In Therapy, Goodbyes Are Just as Important as Hellos

on August 23, 2017 at 4:21 PM /

I want to talk with you about therapy, the kind that we practice at Rice Psychology Group. We all became psychologists or therapists because we care about people and want to be helpful. We enjoy relationships, getting to know individuals and families, working together to figure out what’s going on and how to help things get better for you. We invest a great deal of ourselves in the work we do with our clients, from the very first few minutes together until it’s time to say goodbye. And the goodbye is the part that I want to focus on today. In...

Change Your Negative Self-Talk Into Positive Reinforcement by Celebrating Your Successes!

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM /

“Authenticity” is one of those buzzwords that we hear a lot in the media and in publications. With this topic, many are talking about how to be more authentic in their personal and professional lives. This week, I wanted to talk a little bit about being authentic with yourself. It’s all about identifying the person that you are inside and being true to who he or she is without worrying what the world expects you to be. We have a habit of sending ourselves negative messages every day when thinking about certain things in our lives. It’s time to get above...

What You Should Know About Cognitive Processing Disorders

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 7, 2017 at 12:00 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week's piece. I always had a feeling that Jennifer would be a great student. I mean, she’s always running errands for her teachers and has friends in all of her classes. Yesterday, though, I got a call from her math teacher that has me worried sick. Apparently, Jennifer often has trouble with directions and seems to forget instructions immediately after they’re given. On top of that, she’s always distracted, always needs to be redirected to her work and needs more time than others to complete her assignments. I never thought my little...

A Link Between Mind and Body: How Stress Can Effect Your Health

By Rice Psychology Group

on January 11, 2017 at 9:45 PM /

For so long, the medical and psychological communities have been thought of as separate fields. Have you got a migraine? Go to the doctor for medication! Are you suffering chronic...

Focus on the Smile: Introducing the Science of Happiness

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 5, 2016 at 8:12 PM /

I was sorting my mail a few days ago and found myself worrying about the upcoming bills I’ll more than likely be struggling with. Of course, this made me feel stressed about the fact that I still haven’t made the jump to a better job. This, in turn, made me feel upset about the fact that I don’t know if my future is heading in the right direction. So, while I sorted through that pile of mail, I slowly began to realize something: I’m constantly focused on the things that are “wrong” in my life. Would I be better off...

Learning the Meaning of “Cognitive Processing Disorder”

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 30, 2016 at 8:00 AM /

Betsy is a sweet 3rd grader who wears her long hair in two braids and loves to run errands for her teacher. She has many friends in her class and loves everything about dogs and cats. In class, despite wanting to do well. Betsy often has difficulty following directions and seems to forget instructions almost as soon as they are explained. When the teacher meets with students in small groups, Betsy seems easily distracted and needs frequent redirection to stay on task. She often requires more time than other students to both start and complete her work. Her parents and...

The Importance of Being Mindful

By Rice Psychology Group

on September 7, 2016 at 10:22 PM /

By Amanda Schwait, Ph.D. You’ve probably seen the word “mindfulness” around a lot in the last five years. And while the word is thrown around in popular culture, I find that, oftentimes, people don’t always know exactly what it means. Jon Kabat-Zinn, one of the leading researchers and proponents of mindfulness in the United States, defines the term as “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment.” Mindfulness is a break from our constantly divided and analytical mind. It gives us a few moments to pay attention...

Just Do It – Not Just for Nike!

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 27, 2016 at 10:06 PM /

I’m glad I get to go home now...

On Child Motivation: Establishing Positive Incentives and Mindsets

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 8, 2015 at 8:07 PM /

I’ve started to notice my son’s grades are dropping again. For a second time this school year, his grades are all C’s and I honestly don’t know how to motivate him anymore. After the first few low grades, I told him I’d get him a video game if he improved and it worked! But now he just says, “I’m just not a math guy,” if I so much as question him about it. In a world of fast-paced assignments, high and sometimes seemingly unreasonable expectations and big classrooms, motivation can be one of the most challenging factors for many students....

Obsession vs. Compulsion: Recognizing the Symptoms of OCD

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 12, 2015 at 2:01 PM /

Chances are you’ve heard some people complain about their obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) if their knickknacks are not arranged in a specific order or if their floors just aren’t clean enough. However, there’s a big difference between being a perfectionist and having OCD. An obsessive-compulsive disorder can affect adults and kids and will generally manifest through irrational thoughts and fears (obsessions) that could give way to repetitive behaviors (compulsions). While some people recognize their obsessions, others may not. This could eventually lead to heightened distress and anxiety along with a need to perform compulsive acts. It’s not uncommon for adults and children...