Helping Children in Split Households Cope with Separation

on July 2, 2014 at 3:41 AM /

Dr. Wendy Rice was interviewed on The Miguel Show with Holly & Mandy about children in situations with split households and how to help them cope with separation. ...

Father’s Day Observations

By Rice Psychology Group

on June 18, 2014 at 1:39 PM /

By Mary Ann Pickard Is Father’s Day a time to just buy another greeting card or a time to think about what Dad means to you? I have observed Fathers for close to 60 years. From my own father, to those of my cousins, classmates, students, friends, and especially the one who helped me raise my own kids. I am pretty sure I have personally seen the full range of the worst (those who deny, abuse or abandon) to the absolute best fathers (those who love, respect and protect).The one thing they all have in common is the power to impact their...

Psychology and Confidentiality

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 3, 2014 at 4:09 PM /

Dr. Wendy Rice was interviewed on The Stinchfield Report with host, Grant Stinchfield, on 570 KLIF in Dallas/Ft. Worth about psychology and confidentiality around the shootings at UC Santa Barbara in May of 2014. ...

Summer Sanity

By Rice Psychology Group

on June 3, 2014 at 2:31 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Ahhhh…the last day of school! What a magical thing that is. I have memories of streamers flowing out of school bus windows, and throwing overflowing notebooks into the trashcan. When you are little, summer seems like an endless open opportunity for fun, play, and relaxation. I distinctly remember the day in middle school when I figured out that summer was only eight weeks long. I was shocked. It had always seemed to take up at least 50% of my year. Now, as a parent, I have the joy of watching my children experience the building excitement of the...

Problematic Behavior in Children Linked to Soda Consumption?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 3, 2014 at 9:00 AM /

In a very timely study released in the Journal of Pediatrics this month, researchers from Columbia University, the University of Vermont and Harvard studied behavior in approximately 3,000 young children and found that problematic behavior was linked to soda consumption. They used a very well accepted child behavior rating scale, one that I have personally used in my practice for over ten years, to obtain parents perspectives on their children’s behavior over the past two months. They found that 40% of kids had at least one soda per day and 4% drank as many as four or more. They found that aggression, withdrawn behavior and attention problems were highly associated with soda drinking and the behaviors were incrementally worse...

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...

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 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...

What to Look for When Choosing a Therapist

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 25, 2014 at 12:00 PM /

Choosing a licensed psychologist or a therapist is something that must be taken seriously, especially if you're in a "crisis" which requires immediate attention. It is critical, however, that you do your homework before making this important decision and ask questions that will assist you with the selection process. Here are a few steps that will help with finding a mental health professional that matches your needs. The first thing you need to do prior to making your choice is to have information readily available to assist the potential therapist in evaluating your unique situation. To help you get started, think...

Help for Those with ADHD – Assistive Technology

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 21, 2014 at 3:22 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Recently, Jamie Kaplan, Recreation Therapist from the James A. Haley VA Hospital presented to the Tampa Bay ADHD Support Network about Assistive Technology. We wanted to be sure to share his message and great ideas just in case you weren’t able to make it to the meeting. Jamie is working on his master’s degree in Assistive Technology in Special Education at Bowling Green State University, but he already has so many certifications in this area it is surprising they let him into the program! Jamie spoke about why kids with ADHD often seem to love video...