RG26-18. Dr Susan Blumberg & Marriage with a Neurodivergent Child

May 4, 2026April 29, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast Leave a comment

Raising Our Gifted Children with Sara Troy and her guest Dr Susan Blumberg, on air from May 5th

Today, we’re opening a conversation that touches the heart of many homes, the delicate dance between communication, relationships, and the realities of raising a neurodivergent child within a marriage.

There’s a common belief that having a child with special needs automatically places a marriage under greater strain, even leading to higher divorce rates. But the truth is more nuanced than that. It isn’t the child who defines the outcome—it’s how the couple chooses to walk the journey together.

When communication remains open, when both partners feel seen, heard, and supported, the relationship can deepen in ways never imagined. The challenge then becomes not just caring for the child, but consciously nurturing the partnership, making space for connection, understanding, and shared resilience.

This is about balance… about choosing each other as much as you choose your child, and recognizing that a strong relationship becomes one of the greatest gifts you can offer your family.

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I’m a married mother of two young adult, twice-exceptional children. I’ve lived in Colorado for over 40 years, but I still think of myself as a New Yorker!

My background in cognitive behavioral therapy informs my work as a life coach, as I help people set goals, plan their journey, and achieve success. I worked as a licensed clinical psychologist for over 20 years, in mental health agencies, in private practice, and for the federal government overseeing child welfare and adoption services in the Rocky Mountain region. This has given me a solid and varied background, and extensive level of experience.

Working as a special education advocate for 40 years means I have honed my skills as a negotiator, my ability to collaborate, and my understanding of being a team member. I always put your child first. I have training from the Arc, Wrightslaw, and I was a member of COPAA, the Council Of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. I have sat on both sides of the IEP table, as a professional and a parent, which gives me an unique perspective. Though I am not currrently taking new clients, I am available for consultation as needed.

I am also the coauthor of multiple books, including Fighting for Your Marriage (2010, Markman, Stanley & Blumberg), 12 Hours to a Great Marriage (2003, Markman, Stanley & Blumberg) and Parenting a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder: a family guide to understanding and supporting your sensory-sensitive child (2006, Auer & Blumberg).

University of Denver, MA, 1983; PhD, 1991 Brandeis University, BA, 1980.

Certified Neurodiversity Professional

Certified Autism Professional

AMAZON

Susan’s last show

RGC26-15. Dr. Susan L. Blumberg, Ph.D. & Neurodivergences

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RGC25-39. Fiona and Molly McIntosh. U Shape Us

September 29, 2025September 29, 2025Sara Troy

Raising Our Gifted Children with Sara Troy and her guests Fiona & Molly McIntosh, on air from September 30th

U Shape Us: The power of imagination to turn ideas into friendships

So many of our children carry creative gifts that go unseen. I first noticed this with my daughter Molly, when we used a simple imagination game to help her make friends. From that moment grew U Shape Us—our mother–daughter social enterprise creating playful imagination games to spark creativity, connection, and belonging across generations. Each time a child shares an idea and sees it welcomed, it builds self-esteem and the deeper belief: “I am someone whose ideas matter. I am creative.” Parents, grandparents, and teachers often tell us they’ve discovered a new side of their children through these games, as ideas turn into friendships and voices are heard. At its heart, our message is simple: you belong where your ideas are welcomed.

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Molly and her mum Fiona McIntosh co-founded U Shape Us, a social enterprise based in Canberra, Australia using imagination games to build belonging. What began when Molly was just six years old—with a simple game that helped her make friends during a difficult time—has grown into games now reaching families, schools, and communities across the world. Today, Molly plays an active role in shaping and running the enterprise, bringing fresh creativity, lived experience, and the voice of a young person showing what it means to belong. Fiona, a solo mum with a background in human services, community development and inclusion, works alongside Molly to bring the games to life and share them widely. Together, they are proving how simple, playful ideas can ripple out to create lasting confidence, connection and community.

20 sec version : Fiona and her daughter Molly McIntosh are the co-founders of U Shape Us, a social enterprise from Canberra, Australia. What started when Molly was six years old as a simple game to help her make friends has now grown into imagination-based card games reaching families, schools, and communities around the world. Together, they’re proving how playful ideas can spark creativity, build confidence, and turn ideas into friendships.

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25-39. The Mind Awaits the Soul

September 29, 2025September 29, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from September 30th

The mind is only a bystander, waiting for direction. I often speak of Knowingness, that sacred moment when the soul’s wisdom whispers truth to the heart, igniting the spirit into action. From there, the mind receives its cue, awakening with clarity exactly when it is needed.

True knowing comes when we trust the wisdom that flows from the core of our being. It speaks through the heart, stirs the spirit, and draws from the mind the clarity we require.

Thus, for all its knowledge, the mind is not the master but the servant, standing by until called upon, waiting for instruction on how best to use what it holds.

We have been conditioned to believe we must think everything, when in truth, it is through feeling that wisdom reveals itself and knowledge is understood. When felt at the core of our being, it is so profound it cannot be argued or denied—for it simply is.

As a child, I lived naturally in this zone of knowing, fully connected to the divine wisdom within. But as I grew, the expectations and demands of life pulled me away, and I forgot how to feel that inner wisdom. Now, many years later, I have found my way back. I am once again in tune with my inner self, at home with the wisdom, trusting the knowledge it reveals, and feeling lovingly and carefully guided at my very core.

I feel we have lived externally for too long, forever chasing life and dreams that are illusions. As a society, we have become lost and disconnected, no longer knowing how to feel the wisdom within. Instead, we live trapped in chaotic minds, mistaking noise for truth and distraction for purpose.

It is only when you give yourself space and time that you truly begin to feel the connection and understand what you need to know, and when. You begin to feel what is right, sense what you need to do, and know when to act on it. These feelings can be deeply encouraging, arriving just when you need them most.

So trust that Knowingness, that feeling of wisdom that brings clarity on what to do. Surrender to those felt truths, for they will not lead you astray. They are your compass, guiding you with certainty and showing you the path forward.

You are a divine being, here to live, listen, learn, and apply the wisdom you gather along the way. When you allow yourself to be guided, you step into the fullness of who you are meant to be. In that space, your light becomes illumination for others, gently inspiring them on their own path of discovery and growth.

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