Self-Centered Generation

on May 27, 2014 at 12:00 PM /

ADHD
Blog

Over recent years our self-centeredness and narcissism as a generation has skyrocketed. There are more self-help books, business books, and ‘how to get what you want’ books out there than there used to be. How do we get less self-focused: Mental shift View physical and tangible things as privileges and not as a birthright. Kids seem to think that iPads, smart phones and the internet are their birthright to have access to, but in reality it is a privilege. To withhold such electronic or other privileges is not depriving your child, it is setting realistic expectations. Get rid of the sense of entitlement Give your child...

Stop School Year Anxiety and Struggles

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 20, 2014 at 3:53 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed PsychologistDid your school year fly by or did you and your family trudge through it like a three-toed sloth? Do you have a loved one who struggled this year, either for the first time or yet again? If you are looking for help so that next year isn’t a repeat with the same struggles and roadblocks, perhaps it is time to consider a learning evaluation. Rice Psychology Group tests for learning problems in reading, writing, math, oral language, attention/focus and memory (this is not an exhaustive list) right here in our Tampa offices. Here is a video describing our...

How to Really Treat an Eating Disorder- It’s Not Just About the Food

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 13, 2014 at 12:00 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Why won’t you just start eating more?! Just eat more dessert- that will fix this eating problem! What do you mean you force yourself to throw up after you eat??? Stop doing that!!! The frustration expressed by parents of teenage girls struggling with an eating disorder generally centers around the counterintuitive and largely irrational nature of this disease. Parents see the overt and physical ramifications of problem; their child is losing an unhealthy amount of weight, is engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors, and is starting to think and act in very different and often distressing ways. As a...

Happy Mother’s Day – Holiday of the Heart

By Rice Psychology Group

on May 7, 2014 at 4:25 AM /

Mother's Day is special to all of us but do we know where it came from and why we celebrate our own mothers each year? The celebration of mothers has a history that is centuries old. In ancient Greece there was a celebration to honor Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. In England during the early 1600's there was a celebration of Mary, the mother of Christ, that was later expanded to include all mothers on Mothering Sunday and was later changed to honor the Mother Church. When settlers came to the United States, these traditions were no longer celebrated because...

Social Media Safety for Children

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 5, 2014 at 4:14 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist As parents, the wellbeing and safety of your children is your first and foremost concern. You keep up with what they are doing, what their grades are, who their friends are, and where they go. But have you considered what they are doing and who they are interacting with on social media? Social media is the new hangout for children. It is where a majority of their socializing takes place: they set up profiles to present themselves, describe their interests, seek approval from others, post photos, and share thoughts and feelings. For children, however, free rein in...

Treating ADHD With More Than Just Meds

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 22, 2014 at 5:33 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Today the incidence of ADHD has risen to 7-10% of children world-wide and about 2-5% of adults. The use of ADHD medication is on the rise, with usage more than tripling worldwide since the early 1990's. This leads many parents to search for supplemental or alternative treatments for their kids. Based on research as well as personal and professional experience, Cognitive Training as an alternative and adjunct approach used in conjunction with other, more traditional types of treatment, can be effective when a child needs more than just medications or the family refuses them. Many children struggle...

How to Recognize ADHD and What to Do

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 22, 2014 at 8:00 AM /

ADHD
Blog

His grandmother declares that 8 year old Billy has "ants in his pants." His parents try to cope with him jumping up in the middle of dinner, racing around the house and not following through with simple directions. His teacher has tried various methods to help Billy be less disruptive in class and stay in his seat but he winds up in the Principal's office where he displays behavioral problems and is on the tipping point of being suspended for his unruly behavior. He's been kicked out of Boy Scouts and his fellow students shy away from Billy's odd behavior...

Six Functions of ADHD and Executive Functioning Impairment

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 15, 2014 at 12:48 PM /

ADHD
Blog

Jonathan can sit for hours playing video games. He advances quickly through the levels and his agile fingers make his characters run and fight throughout his games. Jonathan shows excellent concentration and coordination despite being diagnosed with ADHD and related Executive Functioning Impairment. His ability to focus on his video games contrasts sharply with how "antsy" he is in his 6th grade class. The contrast frustrates and confuses his family, and causes problems in school, social situations and at home. Jonathan's father isn't fully convinced the diagnosis is correct -- after all, he argues, Jonathan sits still for hours playing his...

Parent Report Card Preparation Tips

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 9, 2014 at 1:37 PM /

Find out how you can support your child and not freak out when it's time to read their report cards. If you are a parent, four times a year, pretty much without fail, the envelope arrives in the mail for you. As a child in New York, my parent’s got theirs in a thin, white envelope with green edges and a black dot-matrix print. You would fold the end and pull at the tab for the big reveal. Butterflies would ravage my stomach as my mother pulled that tab. For some families, report card time is as ominous as another winter or summer storm. ...

How to Differentiate Mental Health Professionals

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 8, 2014 at 10:00 AM /

Sometimes people seek out a mental health professional when they're in "panic" mode. They are of course, less inclined to understand the necessity for counseling when everything's fine, so they wait until there is a crisis before they take any action. By that time, they are often so emotionally wrapped-up in the situation that they don't bother to look at the training or credentials and see the first mental health provider they find. The general public generally does not realize that there are more than a dozen mental health professional designations with many variations. Educational level, clinical skills and training can...