Holiday Mayhem: Dealing with Stress During the Holiday Season

on December 2, 2022 at 5:19 PM /

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. 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, the problems each face are unique as well. These problems can,...

Thanksgiving Stress: How to Avoid Tension with Your Family

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 14, 2022 at 11:30 AM /

Soon countless families across America will be joining for the Thanksgiving holiday, and many of those get-togethers will end with flared tempers, angry words, and maybe even some regret. Unfortunately, that’s the normal cycle for many during the holiday season. Luckily for you, our team of licensed therapists and psychologists in Tampa have some tips to make your get-togethers stress-free. Conflict Approaching Where exactly does all the stress and tension come from around the holidays? It might be a result of the following: Strained relationships Nosy relatives Opinionated relatives Past grievances Financial issues Controlling (helicopter) parents Lifestyle disagreements Politics The reality is that...

My Child Is a Bully: What Should I Do?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 10, 2022 at 9:09 AM /

Is your child a bully? Could they be physically or emotionally harming another child without you knowing? There’s nothing worse than getting a call from their school or having another parent approach you and claim that your kid’s been hurting others. And, as unfathomable as it sounds that the sweet baby you love and adore could be causing someone else pain, the reality is that it happens to many parents. Rice Psychology Group wants to stress that this doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent. In many of these cases, there’s an underlying issue that causes children to bully. In honor of...

A Guide to a Positive Relationship When Your Loved One Has OCD in Tampa

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 27, 2022 at 12:28 PM /

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Has someone in your life, a friend or family member, ever been diagnosed with a mental health condition? How did that make you feel? At Rice Psychology Group, we know whether you want to admit it or not, having someone you love diagnosed with a mental health condition, can be overwhelming. It can take a lot of time for everyone involved to adjust to a new diagnosis and learn the best ways to support your loved one. However, a new diagnosis doesn’t mean your relationship has to suffer or deteriorate. There are ways to live and thrive with your loved ones...

The Sweet Side of Halloween: How To Go Through Your Child’s Candy and What To Look For

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 26, 2022 at 6:40 PM /

Halloween is considered one of the most fun and creative times of the year. Allowing your little ones to dress up as their favorite monster or video game character is only half of it, though. The other exciting part is going out and trick-or-treating! Parents, while going house to house and grabbing as much candy as possible is a fun and exciting time for your kids, it’s important you are aware of the candy they are receiving and how much of it they are actually eating. Before your kids head out on Halloween night, Rice Psychology Group wants to share...

Halloween Jitters: 5 Tips for Parents to Take the Fright Out of this Fun Holiday

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 18, 2022 at 4:32 PM /

If you’re the parent of a young child and are dreading Halloween, then you’re not alone. Many parents fear exposing their young ones to scary things like costumes, masks, movies and such. But breathe a sigh of relief because our licensed mental health counselors and psychologists in Tampa want to offer five tips to make Halloween fun and not scary! Select the Right Costume Get creative with your child’s costume. This is the perfect time to sit down with your child and brainstorm together. If your little one frightens easily, try something fun and more traditional like a: Bedsheet-style ghost Friendly vampire...

Weathering the Storm: How You Can Ease Your Storm-Related Anxiety

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 30, 2022 at 12:00 PM /

As we recently watched Hurricane Ian make landfall in Florida, these storms not only impact our homes, and our safety, but can negatively impact our mental health. Anxiety and overwhelming fear about what is happening, especially if you have experienced weather-emergencies before, is common. If you struggle with anxiety or depression brought on by past events or can’t seem to calm your nerves every time storm season rolls through, then you aren’t alone. Our licensed Tampa psychologists and therapists are here to help by providing some clarity on how to maintain good mental health during hurricane season. Be Prepared Unlike our friends on...

The Glass is Half-Full: Seeing the Upside to ADHD

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 18, 2022 at 9:18 PM /

ADHD

Do you see life through a slightly different lens? I, Dr. Wendy Rice, surely do. I’d like to share a little story with you that some of our ADHD friends may be able to relate to. In an attempt to save my furniture, I recently ordered some new cat toys and scratchers. Then I realized that the oldies were true favorites and just needed some rehabbing. So I found some string and small cat toys that mostly just end up lost and rigged these oldies but goodies back into front-line irresistible entertainment centers! Maybe not exactly how I had planned to spend...

9/11: Managing Your Emotions

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 9, 2022 at 1:28 PM /

Most of us remember exactly where we were on September 11th, 2001. To many, it seems like yesterday when we were learning about those devastating attacks and now it’s odd to even think that there are adults who weren't even born yet. This weekend will mark the 21st anniversary of this tragic event, and the mental health effects for those who were there and even for those of us who were watching it on the news, continues to linger on. Mentally letting go of the fear, anxiety, and depression caused by such an event isn’t easy. Fortunately, it can be managed,...

Helping Your Kids Unplug and Socialize

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 7, 2022 at 11:15 AM /

Therapist

Last week, on my way to work, I passed a group of middle school kids on a corner all standing around talking with an older woman in a wheelchair. She might have been one of the kids’ grandmothers, but I’m not sure. It just warmed my heart to see the kids all interacting with each other, smiling and not on their phones. This was in contrast to what I saw a few days later in my neighborhood. There was another group of similar aged kids standing about 15 feet apart from each other, all looking kind of forlorn, in their...