Parent Report Card Preparation Tips

on April 9, 2014 at 1:37 PM /

Find out how you can support your child and not freak out when it's time to read their report cards. If you are a parent, four times a year, pretty much without fail, the envelope arrives in the mail for you. As a child in New York, my parent’s got theirs in a thin, white envelope with green edges and a black dot-matrix print. You would fold the end and pull at the tab for the big reveal. Butterflies would ravage my stomach as my mother pulled that tab. For some families, report card time is as ominous as another winter or summer storm. ...

How to Differentiate Mental Health Professionals

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 8, 2014 at 10:00 AM /

Sometimes people seek out a mental health professional when they're in "panic" mode. They are of course, less inclined to understand the necessity for counseling when everything's fine, so they wait until there is a crisis before they take any action. By that time, they are often so emotionally wrapped-up in the situation that they don't bother to look at the training or credentials and see the first mental health provider they find. The general public generally does not realize that there are more than a dozen mental health professional designations with many variations. Educational level, clinical skills and training can...

What to Look for When Choosing a Therapist

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 25, 2014 at 12:00 PM /

Choosing a licensed psychologist or a therapist is something that must be taken seriously, especially if you're in a "crisis" which requires immediate attention. It is critical, however, that you do your homework before making this important decision and ask questions that will assist you with the selection process. Here are a few steps that will help with finding a mental health professional that matches your needs. The first thing you need to do prior to making your choice is to have information readily available to assist the potential therapist in evaluating your unique situation. To help you get started, think...

Help for Those with ADHD – Assistive Technology

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 21, 2014 at 3:22 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Recently, Jamie Kaplan, Recreation Therapist from the James A. Haley VA Hospital presented to the Tampa Bay ADHD Support Network about Assistive Technology. We wanted to be sure to share his message and great ideas just in case you weren’t able to make it to the meeting. Jamie is working on his master’s degree in Assistive Technology in Special Education at Bowling Green State University, but he already has so many certifications in this area it is surprising they let him into the program! Jamie spoke about why kids with ADHD often seem to love video...

Talking to Kids About School Shootings and Violence

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 16, 2013 at 10:37 PM /

It is incomprehensible to me that there was yet another school shooting last week. My heart goes out to all of the students, teachers and families connected to the Arapahoe school shooting. The fact that this latest tragedy was so close to Columbine (just 8 miles away in Littleton, CO) and also on the eve of the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, CT, makes this all the more painful. These days, it is hard enough for teens and tweens to grow up up with the increased pressures at school to meet "Common Core Standards," to keep up with but not become addicted...

Appointments at Rice Psychology Group

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 31, 2013 at 8:35 PM /

Who should come to the initial appointment at Rice Psychology Group? Children under the age of 12: We ask that parents come in without the child, so that we will have a chance to fully discuss the issues, history, and overall picture of what is going on without the child having to wait in the waiting room. A second session involves a playing or talking meeting with your child. Children over the age of 12: If it is appropriate, bring your child to the appointment so they can participate in the process from the start. This meeting will be done in a...

Halloween Costumes

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 22, 2013 at 3:05 PM /

Dr. Wendy Rice of Rice Psychology in Tampa was interviewed in October of 2013 on the Jim Bohannon Show from www.jimbotalk.net about Halloween costumes for kids and adults. Click Play below to listen to the interview. ...

Halloween Costumes: Cute, Scary or Sexy?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 21, 2013 at 3:07 PM /

ADHD
Blog

Your daughter is so excited for Halloween! She is 7 years old and can’t wait to go to the Halloween store to pick out her costume. You are envisioning a clown, a ghost, maybe a princess or a cat. You are imagining how cute your little girl will look a dressed up, walking down the street eager to fill her plastic pumpkin with candy! Then reality strikes and your daughter shows you the costumes she really wants – a super-sexy witch or a lady vampire with thigh high boots! Yikes! Now what? I just Googled “Halloween Costumes Girl” and one of...

Why Would Anyone Choose an Out-of-Network Mental Health Provider?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 4, 2013 at 4:30 PM /

As a thriving psychology practice that does not participate in private or government health insurance plans, we are often asked why patients elect to see one of our psychologists on a self-pay fee system despite having insurance coverage. Here are the top three reasons why it can be beneficial to establish with an out-of-network psychologist: No 3rd Party Dictating Care: We are able to develop individualized treatment plans without under-qualified managed care employees dictating the type of care we are able to provide. We are able to provide scientifically supported therapies without arbitrary parameters set by insurance companies. We are able to schedule...

Using Group Therapy to Support High School Girls

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 30, 2013 at 7:58 PM /

For teenage girls, the high school years are incredibly complicated and often filled with turmoil. They are busy trying to position themselves in the social network of their school, solidify their identity, and gain independence from their families. The importance of normalizing their daily experiences cannot be underestimated. This is especially true for teens who have pre existing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, deficits in social skills, learning disabilities, or any other struggle that makes high school more formidable. How can we best support these emerging young women to not just survive, but flourish, during these very...