Hi, I'm Dr. Marissa Caudill
I’m a board-certified psychiatrist, parent coach, and mother of two.
For over 18 years, I’ve worked with children, teens, and families across hospitals, clinics, and private practice.
After seeing just how overwhelmed and under-supported parents felt—especially those raising kids with ADHD and anxiety—I created The Parent Doctor: a place where expert mental health knowledge meets real-life parenting.
The Parent Doctor is more than a brand—it’s a movement.
It’s for parents who love deeply but are exhausted.
Who’ve read the books, seen the specialists, and still wonder: “Am I doing enough?”
This is where psychiatry, neuroscience, and soul meet practical, everyday parenting.
No perfection required. No shame. Just tools, truth, and heart.
Here, we don’t try to "fix" kids. We focus on empowering ourselves to lead with calm, clarity, and connection.
Because raising emotionally healthy kids starts with how we show up, not how hard we try to control.
The 5 Pillars of Empowered
Parenting™
Raising a child with ADHD or anxiety often feels like you’re parenting on a different planet—where traditional advice doesn’t work and every day brings new challenges. That’s why I created the 5 Pillars of Empowered Parenting™—a practical, psychology-backed framework specifically for parents like you.
These pillars aren’t theoretical. They’re rooted in the real-world struggles of overwhelmed, high-achieving parents trying to help their kids thrive—without losing connection or control.
They guide you from:
→ yelling to understanding,
→ power struggles to partnership,
→ burnout to balance.
Each pillar is a mindset and a skill set that helps you respond instead of react, lead with clarity, and create a home where your child—and you—can feel safe, seen, and supported.
Communication Optimization
We help you shift from lecturing or overexplaining to connecting. You’ll learn how to speak in a way that your child’s brain can actually receive—building trust, collaboration, and emotional safety.
Direction
Setting
Kids with ADHD and anxiety need clarity, not chaos. This pillar is all about establishing a consistent rhythm and shared goals, so your child knows where they’re headed—and you do too.
Emotion
Regulation
You can’t co-regulate if you’re dysregulated. Learn to stay calm under pressure, manage your nervous system, and model emotional control your child can follow.
Embracing
Failure
Mistakes are part of growth. This pillar helps you and your child respond to failure with compassion, resilience, and repair—deepening trust along the way.
Practicing
Gratitude
Gratitude builds emotional endurance. Learn to notice what’s working, even on hard days—so you and your child stay grounded in joy, strength, and perspective.
Together, these pillars shift your role from survival-mode enforcer to emotionally grounded leader.
Parenting a neurodivergent child brings a lot of uncertainty.
Here are some of the most common questions I hear—organized by what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Do I need a diagnosis to benefit from this?
No. Many of the families I work with don’t have a formal diagnosis, and that’s okay. If your child struggles with focus, regulation, anxiety, school resistance, or emotional ups and downs—and you're looking for support that goes deeper than typical parenting advice—you’re in the right place.
How do I know where to begin?
You don’t have to dive into everything at once. Start with listening to the Parent Doctor Podcast or join us for a live Book Club session every third Wednesday of the month. When you’re ready for more structured support, you can explore my coaching programs like The Tween Scene, EPIC, or Private Parenting Coaching sessions.
Is this only for moms?
No—this work is for any parent or caregiver who wants to raise emotionally healthy kids with confidence and connection. While many members are mothers, I work with dads, co-parents, and partners who want to show up fully for their kids.
Parenting Philosophy
and Lifestyle
What is your approach to parenting neurodivergent kids?
My approach is grounded in psychiatry, neuroscience, and emotional development—but it’s delivered in a way that feels compassionate, doable, and real. I believe your child isn’t broken—and neither are you. My work helps parents move from confusion and guilt to clarity and connection.
You’ll learn how to lead with regulation, understand what’s happening beneath the behavior, and develop the tools to support your child’s brain and nervous system with confidence.
Is this “gentle parenting”?
This is empowered parenting—a regulated, science-informed approach that blends emotional attunement with clear boundaries and leadership. We don’t rely on punishments or permissiveness. We use tools rooted in trust, structure, and repair. It’s not about being "gentle" or soft—it’s about being steady.
How does this help with ADHD and anxiety?
Kids with ADHD and anxiety need calm, clear, emotionally attuned leadership. What I teach helps you understand how your child’s brain works, reduce daily conflict, build emotional resilience, and create a home environment that supports growth. You’ll walk away with tools that work for your family—not just theory.
What kind of parent thrives in your programs?
The ones who care deeply, but feel overwhelmed. The ones who want to grow. The ones who are tired of one-size-fits-all parenting tips and want something that’s science-backed, soulful, and practical. If you're ready to lead your child with clarity and compassion—even when it's hard—this is for you.
Programs and Support
How much time do your programs require?
How is this different from reading another parenting book or following a therapist on Instagram?
Parenting content is everywhere—but what’s missing is structure, support, and application. At The Parent Doctor, I don’t just share ideas. I guide you step-by-step to apply them in real life. My framework is backed by psychiatry, simplified through coaching, and built for action—not overwhelm.
Why should I attend The Tween Scene Masterclasses?
The Tween Scene is a monthly membership for ambitious parents of tweens with ADHD and anxiety who want tools, scripts, and support—without the overwhelm.
Inside The Tween Scene, you’ll have access to live monthly masterclasses focused on tween challenges such as homework, sleep, friendship drama, screen time, and anxiety spirals. You'll also have access to live Q&A sessions, scripts & strategies PDFs, bonus guest experts [quarterly].
Is Book Club just about reading parenting books?
Nope—it’s about applying what matters. Every month, I break down the core insights of a powerful book (not just parenting books) and translate them into real-life strategies for high-achieving parents raising neurodivergent kids. It’s professional development for parents—with zero pressure to finish the book.
What makes EPIC (Empowered Parents Inner Circle) special?
EPIC is for parents who are ready to go deeper—with expert coaching, a clear roadmap, and a community that gets it. It’s not just support—it’s strategic, science-informed, soul-nourishing guidance for parenting kids with ADHD and anxiety in a world that wasn’t built for them. It’s like a masterclass, support group, and private think tank—all in one.
I’ve tried other programs and therapists before. How do I know this will work?
Because this isn’t just about your child—it’s about you. Most programs focus on fixing behavior. I focus on empowering the parent. When you learn to regulate your emotions, set direction with clarity, communicate effectively, and lead with empathy, your child’s behavior changes as a byproduct of your leadership. That’s the shift.
What kind of results do parents see from your programs?
Less misunderstandings, more connection, calmer days, fewer power struggles, greater confidence are just some of them.
You’ll learn how to show up with emotional clarity—even in the messiest moments—and lead your family with calm authority and compassion.
These aren’t quick fixes. They’re lasting, meaningful shifts that ripple through your child’s behavior, your family dynamic, and your own peace of mind—for years to come.
Still have questions?
You don’t have to figure this all out on your own.
If something’s unclear—or if you want help choosing where to start—reach out.
Let’s stop parenting on autopilot.
Get weekly insights grounded in psychology, neuroscience, and real life. No judgment. No overwhelm.
Just honest guidance to help you show up with confidence and calm.
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