Exposure Therapy: How Dealing with Your Anxiety Through Discussion AND Action Can Work

on December 20, 2019 at 12:27 PM /

I recently asked a middle schooler what the word “anxiety” meant to her. I’m sharing this with her permission and that of her mother’s. Her response was: Being in crowds of people, sharing things with the class, sometimes just going to school, doing anything that’s awkward in front of people who I know or may see again. Anxiety feels like being nervous, scared, sometimes frozen in place, or like, “I’ve got to get out of here!” I’ve learned that taking small steps toward doing things that scare me has helped me get braver. I think that doing stuff is more helpful...

Depression: Know That There is a Way Out

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 12, 2019 at 4:34 PM /

In the spirit of leading Rice Psychology Group from an authentic place and not shying away from vulnerability and imperfection (thank you for giving words to this, Brené Brown), I’d like to share a few short snippets from the journals I kept in high school. Fortunately, I’ve come a long way since then! I do worry about what you might think when reading this, but I hope it provides some evidence that I really do understand suffering. Please be warned that some of these entries contain obscenities and may be difficult to read. June – 10th grade: “The pressure is so overwhelming....

Bonding with Experiences: The Importance of Growing Closer with Your Family

By Rice Psychology Group

on December 6, 2019 at 1:22 PM /

I’d like to share a funny story with you this week. The other day on my way to work, I came to a stoplight and immediately noticed that the car in front of me had numerous bumper stickers strewn across it. This clearly caught my attention because there were so many, and in an effort to kill time at this long light, I proceeded to count them. After all, that’s what you do when you’re stuck at a light behind a car with a ton of stickers, right? In scanning the car over, I got to 100 and stopped, mainly because the...

No One Chooses to Experience Depression and Anxiety

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 15, 2019 at 12:56 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. About three months ago, I was diagnosed with depression after moving to a new city to start a career. It’s been rough not having family and friends in this different environment. A few days ago, I spoke about it with some of my coworkers and one of them responded with, “Oh, it can’t be that bad. Just try to be happy!” Hearing that upset me because my depression isn’t controlled with an On/Off switch. I try my best to put on a happy face, but sometimes it’s just impossible. I...

Parental Awareness: Discussing Mental Health, Its Effects, and Understanding it with Your Child

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 1, 2019 at 12:17 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. My son, Matthew, came to me today and said that a classmate of his had been pulled from school after being diagnosed with what I later found out was a severe episode of depression. My wife and I sat down with him to explain what the disorder was. Matt is only nine but has a good head on his shoulders. He listened to what we had to say and asked some pretty good questions. I never really imagined that we’d have to talk to him about mental health at such...

Family Therapy: How a Joint Session with Your Loved Ones Can Work Wonders

By Rice Psychology Group

on October 24, 2019 at 11:37 AM /

Consider the following example as it relates to this week’s topic. The other day, one of my daughters came into the kitchen and said, “Hey Dad, I need some money to repay a friend who bought me Starbucks and for some haunted houses I’ll be going to next week for Halloween.” Now, granted, asking for money is a bit of a trigger for me, and nevermind the fact that I’ve routinely talked to her about saving money and getting a job. In walks my older daughter who has conveniently overheard this conversation and says to me, “That’s not fair! I asked for...

Anxiety and Depression with Teens and Helping Them Become Resilient

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 15, 2019 at 1:46 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. This is my son’s first year of high school and I’m noticing some changes in his behavior. He appears sullen and distracted much more often than he did last year and is spending an unfathomable amount of time on social media. His first report card arrived last week, and his grades were mostly B’s and C’s, which surprised me since he’s always been an A student. I tried talking to him about it, but he’s been very standoffish and brushes my concerns away. Is there something my husband and I...

Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood Vlog (Friendship)

By Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood

on September 24, 2019 at 10:52 AM /

Watch, learn, and enjoy! ...

The Benefits of Rinse and Repeat: How Sticking to a Routine Can Help Your Health and Well-Being

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 18, 2019 at 3:09 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I started working from home a few months ago. It was great at first, but as the weeks went by, I noticed that I was beginning to get disorganized. I forgot about scheduled conference calls, fell behind on a project because I took too long of a lunch break, and so much more! Three weeks ago, my husband gave me a daily planner. It’s the best gift I’ve ever received! I now organize my time and responsibilities into manageable routines that leave me feeling less disorganized, stressed, anxious, and lost. Did...

The Empty Nest: How to Cope When Your Kids Fly the Coop

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 12, 2019 at 3:48 PM /

Parenting

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Last month, our oldest, Brian, left for his first year of college. It was a day I knew would come but was never quite ready to face. Even though we still have two other kids at home, Brian’s absence feels heavy for me. There’s no more, “Hey Mom! I’m home!” or “Hey Mom and Dad, I’m going out with the guys, be back later!” It’s only been three weeks and I miss him like crazy already! My husband seems to be handling it well and tells me that I’ll get...