The Stigma of Mental Health in the Black Community

on February 5, 2021 at 4:28 PM /

The origins of modern psychotherapy date back to Sigmund Freud in Vienna in the late 19th century. At that time, patients visited Dr. Freud several days a week to lie down on his couch and say anything that came to mind. During treatment for mysterious emotional or behavioral difficulties, Dr. Freud, who didn’t say much during the session, was the ultimate authority: interpreting, diagnosing, and prescribing treatment. Psychotherapy, in its original form, though helpful, wasn’t without its problems. It could be a judgmental environment where someone didn’t know what it was like to be his patient (most were women), and it...

Embracing First Times: What You Can do to Make New Experiences Easier

By Rice Psychology Group

on July 17, 2020 at 3:05 PM /

It can be especially challenging to navigate new experiences in the middle of a pandemic. It seems like we just can’t plan fast enough to keep up the pace when major changes are happening in the world. Over the past few months, I experienced more first times than I can count, and let me tell you, they were hard! I recently came across a podcast and blog by Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, where she shared how hard it is to be new at things. In the blog, she writes that “showing up and pushing...

We Are Back in the Office for Testing Only

By Rice Psychology Group

on June 18, 2020 at 10:01 AM /

Rice Psychology Team

Tour and Guidelines ...

Protests in America: Why They’re Happening and Why We Should Listen

By Rice Psychology Group

on June 5, 2020 at 2:35 PM /

As fun as I like to think that I am, no one sees a psychologist if their life is going along smoothly. People come to me when they’re uncomfortable – too uncomfortable to go on with the “status quo.” That’s how changes are made, too. What we are currently doing is more uncomfortable than the discomfort of doing something different, so we change. I once had a colleague explain that, because making changes is hard, part of the work psychologists do is maintain the discomfort, to help people sit with, and remember why change is necessary. The same thing is happening...

Psychosomatic Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Rice Psychology Group

on April 10, 2020 at 2:42 PM /

Today, I was actively sweating even though I wasn’t being physically active. I was just sitting at the table drinking tea. I felt fatigued, but I’d been very active the previous day. I also felt very nauseated. Could this be a sign of COVID-19? I felt the need to check my temperature. Thoughts began running through my mind… “Do I have a fever?” “How about a cough?” Typically, this behavior and these thoughts might be odd, but under our current circumstances with COVID-19 running rampant, many families are experiencing these same behaviors. Are you in the same boat? Let’s delve deeper into the topic. Protecting...

Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood Vlog

By Rice Psychology Group

on March 13, 2020 at 4:11 PM /

Social Distancing ...

Why School Punishments for Minor Infractions Don’t Always Work on Kids

By Rice Psychology Group

on March 6, 2020 at 12:09 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Our son is a good kid and does well in school, but my husband and I have noticed that he’s made a couple of questionable decisions in recent months. Nothing serious, but enough to get our attention. We spoke to him about them when they happened, and he was always receptive. Last month, though, he was given detention after talking back to one of his teachers. He was angry and told us, “This is so stupid! All I did was make a joke about something she said! She knew I...

How the Great Outdoors Can Help in Easing Your Depression

By Rice Psychology Group

on February 7, 2020 at 11:16 AM /

I’m a single mom who works 9 to 5 and takes care of two kids. Most of my time is spent sitting at my desk, running errands, attending school functions, helping with homework, or cleaning the house. The state of my life left me feeling lonely, empty, and depressed, which was later diagnosed by a psychologist. It was recommended that, on top of my therapy, I should make some time for myself. My psychologist recommended a jog in the park or walking the dog. After taking her advice, I was surprised at how much better I felt in just a...

Being the Best Role Model: How a Parent’s Screen Addiction Can Affect Their Child’s Well-Being

By Rice Psychology Group

on October 5, 2019 at 7:38 AM /

As a parent, do you believe that you’re a good role model for your child? It seems like a simple question and our experience shows that a majority of parents want to be good role models. When you look closer at every detail of your life, though, you may find some potentially damaging behaviors that can have a negative effect on your children’s well-being. One potentially damaging behavior that a parent can pass onto their child is an over-reliance or addiction to screen time. Our Tampa-based psychologists and therapists would like to highlight how this behavior can easily become an addiction and how...

Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood Vlog (Friendship)

By Rice Psychology Group

on September 24, 2019 at 10:52 AM /

Watch, learn, and enjoy! ...