To Spank or Not to Spank: What’s the Best Way to Discipline Your Child?

on November 15, 2018 at 12:54 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I met with my friend Mary recently and she mentioned that she and her husband had just had a disagreement. They were discussing their views on discipline and she said she’d never lay a finger on her baby girl, but her husband thought light spanking would be okay if she misbehaved. Mary believes corporal punishment could affect a child and brought up many good points. Is there a better way to discipline kids? Almost all children act up when they’re young, and many have probably been spanked as a result. But...

Thanksgiving: The Food, The Bad and the Ugly

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 8, 2018 at 12:48 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and knowing that there will be plentiful amounts of food isn’t helping my anxiety. I tend to overeat when I get anxious, so you can see the problem I’m having. I try my best to keep a level head during this season, but it seems to get harder each year. I’m considering skipping Thanksgiving with my family this year, but at the same time, I want to try and figure out how to not let my anxiety get the better of me so...

Taking a Stand: My Personal Thoughts on the Tree of Life Synagogue Attack

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 1, 2018 at 3:35 PM /

Dr. Wendy Rice

While speaking with a college student on Thursday morning, I reflected on the fact that I did not take a stand or speak out publicly about the recent horrific attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. I shared my sadness and outrage on my personal Facebook page and spoke about it with friends and family, but I did not take a public stand as a mental health professional. I am now left to ponder what stopped me. As a psychologist, someone who is invested in the safety of all people, and as a Jewish woman, why did I choose...

The Grey Area: Shedding Light on Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 10, 2018 at 4:52 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Karen has been a fan of paintings and portraits since before we began dating. I enjoy them, but art isn’t my cup of tea. Because I love Karen, I try to get excited when we go to museums and she tries to get me to understand what makes a specific piece so great. One day, at a museum, she finally stopped me in my tracks and told me I was confused about the concept of visual learning. She then confused me even further by telling me I was mistaken...

To Play or Not to Play: How Different Video Games Can Affect Our Kids

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 28, 2018 at 10:46 AM /

[bctt tweet="Work toward opening up a discussion with your kids about their video games." username="ricepsychology"]Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. At Diana’s party last weekend, the topics of conversation over dinner varied wildly, and you could say that a few were about some pretty touchy subjects. For example, we talked about how teachers have so much less time to be creative in their classrooms because of all the testing, how many families we know who have been touched by drug addiction and whether we should be tracking our kids by their cell phones. Surprisingly enough,...

Social Media, Teens and What it All Means in Numbers

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 20, 2018 at 11:16 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. It might be hard to imagine, but social media as we know it is a relatively new concept. It may have gotten its start over a decade ago, but its role in society wasn’t substantial until only a few years ago. Funnily enough, there is a generation that was born into these social media-driven times. What does this mean to them? And what can we do to better understand them? Our Tampa psychologists and counselors want to share some helpful information about this topic. The Stats [bctt tweet="Social media undoubtedly plays a...

Major Tantrums: How to Help Your Child Remain Calm

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 13, 2018 at 12:46 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Last night, Susan and I went to the movies with my sister, Stella, and her 8-year old son, Anthony. I’m not a fan of bringing young kids to evening movies where there are mostly adults in the audience. See, the last thing I wanted to do was ignite an argument with Susan, so I didn’t say anything. As I feared, just as the movie started, Anthony started to fall apart. He began crying loudly about it being too dark and then crawled under the seats, upending our crazy expensive...

Working Together to Create Safer and More Inclusive School Communities in Tampa

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 23, 2018 at 12:08 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. School just started for both of my kids. One is in middle school and the other is starting high school this year. They typically adjust well and handle both the academic and social ups and downs pretty well. But this year, my husband and I are feeling a bit more nervous than usual. I guess the daily news of cyberbullying, sexting and school shootings each day makes us hope and pray that they come home safely. It terrifies me to my core! What can we do to prevent things like...

Video Games: Understanding Why So Many Kids Turn to Them

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 15, 2018 at 1:05 PM /

Dr. Wendy Rice

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Alex really enjoys his video games. My husband and I usually buy him one as a reward for good grades in school or completing his chores. The great thing about it is that I’ve noticed he isn’t like many kids who spend hours playing while in their room. Whenever it’s time for dinner, he’ll be down promptly. If the yard needs mowing or the trash is full, he’ll take care of it without being asked twice. I have no problems at all with his video game use, just as long...

Love What You Do, Because Doing Nothing is Not an Option!

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 1, 2018 at 10:01 AM /

As an academic counselor, I get to spend my time with students and see them take the next steps toward their futures. As much as I love my job, it’s also extremely draining. Sometimes when I get home, the only thing I do is plop down on the couch and watch shows until I inevitably fall asleep! Well, a couple of weeks ago, I found my old knitting kit while cleaning out my closet and decided to take it for a spin. It was great! It’s obviously a low-effort activity that lets me rest my brain after a long day...