Helping Your Child to Express Their Gratitude in Unique Ways

on July 11, 2018 at 12:20 PM /

[bctt tweet="Scientific research has identified factors that determine a set point, or level, of happiness. " username="ricepsychology"]These factors can include life circumstances and intentional activity. A person’s set point is considered stable and linked to one’s genetics, temperament and personality. Life circumstances are also considered somewhat stable and include age, gender, personal history, etc. Lastly, intentional activity involves actions and thoughts that a person can engage in on a daily basis, such as exercise, being optimistic and setting goals. While a person’s set point and life circumstances are more stable, intentional activities are something that we can hone in on to...

Father’s Day: Getting Through it or Making the Most of It

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 14, 2018 at 9:57 AM /

A few weeks ago, we discussed Mother’s Day and the difficulties some people experience with it. Now, as the nation prepares to grill some celebratory burgers, go out for a camping trip or try to find the perfect gift for Dad, others are dreading the day. If you have a difficult relationship with your father, you might be scratching your head and wondering how you’ll come out of Father’s Day unscathed. It may get tough, but there are a few steps you can take to either survive Father’s Day or attempt to repair a strained relationship with Dad. Avoiding It This is...

No More Stigmas: Speaking Out About Your Anxiety and Depression

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 7, 2018 at 9:56 AM /

On June 5, we lost fashion icon Kate Spade. Many of us knew her brand and loved her purses, iPhone cases and accessories. What most in the public were completely unaware of was that under that lighthearted and creative exterior lived a woman who suffered terribly from depression and a fear of “being found out”. She worried that if her struggles with depression were made public, it would tarnish her image and damage her business. It’s heartbreaking that she was so afraid of what others would say if she privately sought help and spoke out about her mental illness. On Friday,...

Quality Over Quantity: How Important is Family Time for You and Those You Love?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 6, 2018 at 3:43 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s piece. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been spending almost 12 hours at the office trying to finalize our next big project. I’m expecting it to be this way for about two more months, but I really hope we get everything ready in a few weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but I haven’t had the chance to hang out with my family at all! Steve texted me yesterday to tell me that our son, Robbie, was stellar in his soccer game while I stayed in the office....

Gaming College Students: Is Your Child’s First Year at School Destined to Result in “Game Over”?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 30, 2018 at 12:04 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. My sister Leslie spent Memorial Day weekend with us and brought something to my attention that’s now worrying me. She mentioned that Joseph, my son, spent most of the visit in his room at his computer playing video games. I really didn’t pay too much attention since he usually keeps to himself when we have guests, but it’s something that needs addressing. You see, she mentioned that her coworker’s son recently came back home halfway through his first year of college. The reason was he flunked out of classes due...

Self-Body Shaming – Taking a Look at This Very Serious Issue

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 24, 2018 at 10:07 AM /

I was with Angie at the thrift store yesterday looking for some fun t-shirts for an upcoming trip to the beach with my parents. I found some great stuff but couldn’t help but notice that Angie was acting differently. When I asked if she wanted to join us, she said no. I found that extremely odd since she loves hanging out with my parents and I, and I had to press her for minutes before she spilled the beans. She loves social media and constantly sees photos of other girls who are in better shape than she is. She’s come...

For the College Graduate: Looking Ahead to the Future with Hopefulness

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 17, 2018 at 10:14 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. It took me a while, but I was finally able to graduate with the degree I’ve always wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely excited, but I can’t help but be a little scared about what life has in store for me. I mean, my friend, Geoff, already has a job lined up, and my cousin, Christina, will be moving to New York to teach next month! I’m very happy for them, but I wish I knew what was coming my way. Should I be feeling this overwhelmed? Or am...

Leisure Time: What You Can Do When You’ve Run Out of Ideas to Take a Break

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 3, 2018 at 9:39 AM /

With work getting a bit stressful and my husband being at the office so much, things are getting to be too much these days. When I was talking to my mother the other day, she suggested that Jake (my husband) and I set aside some time to take it easy one day. “Go to the beach for a sunset, meet up with your friends or just do dinner and a movie. I’m sure he’s ready for a little break based on the craziness at his work, too.” I thought about it for a second and realized that it’d been a...

Don’t Believe the Hype: The Question of Visual and Auditory Learning

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 26, 2018 at 12:09 PM /

Many people these days believe that each person has an ideal way of learning through what they hear, what they see or by actually doing. In fact, many studies have been done to test if this is true. Before we delve into the meat of the topic, let’s go back and talk about a man named Neil Fleming. As a school inspector in New Zealand in the early 1990s, he noticed that few teachers were managing to effectively reach each of their students. This made him wonder what these teachers were doing differently. As a result, Fleming developed the VARK Questionnaire,...

Prom Woes: Fun Times for Some, Sad Times for Others

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 25, 2018 at 4:54 PM /

Prom season is a very high anxiety time for many teens. In Florida, proms are already in full swing. In New York, where I grew up, they were in June, right at the end of the school year. Prom season for me was mixed. When I was in 10th grade, a senior from the “other” high school in my town asked me to prom. I thought he was the greatest and was thrilled to be his date. However, when he saw my dress, he clearly indicated that it was not what he had in mind – and the evening followed...