Doing Away with the Back-to-School Blues

on August 10, 2016 at 2:38 AM /

In the past, he had been a lot more excited with the back-to-school shopping we would do. I remember he would take his time figuring out which notebooks to buy, which backpack would look the coolest and the clothes he wanted to show off in class! But yesterday, for some reason, he seemed a little more scared about going back to school. It was like every little thing I held up to him to look at made him more and more anxious. Even when we’re at home and I bring up his summer reading, he immediately becomes defensive and short...

When the Answer is No: Dealing with Rejection

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 3, 2016 at 8:03 PM /

I really thought I had it. The interview went great, I have more than enough experience and the people who interviewed me seemed to be delighted with everything I said. I realize that this was the first interview I’d had in a few years, but I was really looking forward to this one and honestly don’t think a better opportunity will come any time soon. I really wanted this one! Tammy says it’s important that I keep my head up; she says a job will come soon. I guess I just don’t see it that way. [bctt tweet="A person’s opinion or...

Pokémon: GO Socialize!

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 27, 2016 at 4:48 PM /

I promise you I hadn’t seen him do something like that in so long! You know how teenagers are, they come home from school, get on the computer and that’s it! Well last week, after dinner, he grabbed his phone and told me he was going to the park. Now, I know he has friends, but they’re just as shy as he is; I assumed something was up. He came back a couple of hours later with a huge smile on his face and I immediately got suspicious. That’s when I decided to ask him what was going on. He...

Facing the Post-Graduation Slump

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 20, 2016 at 7:08 PM /

I guess I haven’t felt like myself lately. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’m depressed or anything, but I just feel…down. I really am glad that I finally graduated. With all the work I did over four very long years, who wouldn’t be happy to finally be done with school? But I guess I’m just scared of what lies ahead. Some of my friends already have jobs and others are planning on moving to different cities in search of an adventure, but I have no idea what’s coming my way. Was my hard work done in vain? [bctt tweet="Graduates...

Life in the Age of the Selfie: The Impact of Social Media on Relationships

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 13, 2016 at 4:06 PM /

We were having dinner a couple of nights ago and I could honestly tell that something was wrong right off the bat. We sat down, ordered a couple of drinks and I thought it’d be nice to post a quick picture of our wine glasses on Instagram. There’s nothing wrong with that, right? Except...

In the Limelight: How Celebrities Change the Way We Look at Mental Illness

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 7, 2016 at 3:32 PM /

We had a movie night a few days ago and everyone decided to watch “Get Him to the Greek” since no one had seen it yet. I could not stop laughing. As a matter of fact, there were no dry eyes in the living room and believe me, they were definitely tears of joy! We all thought the characters were hilarious, especially the one portrayed by Russell Brand. I ended up looking him up on Google after the movie to see what else he was in. I was surprised to find out he had issues with substance abuse, body image...

Summer Woes: School’s Out, Boredom’s In

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 30, 2016 at 12:34 AM /

The house is full of groaning kids and summer vacation just started! If I’m in the kitchen putting together our lunch, in come my three frowning kids, complaining about how there’s nothing to do and how they’ll probably die of boredom. I just don’t get it, you know? It happens almost all day! Is it my job to keep them entertained or is the downtime they have actually a good thing? After hours, days and weeks of hard work, children from around the nation (and around the world) are finally able to take a much-needed break from their projects and homework....

Breaking the Abuse Cycle in Your Adult Life

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 21, 2016 at 2:50 PM /

Every once in a while, I remember some of the things I hated most back then. I remember the yelling at our house, the constant criticizing and even the lengthy silent treatments that would drive me and my siblings crazy. I try not to let those times affect me, but I really don’t know if I’m doing a good job. I mean, what if I end up putting my family through the same pain and abuse without even realizing it? It’s not easy to face the truth of the emotional abuse a person may have experienced at a young age. As...

Tragedy in Orlando: Dealing with Traumatic Events

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 13, 2016 at 10:17 PM /

I cannot believe we are faced with yet another mass shooting in this country. My heart absolutely breaks for everybody directly involved with this massacre. Although I am a psychologist and have discussed countless tragedies with my clients over the years, I am still left speechless and devastated by these senseless acts of violence. Coming to terms with a traumatic event, such as this weekend’s shooting, can be a very difficult task, but it is possible. I want to offer you some comfort and tips for dealing with this event for yourself and your children. A traumatic event can make a damaging...

Glued to the Screen: Finding Balance in Today’s Digital Age

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 1, 2016 at 9:27 PM /

We hadn’t had dinner together in a long time, so I thought we could have a good father-son night out for a change. You know, just us boys. Well, we get to the diner and I’m trying to have a conversation with him. I start asking questions about his final exams and the end of the basketball season, but nothing. No reply. He was just sitting there on his phone. We finally get our food and I start eating while he’s just texting away. So I try it again: I ask him a few more questions and even offer to...