Welcome to The Neurospicy Blog
It all begins with an idea.
Parent Empowerment: The Effective Parent Perspective
Hi, I’m Dr. Rick Silver! Welcome to the Neurospicy Blog. My goal with this blog is a simple one: to provide you with the information and inspiration that will help you — as a parent of a neurodivergent child — move your child to their own unique version of success and purpose in life. As we walk this path together, you will gain the skills that will allow you to feel empowered and effective in your parenting.
Raising children has always been a complex challenge. Each child is a unique mix of genetic and environmental influences, and their development can be unpredictable, demanding, and deeply rewarding. Today’s world—with its pandemic aftermath, climate concerns, political conflict, and social unrest—adds new layers of difficulty to parenting.
For parents of neurodivergent children—those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and related differences—the journey can be even more bewildering. Executive function challenges, social difficulties, and emotional regulation issues often interfere with skill development, self-esteem, and the transition to independence.
Despite our deep love for our children, we parents often feel overwhelmed and unsure. Why does my child behave this way? What does it mean for their future? Am I equipped to support them? These questions are common—and painful. Many of us also struggle with a sense of grief or disorientation. Why us? Why this path? How do we make sense of our child’s struggles when all we want is their happiness?
Parents often look to educational and mental health systems for answers, only to be left assembling fragmented resources without a unifying framework. Many practitioners offer help, yet families are rarely given a cohesive model that explains their child’s challenges and provides tools for moving forward with confidence.
What we need is a roadmap: a way to feel more effective and empowered in parenting our neurodivergent children.
Over the past 30 years, as a psychiatrist and a father of three daughters—two of whom are neurodivergent—I’ve been walking this path both professionally and personally. My wife Rose and I, like many of you, began this journey without understanding neurodivergent development. Loving our children deeply wasn’t enough—we needed clarity, tools, and support to meet their unique needs.
Through many years of trial, error, and eventual insight, we developed a treatment model at Thrive Emerge that now guides our clinical work. Along with our team—many of whom are neurodivergent themselves—we offer a strengths-based, neuroaffirming approach that supports teens and young adults in building motivation, resilience, and independence.
Our work focuses on young people with ADHD and what was once called “high-functioning autism”. We recognize the vast diversity within the autism spectrum and acknowledge that needs and strengths vary widely. Even if your child requires more intensive support than we offer, we hope the ideas here bring clarity, validation, and hope.
At the center of this approach is you, the parent. We believe that cultivating a sense of Parent Empowerment—what we call the Effective Parent Perspective—is essential for helping your child thrive.
Finally, we embrace the playful term “neurospicy” as a reminder that neurodivergent minds bring bold, creative, and vital contributions to the world. They are not broken—they are resilient, expressive, and worthy of celebration.
Our goal is simple: to lighten your journey and help you raise a child who can live a fulfilling, dignified life, true to their unique way of being in the world.
-Rick Silver, MD
Dr. Rick’s Bio
It all begins with an idea.
Dr. Rick Silver, MD, MPH
Founder & Director, Thrive Emerge and The Village
Dr. Rick Silver is a psychiatrist with over three decades of experience and a deep commitment to supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families. He is the Founder of Thrive Emerge, an outpatient mental health center, and Director of The Village, a therapeutic community that helps neurodivergent teens and young adults transition to independence through an immersive, peer-based, outdoor program.
His work is shaped by both clinical expertise and lived experience. As the father of three daughters—two of whom are neurodivergent—Dr. Silver has dedicated his career to building the kinds of treatment programs he once sought for his own family. Colleagues often note, with affection and accuracy, that he likely has ADHD himself—a perspective that fuels his compassionate, neuroaffirming approach.
In addition to his clinical leadership, Dr. Silver is a sought-after educator and workshop facilitator, frequently teaching parents, educators, and mental health professionals about Autism, ADHD, and innovative approaches to care. He holds an MD from the University of Maryland, an MPH from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, and a BS from the University of Michigan.
Through his work at Thrive Emerge and The Village, Dr. Silver continues to pioneer pathways for neurodivergent individuals to thrive on their own terms.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.