Seeing Red: Diffusing Your Loved One’s Anger

on September 28, 2016 at 9:10 PM /

I know I usually joke around about how angry Vanessa gets, but lately it’s been very different. It’s gotten to the point where the slightest thing, even if no one has control over it, will anger her. At first I thought it was funny that she’d get so upset over minor inconveniences or things that I thought were funny or no big deal, but that obviously made her angrier and things have just been getting steadily worse. I tried talking to her last week to figure out what’s frustrating her, but she said she’s not exactly sure. I’m honestly at...

Handling the Top Challenges of a Parent in 4 Effective Ways

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 14, 2016 at 9:16 PM /

Life as a parent can be extremely rewarding and filled with some of the most memorable occasions you’ll ever experience. You’ll watch your little ones grow, hear their first words and steer them in the right direction as they make their way through life. However, things aren’t always so peachy. As a parent, you’re expected to care for your child, help develop their skills and encourage appropriate behaviors, all while dealing with some of the most common and troublesome behaviors in childhood. At Rice Psychology Group, we understand things can often be difficult, which is why our psychologists want to help...

Understanding Motivation as a Driving Force

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 7, 2016 at 10:15 PM /

My dream has always been to start my own restaurant, but it always remains that: a dream. My parents say I haven’t yet achieved it because of my lack of motivation, but I honestly don’t know how to deal with that. Even when I do feel extremely hyped about finally opening the doors to a restaurant, I end up losing focus and end up back at square one. There have honestly been times when I have everything I need to kick my dream into gear and, for no reason whatsoever, I end up achieving nothing. Is motivation really what I’ve...

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...

How Perfect is Too Perfect?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 4, 2016 at 6:21 PM /

When I met Tom, I noticed he was a really hard worker and dedicated to everything he set his mind to do. To be honest, it was one of the things that really attracted me to him…but now I’ve realized he tries a little too hard. Everything he does has to be absolutely flawless, which wouldn’t be a problem, except for the fact that he gets extremely worried and stressed if things don’t turn out the way he wants. It’s gotten to the point where he won’t sleep or leave his apartment because he’s either putting all his time into...

Keep Calm and Color On

By Rice Psychology Group

on November 1, 2015 at 6:48 PM /

By Elaine Spencer, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist I walked into Michaels Craft store the other day and was pleasantly surprised to see the front display was advertising coloring books for adults and I thought to myself, “Wow! Coloring really is the new craze!” So What is This New Coloring Phenomenon All About? The simple answer is that coloring can actually be therapeutic. If you were like me as a child, you spent hours with your coloring books and your parents probably thought you enjoyed coloring because ‘that’s what kids do’. We now know that children are on to something because not only is coloring...

The Zen Approach to Treating Mental Health

By Rice Psychology Group

on September 28, 2015 at 9:38 PM /

By Megan Sutsko, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Close your eyes. Focus your attention on your breath. Follow your breath in. Notice the tiny pause between inhale and exhale. Follow your breath out. Try to clear your mind of thoughts and tune in only to the sensation of your breath flowing in and out. Stay in the moment… Meditation, the act of quieting the mind, can be an invaluable tool for mental and physical health. It is taught by yoga instructors, Buddhist zen masters, and even psychologists. This ancient Eastern technique is finding increasing acceptance in the Western world. According to Swami Rama “Meditation is a...

The Magic of Teams – A Place for Everyone

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 16, 2015 at 8:01 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist 'Tis the season for trying out and participating in new or familiar sports and activities. I am a horseback rider and while it is my therapy, my love and my sport – it is also my arena for competition. Riding is an individual sport that allows for competition from the most basic beginner levels (for adults and children) through national, international and Olympic levels. Interestingly though, when I compete, I am also very much part of a team. I cheer on my barn-mates, even when I am competing directly against them; and they do the...

Summer Wrap-Up

By Rice Psychology Group

on September 4, 2015 at 9:41 AM /

Summer is a busy time of year and, if you're like me, you may not have had a chance to stay up to date on all the blogs and newsletters that you subscribe to. So, to make it easy for you, I've compiled some of our blogs from Summer 2015 along with a summary of each below. Enjoy! 9 Resources to Help Overcome Mental Health Struggles At Rice Psychology in Tampa, FL, we work with many young people who struggle with learning and attention issues. In order to provide the best service to those clients, I am always on the look out...

Should Handcuffs Be Used in Schools?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 11, 2015 at 7:58 AM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist A sheriff's deputy from Kentucky is currently facing federal lawsuit because he handcuffed at least two elementary school students who were acting up. It turns out that both of these children have diagnosed neurodevelopmental conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which makes it difficult for them to control their emotions and behavior. As a psychologist I have worked with children who were labeled “Seriously Emotionally or Behaviorally Disturbed” and I have had children lash out at me both physically and verbally. I have been trained in how to handle these situations by first understanding what is...