Emotional rhythms (intensity, shutdowns, swings, etc.)

“Your brain isn’t broken. It’s responding to a world that may not have known how to meet it.”

Growth Is Possible

Neural Pathways Can Change

Just like a tree grows new branches in the right conditions, your brain can reshape its responses over time — especially in the presence of compassion, connection, and safety.

In therapy, we gently explore the roots of old patterns while helping you build new, flexible pathways for:

✅ Emotional regulation
✅ Secure relationships
✅ Self-understanding
✅ Resilience and choice

Deep Roots. Open Minds.

This is a place for brains like yours.

At The Rooted Brain, therapy is built for your whole experience — honoring how your nervous system protects, adapts, and longs for connection. Through trauma-informed, attachment-based, and neurodivergent-affirming care, you can find a way back to yourself.