Welcome to The Neurospicy Blog
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