Feeling Blue: 3 Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Winter Mood

on February 1, 2017 at 9:08 PM /

Living in Florida, I find that the winters aren’t nearly as bad as they were up north. When I lived in New York, it was tough to make it through the long winters. For many, it isn’t necessarily the cold weather or snow that is so bothersome, it’s the darkness of the days. [bctt tweet="It’s common during winter to experience emotions like depression. " username="ricepsychology"] Check out what one man has to say on the topic of winter blues. “It might sound weird, but in the summer and spring, I’m usually a cheerful person because it’s bright and lively out. In the winter,...

Overwhelmed: Overcoming Anxiety Brought on by Events in the World Around You

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 25, 2017 at 9:44 PM /

I like to consider myself a rational person who’s calm and in control of what goes on around me. Sometimes, though, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the news, current events and all of those CNN updates that seem to pop up on my phone throughout the day. Just last week, I was watching the evening news and the anchors were discussing yet another school shooting that happened on the other side of the country. It feels like they’re happening much more often! My first thought was, “What if that was my kids’ school?” I felt intense fear just...

An Overview of Executive Functioning and How Your Child Can Strengthen Theirs

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 19, 2017 at 2:52 PM /

The human brain is an amazing machine when it works well! My older son’s brain allows him to play high school baseball, stay on top of two AP classes, juggle daily homework, tests and projects from his other five classes, and even manage his few chores at home. My younger son, on the other hand, struggles with his regular-level classes in terms of both the actual learning and keeping track of his homework, remembering to hand it in (if he completes it), figuring out what he needs to study and making sure he has what he needs with him at...

A Link Between Mind and Body: How Stress Can Effect Your Health

By Rice Psychology Group

on January 11, 2017 at 9:45 PM /

For so long, the medical and psychological communities have been thought of as separate fields. Have you got a migraine? Go to the doctor for medication! Are you suffering chronic...

A Month of Mentorship: Doing What You Can for Youth in January and Beyond

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 4, 2017 at 9:00 PM /

I decided to make a change in my New Year’s resolution for 2017. Most of my friends and family make similar resolutions, liking hitting the gym or saving more money, but I wanted to take it a step further by making a change that can help someone else. I was reading online the other day that January is “National Mentoring Month”. Although I like to think that my life is going pretty smoothly, I know that there are other people out there, many of them kids, who don’t have as good a life as I do. So I thought, “Maybe...

Being Prepped: A Few Tips for Students and Teachers to Get Through Their Second/Spring Semesters

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 28, 2016 at 9:08 PM /

I managed to get through my first fall term at college and feel so relieved. It was very different from what I was used to in high school and know that with the spring term, I’ll be dealing with new subjects and meeting a whole new set of people. It’s a bit overwhelming since, before college, I was used to having the same lessons and classmates year-round. I’m worried that a whole new set of courses, professors, classmates and expectations may overwhelm me – and I’m still reeling a bit from my initial adjustment to college. My mother is a...

Resolving to Change: How to Ensure a Successful New Year’s Resolution

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 21, 2016 at 10:00 PM /

I’ve been making New Year’s resolutions for almost 10 years now and have never managed to follow through in making any of them a reality. I try to keep them realistic, like losing a few pounds each month or saving a couple of hundred dollars here and there to purchase a new car. A few weeks into every new year, though, I end up giving up because I just can’t seem to find the willpower, time or strength to see my resolutions to the end. Is there anything I can do or keep in mind that can make my resolutions...

The Victim, the Rescuer and the Persecutor: Understanding the Basics of Drama

By Rice Psychology Group

on December 7, 2016 at 8:30 PM /

Jack and Jill have been married for 25 years. They’ve done a wonderful job in raising their four children who’ve already made their way in the world. Jack has generally been the breadwinner of the family and Jill is thinking about returning to college to finish her degree...

Ending the Year on a High Note: Taking a Holiday Vacation with the Family

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 7, 2016 at 7:57 PM /

2016 has been an interesting year to say the least. Not only have several newsworthy things happened since January, life for my entire family has been a rollercoaster ride. In March, my husband had to take a pay cut since his company was downsized. In the summer, our youngest son broke his arm during a football game at a family reunion and needed two surgeries. And last month our daughter was rejected from her top choice university to which she had applied early decision. I’ve done my best to hold the family together to get us through it all, but...

Holiday Mayhem: Dealing with Stress During Your Holiday Planning Efforts

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 29, 2016 at 7:48 PM /

I’m definitely not looking forward to the end of December. Each year, my siblings and I take turns hosting our holiday dinners and get-togethers. This year, it’s my turn and I absolutely know that I’ll be pulling my hair out long before family even begins to arrive. First, I have to plan out the dinner, estimate how much to cook since I have such a large family, then I have to complete my gift shopping and finally comes the planning for family members who will be staying with us for a few days. It’s gotten so overwhelming that my husband...