Thanksgiving Trepidation: Dealing With Those Troublesome Family Members

on November 16, 2016 at 7:35 PM /

Usually around Thanksgiving, we visit my in-laws since they live closer, but this year, my wife wants to visit my parents, who live two states away. This is a bit nerve-racking since I’m not on the best terms with them. My mother is still somewhat upset that I married so young and my father is very vocal about me not becoming an engineer like my uncles and he. They bring this up each time we visit. In the past, tensions flared and we’ve ended up going our separate ways after family get-togethers. We once went almost five months without talking...

Butting Heads: When Politics Strain Relationships

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 12, 2016 at 2:40 PM /

My dad and oldest uncle have always been close, but lately they’ve constantly been at each other’s throats due to the upcoming presidential election. My dad is liberal and my uncle is conservative, so you can see how that might cause some heated discussions. Whenever we have a family get-together, it’s guaranteed that these two will butt heads when anything remotely political comes up. It’s gotten to the point where they just greet each other and go their separate ways instead of talking by the barbeque or at the table like they always did. It saddens me to see them...

No Offense: 6 Steps to Take When You Upset Someone

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 31, 2016 at 10:21 PM /

That has to be one of the most awkward situations I’ve ever experienced. To be completely honest, I didn’t mean to offend him. In fact, all I was trying to do was commend and congratulate him on his weight loss. I guess I took it a bit too far when I made a comment about him not reaching his target weight yet. Now that I think about it, the comment was actually pretty inconsiderate and rude. I want to make things right but seriously have no idea how to go about doing it. If there’s one thing a majority of us...

The Learning Curve: Fatherhood in Today’s Age – Part 1

By Rice Psychology Group

on August 24, 2016 at 9:12 PM /

“Oh, parenthood is amazing,” they told me. “I can now see how empty my life was before she was born,” was a fairly common refrain. And I looked at them sideways trying to figure out how their experience was so different than mine...

Life in the Age of the Selfie: The Impact of Social Media on Relationships

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 13, 2016 at 4:06 PM /

We were having dinner a couple of nights ago and I could honestly tell that something was wrong right off the bat. We sat down, ordered a couple of drinks and I thought it’d be nice to post a quick picture of our wine glasses on Instagram. There’s nothing wrong with that, right? Except...

Relationship Goals: Before Calling It Quits

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 8, 2016 at 6:53 PM /

I wish I could say that I knew exactly why our relationship has been on the rocks lately, but I honestly can’t put my finger on it. All I know is that nothing is the way it used to be. There are arguments at all times of the day and for the stupidest reasons. Sometimes, even when I know he’s not trying to be hurtful, I find offense in his comments and I totally lash out. Then, without fail, we get into a screaming match, which he sees as an opportunity to reveal all the things I’ve done wrong since...

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...

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....

The Power of Eye-to-Eye Contact

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 29, 2015 at 5:17 PM /

Handshakes are often one of the most important and meaningful first impressions. A firm grip, a good squeeze and a confident look in the eye is generally regarded as a good handshake. Unfortunately, in recent times, young people tend to struggle with confident eye contact. While we might say children tend to be shy and awkward in certain situations, one of the biggest factors behind this quirk might be the time they spend in front of screens. Contact the Rice Psychology Group to schedule your child’s assessment. Waning Social Skills According to research conducted by Dr. Clifford Nass, a creative communication professor at...

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...