Why Some Kids Love Being Scared and Others Don’t (And How Parents Can Help at Halloween)

on October 28, 2026 at 9:31 AM /

Behavior

I have been walking around my neighborhood and cannot believe some of the decorations I am seeing. Two doors down there’s something that looks like a cross between a werewolf and Chewbacca that looks to be about 12 feet high and lights up. In the other direction there’s an eyeball about three times the size of a yoga ball, skeletons, Ghosts with light up eyeballs and a whole host of other lifelike decorations including spiders and skulls and bats. Now my dogs are a bit taken aback with some of them and I can’t help but put myself in the shoes...

Why I Choose to Be Real: On ADHD, Authenticity, and the Power of Shared Experiences

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM /

ADHD
Blog

By Dr. Wendy Rice Last week, I asked an adult client why she continues to work with me. At that moment, I was feeling particularly aware of my shortcomings and not at my most confident, so this felt like a risky question to ask. I cringed a little waiting for her answer. Her response surprised me in the best way. She said, “Because you’re real. Because you didn’t just go to school and pick a subject you were interested in—you’ve lived it, you’ve suffered, and because of that, I feel like I can tell you anything.” That went a long way. Many years...

Navigating Your Child’s Psychological Evaluation: Part 2

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 25, 2025 at 4:09 PM /

By. Amanda M. Cosgriff, Ph.D., BCBA & Licensed School Psychologist When you search for the term “recommendation” online, it is defined as “a suggestion or proposal as to the best course of action.” Psychological assessment reports typically include a long list of recommendations—some may feel too vague, while others might seem overwhelming or excessively detailed. This can make it difficult for the adults in the child’s life to determine the best path forward. What Should I Do with the Recommendations? Ultimately, the decision to implement recommendations rests with the parent and educational team (e.g., teacher, school administrators, tutors). While these recommendations are not...

Navigating Your Child’s Psychological Evaluation: What Comes Next?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 11, 2025 at 10:36 AM /

By Amanda M. Cosgriff, Ph.D., BCBA & Licensed School Psychologist After an extensive search for a psychologist, providing background information, answering seemingly endless questions, undergoing hours of testing, and waiting weeks for results, you finally receive the call to schedule your feedback meeting. During this meeting, the psychologist explains the evaluation results, outlines your child’s learning profile, and, if applicable, provides a diagnosis. You leave thinking, “We finally have an explanation—now we can move forward.” However, over the next couple of days you may start to feel overwhelmed. Where do you begin? How do you take the next steps? If this sounds...

Election Blues: What You Can do to Feel Better After November 5th

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 2, 2024 at 6:04 PM /

After so much back-and-forth mudslinging, Election Day will be here before we know it. And while the excitement of casting a ballot and the relief of not having to listen to one more political ad fills many of us with joy, others are dealing with some very different emotions now that may continue after the election. If you’re struggling with anxiety or stress and aren’t sure how to manage your emotions, then know that we at Rice Psychology Group understand. It’s Hard Not To Worry It seems as if over the years, politics has become a significant source of stress for many...

Solutions for the Gen Z Struggle

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 22, 2024 at 8:54 PM /

Mental Health Awareness

Kids today seem to have it all. The world is literally at their fingertips. While it seems that the up-and-coming generation has more resources and opportunity than ever before, they are struggling the most. Why is that, and what can we do about it? Rice Psychology Group understands that while each generation has their own specific benefits, they also struggle with very specific mental and emotional obstacles that others before them did not. That’s why we are proud to offer help and support for kids and teens growing up in today’s world, specifically Generation Z. Who is Generation Z? According to an article by...

Psychologists Tampa Diagnosis: Tips to Understanding and Addressing Mental Health Concerns

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 15, 2024 at 1:20 PM /

Therapist

I learned a long time ago that diagnosis informs treatment. I can credit Harold Koplowitz, MD, founder of the Child Mind Institute, for that gem. Many people come to me wanting a psychologists Tampa diagnosis, while others specifically do not want a diagnosis. Either way, everyone wants an understanding of what's wrong and how to make it better. That is what I believe we do best at Rice Psychology Group. We Offer Individualized Care I have recently been doing comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations for elementary and middle school kids. While I don't love writing reports I do love the process of coming up with...

Tampa Therapists Recommend: What You Can do to Successfully Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution!

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 22, 2023 at 12:21 PM /

Every January 1st, countless people resolve to accomplish a goal by the end of the year, and many, if not most, fail. In fact, according to a University of Scranton study, only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals. It almost seems as if New Year’s resolutions are meant to be broken! Maybe you’ve been there, too? Our team of licensed psychologists and therapists in Tampa would like to offer a few helpful tips. Start with Something Manageable Unreasonable goals go hand-in-hand with New Year’s resolutions. For example, instead of dropping 50 pounds by spring, why not set a more realistic...

Holiday Mayhem: Tips to Dealing with Stress From Rice Psychology Group

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 15, 2023 at 9:19 AM /

For most of us, the holidays are a time of celebration, reunions, making memories and joy. For a others, however, it can mean stressful situations. Rice Psychology Group understands the holidays can be - a lot. Holiday planning is something than many families deal with, and the stress resulting from it can really put a damper on a period of the year reserved for happiness. If you feel that this holiday season will be a stressful one, then read on to see what you can do to help make it easier. What Are the Difficulties? All families are unique, and as such,...

Solo Holidays: Tampa Counselors Recommended to Feel Less Alone During This Time of Year

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 8, 2023 at 9:00 AM /

As the popular song goes, the holiday season is “the most wonderful time of the year”. Yet, it’s wonderful only if you have people to spend it with. This is a topic our Tampa counselors have heard before. For those who don’t have loved ones, the holidays can be lonely, sad, and depressing. If you’ve been in this position before, then you know how hard it is. This is why our team of licensed psychologists and Tampa counselors want to provide some information to help you survive and, hopefully, feel less lonely during the holidays. Steps to Take If you find yourself alone...