Dean’s List Woes: College and the Possibility of Mental Health Issues

on October 12, 2017 at 9:08 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s piece. I started college this past August and can honestly say that it gets overwhelming at times. With projects, studying and being so far from home, it’s starting to get to me. There will be times where I’ll be sitting in my dorm doing work and all of a sudden, I’ll start thinking about home, my parents and my friends. Sometimes I just break down and start crying. I visited the school’s counseling center and the psychologist working there pointed out that I might be dealing with depression brought on by...

Mental Illness: The Importance of Being Inspired, Informed and Involved

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 4, 2017 at 4:31 PM /

Mental illnesses can unfortunately affect more than just the person diagnosed with the issue. Families, friends and even coworkers can often experience their fair share of emotional pain as a result of a loved one’s ailing mental health. Yet, despite its reach and prevalence, mental illness is still surrounded by a thick veil of stigma and misunderstanding that’s widespread to this day. [bctt tweet="Mental illnesses can unfortunately affect more than just the person diagnosed with the issue. " username="ricepsychology"] In 1990, the U.S. Congress recognized the efforts of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) by creating Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW),...

Trudge On: Sticking with Therapy During Hard Times

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 21, 2017 at 9:37 AM /

So, you’re in therapy and it’s helping. Then along comes a major life event such as a potentially devastating hurricane, the death of a loved one or sudden unemployment. When the going gets tough, do you reach out to your therapist for support and continue your sessions, or do you put them on hold until the crisis has passed? To share a personal experience (Wendy), I’ve worked with several excellent therapists in my life, both for personal and professional (training) therapy. Because I felt a strong connection with each of my therapists, they were often among the first people I turned...

Two Exciting Announcements from Rice Psychology Group!

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 6, 2017 at 8:00 AM /

Since it’s inception, Rice Psychology Group has been fully committed to providing professional services that prioritize your mental health. Our psychologists work around the clock to help adults, adolescents, children and couples with their concerns. Now, with two exciting additions, we hope to continue building our legacy of helping clients from all walks of life in identifying and understanding their issues. With an addition to our team and a new convenient location, now is an ideal time to reach out to us to discuss issues that you’re dealing with. Contact our psychologists in Tampa today to learn more! Our New South Tampa...

In Therapy, Goodbyes Are Just as Important as Hellos

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 23, 2017 at 4:21 PM /

I want to talk with you about therapy, the kind that we practice at Rice Psychology Group. We all became psychologists or therapists because we care about people and want to be helpful. We enjoy relationships, getting to know individuals and families, working together to figure out what’s going on and how to help things get better for you. We invest a great deal of ourselves in the work we do with our clients, from the very first few minutes together until it’s time to say goodbye. And the goodbye is the part that I want to focus on today. In...

Where Do You Stand?

By Rice Psychology Group

on August 21, 2017 at 5:49 PM /

Good Afternoon, This is a tough letter to write. I have been struggling for days about what to say and how to say it. As a psychologist, I work hard to be respectful, ethical, moral and not allow my political views into my work with clients. However, in light of the recent events from Charlottesville from this weekend, I have decided to go ahead and share my perspective and my position. As you may know, I am Jewish and grew up in a predominantly Jewish town in New York. I learned about the Holocaust as a child and teen, visited Israel and...

That Time of Year Again: Helping Your Kids Gear Up for a New School Year

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 2, 2017 at 7:58 PM /

*Author’s Note: Many of our readers live in Florida where school starts during the second week of August. We know that the northerners still have another month of summer to go. Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s piece. A week into the new school year and I can already tell it’s going to be a tough one. Angela is still struggling to wake up early and having difficulty with homework. To top things off, my husband and I received a call from her teacher this morning telling us that Angela can barely keep her eyes open during class!...

Living the College Life: Is Your Child Ready to Take on This New Lifestyle?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 26, 2017 at 7:46 PM /

*Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s piece. After many years of driving him to school, supporting him at soccer practice and attending every teacher-parent meeting possible, my son is finally heading off to college. The truth is that I couldn’t be happier for him, but my neighbor planted a bit of worry in my mind last night. She was talking about the college experience, how students have to be independent and how parents have to step back and let them live their own lives. I know I’ve always babied him, but now I’m not sure if he’s...

Change Your Negative Self-Talk Into Positive Reinforcement by Celebrating Your Successes!

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM /

“Authenticity” is one of those buzzwords that we hear a lot in the media and in publications. With this topic, many are talking about how to be more authentic in their personal and professional lives. This week, I wanted to talk a little bit about being authentic with yourself. It’s all about identifying the person that you are inside and being true to who he or she is without worrying what the world expects you to be. We have a habit of sending ourselves negative messages every day when thinking about certain things in our lives. It’s time to get above...

Parenting: Doing the Best You Can at the Toughest Job on Earth

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 29, 2017 at 2:08 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week's piece. Becoming a parent was one of the most joyous moments of my life. And how could it not be? Being a dad was always one of my biggest dreams, so I wanted to make sure I was good at it. Before my daughter arrived, I tried mapping out what I would do in certain situations; I wanted to be prepared. Unfortunately, I discovered that parenting required quick, often split-second decisions, and sometimes I was scared out of my mind! Sometimes, when I least expect it, I doubt my own abilities...