Reading Between the Lines: How to Spot Behavioral Issues in Your Child

on October 7, 2016 at 12:31 PM /

Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that Alex is spending more and more time on his computer and playing video games in his room. At first he’d spend an hour at most chatting with his friends on Facebook or enjoying a new game. But now, as soon as he gets home from school, he runs upstairs and won’t come out until dinner. Even then, he’ll be in a rush to eat and go up to his room again. Sometimes he becomes defensive when we bring it up. Whenever I try to talk to him about it, he’ll tell me...

Boosting the Self-Esteem of a Sensitive Child

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 21, 2016 at 8:35 PM /

Ryan is the sweetest kid. He’ll literally go out of his way to please his friends, family and teachers. You can ask him to do anything for you and he’ll put all of his effort into it simply because he wants to help. Unfortunately, I think this might be having a bit of an impact on his self-esteem. If his soccer coach benches him, even if it’s only because other kids need to play, Ryan will take it very hard. He’ll instantly think it’s because of his ability as a player, and his confidence will immediately drop. You can try...

The Learning Curve: Fatherhood in Today’s Age – Part 2

By Rice Psychology Group

on August 31, 2016 at 10:38 PM /

In the first part of my fatherhood blog, I shared some of the experiences I had when I was presented with the gift of fatherhood. It wasn’t always easy, but by identifying my personal strengths and engaging my challenges, I was able to prioritize my role in my family’s system. If parenthood is in your horizon, it’s important to consider the transformation of the modern-age father. I’ll help you understand it with the following pieces of valuable information....

Summer Woes: School’s Out, Boredom’s In

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 30, 2016 at 12:34 AM /

The house is full of groaning kids and summer vacation just started! If I’m in the kitchen putting together our lunch, in come my three frowning kids, complaining about how there’s nothing to do and how they’ll probably die of boredom. I just don’t get it, you know? It happens almost all day! Is it my job to keep them entertained or is the downtime they have actually a good thing? After hours, days and weeks of hard work, children from around the nation (and around the world) are finally able to take a much-needed break from their projects and homework....

The Magic of Teams – A Place for Everyone

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 16, 2015 at 8:01 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist 'Tis the season for trying out and participating in new or familiar sports and activities. I am a horseback rider and while it is my therapy, my love and my sport – it is also my arena for competition. Riding is an individual sport that allows for competition from the most basic beginner levels (for adults and children) through national, international and Olympic levels. Interestingly though, when I compete, I am also very much part of a team. I cheer on my barn-mates, even when I am competing directly against them; and they do the...

Developing Your Child’s Skills During the Summer

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 1, 2015 at 1:23 PM /

It isn’t uncommon for kids to flip the learning switch off as soon as school lets out for summer vacation. However, even after the last bell of the school year has rung, your child can continue to develop and learn. Summer learning programs can be an extremely helpful tool to help kids with learning and attention issues. At Rice Psychology Group, we have the information you need to keep your child one step ahead of the game. Your child’s needs are our priority. Call Rice Psychology to book your appointment today. Extended School Year Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, your child...

Inside Out Is More Than Just a Movie for Kids

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 18, 2015 at 10:59 AM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist While I'm not in the business of reviewing movies, I was fortunate to receive an invitation to see an early preview of the new Disney Pixar movie, Inside Out. I went in with an open mind and came out blown away. This is a dream movie for any psychologist who wishes to help their patients talk about their feelings and internal experience. But that’s not all. This movie doesn’t stop at being entertainment for parents and young kids. It also sheds light on marital relationships and the internal experience of how each of our brains work....

Helping Your Child Socialize – Part 1

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 10, 2015 at 9:34 AM /

Social skills can come naturally for many children, but others can often struggle with socialization. This issue can arise due to many different reasons, such as your child being snubbed by classmates or simply feeling like they don’t fit in. In part one of our socialization development series, we’ll show you some of the most important guidelines to follow for developing your child’s social skills from a young and crucial age. At Rice Psychology, we know your child means the world to you and we’re ready to help you build his/her social skills in Tampa. Recognizing Social Milestones The first thing to do...

The Power of the Group

By Rice Psychology Group

on April 23, 2015 at 3:06 AM /

By Elaine Spencer, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist When parents realize that their children or teens are struggling and need support, they often consider individual therapy. It's true that one-on-one therapy is an effective way for many children to work on their individual challenges through a close relationship with their therapist, but sometimes individual therapy is not enough or just isn't the right fit. One-on-one therapy can have a tremendous effect on your child, but what if it just isn't the right fit? Our group therapy may be exactly what your young one is looking for. So, what if your child needs something more or something...

Understanding Social Media – for the Sake of Your Kids

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 9, 2015 at 10:07 AM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Last year, I wrote a blog post about kids and social media that became quite popular. A version of it was even published on Huffington Post. The topic really hit home for many parents, who struggle to understand social media and the part it plays in the lives of their children. In fact, it was such an important issue that I now feature it as a presentation for parents, teachers and administrators here in the Tampa Bay area and recently, I got a copy of a recording so that I could share it here with you. Many parents can...