A Summer in Review: Catching Up with Rice Psychology Group

on August 20, 2021 at 3:32 PM /

Summer break is over, and we at Rice Psychology Group hope you and your loved ones had a fantastic couple of months. We know for many, summertime consists of family trips, fun in the sun, and late nights in the backyard or the beach. But, while summer fun is exciting, it can also pull you away from your daily routine and cause you to miss out on some things you may regularly keep up with – like our newsletter and super helpful blogs! If that’s the case, don’t worry! We’ve put together a summertime review of our most essential blogs and...

Are the Benefits of Commercialized Online Therapy Too Good to be True?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 16, 2021 at 12:58 PM /

When the pandemic hit, it seemed like online therapy companies were popping up left and right. I was already seeing a therapist for some time, and when the world went digital, I was nervous I’d no longer be able to meet with her. Luckily, she offered her services via Telehealth. One day, after being bombarded by Facebook ads for a ton of online therapy companies, I decided to give it a try and see what it was all about. Here’s what I experienced: The therapist I was matched with seemed nice, but her responses were very short and vague. I...

Navigating Through Life as a Recent Graduate

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 28, 2021 at 2:35 PM /

My college graduation day was amazing! Since we’re all vaccinated, I was able to celebrate with my family and friends just like I’d hoped. I worked harder than I ever have in my life to earn this degree and, for the most part, I’m incredibly excited to start my new life. However, with an internship and living with roommates in our first “adult” apartment in a new city, I’m starting to really worry about doing this without help. The internship doesn’t pay much and will only last a few months. What do I do after that? Who am I supposed...

A Guide to Navigating Mother’s Day

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 6, 2021 at 3:50 PM /

We realize that Mother’s Day can be different for everyone. Maybe you’re close with Mom and Sunday is a day of celebration. Or maybe you’ve lost her or the mother figure in your life and it’s a day of pain. Or maybe you treat it like any other day the way I do with Father’s Day (I lost my dad over 30 years ago). Rice Psychology Group has explored different scenarios and relationships over the years and has shared some helpful advice and tips through our weekly blogs. To make these easily accessible so that you don’t end up taking time...

The Importance of Taking Small Steps to Achieve Big Life Changes

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 29, 2021 at 3:34 PM /

Each New Year’s Day, I set the same goals for myself: lose weight, exercise more, and quit smoking. However, by the end of January (if I even make it that far), my diet, lack of exercise, and smoking are worse than before! I continue to try throughout the year to change my behaviors, but things always end up the same, and I feel worse and worse about myself. It’s as though the harder I try, the bigger I mess up. How can I stick to my goals and finally make the changes that I know will make my life better...

How Physical Activity Can Improve and Sustain Your Mental Health

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 22, 2021 at 12:56 PM /

This week’s blog is personal and one that I hope you can draw inspiration from and use to enhance your quality of living. I previously shared with you that, for a long time, I put my health on the backburner. I’ve struggled with my weight since I was a teenager and typically ate whatever I wanted, even if it was very unhealthy. And exercising? Yes, if it meant riding horses. No, if it meant cardio, strength training, or going to that place we call “the gym!” Over time, these bad habits began to take a toll on my physical health (think...

It’s Okay to Not be Okay: Looking Back at the Rocky Year of 2020

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 23, 2020 at 1:42 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I was extremely anxious and worried when the pandemic began. At first, I found peace thinking we would shelter in place for a few weeks until things went back to normal. Now, we’re in December and things don’t seem to have changed much at all! I’m having a harder time keeping up my “this is just a bump in the road” outlook. On top of that, it’s brutal to see my family struggle as well. I feel like my sunny and positive demeanor is now cloudy and dull. I’m finding...

Feeling Better During the Holidays While Missing a Loved One

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 14, 2020 at 3:16 PM /

Growing up, I loved the holidays. My dad always made them so special and we had so many great traditions. This year, though, will be different because I lost him a few months ago and am dreading the upcoming weeks. To top it all off, getting together with family is impossible due to COVID-19 group guidelines. I don’t want to completely miss out on the holidays, but I’m just not sure how to face them alone. What can I do? In our most recent blog, we discussed helping your family cope with the holidays during COVID-19. And while the effects and...

Thanksgiving Doesn’t Have to be a Write-Off

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 17, 2020 at 4:46 PM /

This week’s story isn’t just any story – it’s my story! I adore Thanksgiving. It may be my favorite holiday. It was my father’s holiday. With divorced parents, I loved traveling to Old Greenwich, Connecticut on Wednesdays after school to spend the fall weekend with my dad. He and his wife were the best feast-preparers, and we indulged in turkey, stuffing, and leftover sweet potatoes with extra marshmallows in little white ramekins all weekend long. Ever since my dad died, I’ve continued to celebrate this special day with family and friends of choice. However, this year, despite invitations, I’ve struggled with the...

“Should” Thoughts: Doing More Harm Than Good for Your Mental Health

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 27, 2020 at 5:26 PM /

I’ve always had a bad habit of telling myself that I should be doing this and shouldn't be doing that. I apply it to everything: work, family, friends, you name it. These thoughts haven’t cured me of my misdeeds and don’t seem to motivate me at all. For example, I ate way too much junk food last week while telling myself that I should’ve been eating healthier instead. This morning when I looked in the mirror, I regretted it all. I was really disappointed in the choices I made and felt lousy. This dialogue I continue to have with myself...