Riding Out Your Fears

on March 16, 2016 at 7:00 AM /

I’m rounding the corner after my last jump, patting my horse Caspar for a great round when I feel him speed up, lower his head and begin to twist underneath me. Suddenly, he kicks up his hind legs and I know it’s coming…I’m losing my balance. I know I’m falling off. If only I can get my legs underneath me. But no – I’m headed for the dirt head and back first! I know it’s coming and I feel this mixture of fear and frustration. Was I going to get hurt? How seriously? Would 1,500 pounds of horse step on...

Executive Functioning and Why You Can’t Survive Without It

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 2, 2016 at 4:57 PM /

Today was the third time this week I got into trouble at work for missing yet another deadline. The thing is, I’m not missing them on purpose! I’m finding it harder and harder to keep track of my time at work and at home. I would try to organize everything I need to do but even that turns into an uphill battle as soon as I start trying to think of ideas. I really don’t know what to do....

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...

Why Asking for Help is a Sign of Strength

By Rice Psychology Group

on January 14, 2016 at 8:02 PM /

Last week, I met with one of my best friends to do a bit of catching up. She knows I’ve been on the hunt for a job for months now and offered to send my CV to a few of her contacts. At this point, I’m desperate for anything and know I should have accepted…but still I politely declined her help. I’m just afraid to overstep our friendship and I’m even more scared of looking needy or weak. The truth is, I’m overwhelmed and have no idea what to do. Isn’t it ironic that most people refuse to ask for...

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....

Trying to Cope: An Inside Look at the Effects of Traumatic Events

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 1, 2015 at 6:49 PM /

I honestly thought things would be better after the accident. I mean, I expected to be shocked and frightened when it happened, but now it’s been months and somehow I’ve been feeling even worse. I can’t walk out the door without feeling vulnerable, helpless and angry at the thought that it might happen again, even if my friends tell me it won’t. A traumatic event, such as an illness, accident, assault or natural disaster can produce aggressive and troubling emotions. While some people may overcome these feelings without the need of professional help, others may struggle for lengthy periods of...

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 Absurdity of the Stigma of Mental Illness

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 23, 2015 at 2:37 PM /

I recently had the pleasure of appearing on television to talk about the stigma surrounding the topic of mental illness. The main issue is that, although mental illnesses are very common and can affect a significant portion of the population, a large segment of society continues to be very hush-hush about getting a diagnosis and/or treatment. The stigma is so overwhelming that the majority of people with mental illnesses are hesitant to even talk about it. So, if many people are experiencing some sort of mental illness, why the stigma? Are we stereotyping huge numbers of people?...

Is Your Relationship Heading Into Trouble?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 17, 2015 at 2:22 PM /

Arguments seem to be a dime a dozen lately. Whether a cabinet door stays open or someone forgets to put away shoes in the right place, I know we’ll have a screaming match in no time. Even when the most innocent comment is made, tensions flare up and the yelling begins. But the worst thing is that neither of us can find the common ground to fix things and, at this point, I don’t even know if I care anymore. Is my relationship in a bad place? Relationships will come with their fair share of arguments, kisses, disagreements and hugs, but...

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...