Depression: Know That There is a Way Out

on December 12, 2019 at 4:34 PM /

In the spirit of leading Rice Psychology Group from an authentic place and not shying away from vulnerability and imperfection (thank you for giving words to this, Brené Brown), I’d like to share a few short snippets from the journals I kept in high school. Fortunately, I’ve come a long way since then! I do worry about what you might think when reading this, but I hope it provides some evidence that I really do understand suffering. Please be warned that some of these entries contain obscenities and may be difficult to read. June – 10th grade: “The pressure is so overwhelming....

Bonding with Experiences: The Importance of Growing Closer with Your Family

By Rice Psychology Group

on December 6, 2019 at 1:22 PM /

I’d like to share a funny story with you this week. The other day on my way to work, I came to a stoplight and immediately noticed that the car in front of me had numerous bumper stickers strewn across it. This clearly caught my attention because there were so many, and in an effort to kill time at this long light, I proceeded to count them. After all, that’s what you do when you’re stuck at a light behind a car with a ton of stickers, right? In scanning the car over, I got to 100 and stopped, mainly because the...

A Millennial Approach: Helping Young Clients Remember Their Therapy Sessions

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 22, 2019 at 1:29 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I have a ton of things on my mind each day. Even when I’m in bed, my head is spinning with reminders, ideas, and random thoughts! I’ve gotten so busy that I’m starting to forget what my weekly therapy appointments were about, especially those focused on the previous week. When my therapist and I chat, I tend to have trouble focusing since my responsibilities or something interesting I saw online always pops back into my head and I’m constantly wanting my phone to either help me take care of them...

No One Chooses to Experience Depression and Anxiety

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 15, 2019 at 12:56 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. About three months ago, I was diagnosed with depression after moving to a new city to start a career. It’s been rough not having family and friends in this different environment. A few days ago, I spoke about it with some of my coworkers and one of them responded with, “Oh, it can’t be that bad. Just try to be happy!” Hearing that upset me because my depression isn’t controlled with an On/Off switch. I try my best to put on a happy face, but sometimes it’s just impossible. I...

Parental Awareness: Discussing Mental Health, Its Effects, and Understanding it with Your Child

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 1, 2019 at 12:17 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. My son, Matthew, came to me today and said that a classmate of his had been pulled from school after being diagnosed with what I later found out was a severe episode of depression. My wife and I sat down with him to explain what the disorder was. Matt is only nine but has a good head on his shoulders. He listened to what we had to say and asked some pretty good questions. I never really imagined that we’d have to talk to him about mental health at such...

Family Therapy: How a Joint Session with Your Loved Ones Can Work Wonders

By Rice Psychology Group

on October 24, 2019 at 11:37 AM /

Consider the following example as it relates to this week’s topic. The other day, one of my daughters came into the kitchen and said, “Hey Dad, I need some money to repay a friend who bought me Starbucks and for some haunted houses I’ll be going to next week for Halloween.” Now, granted, asking for money is a bit of a trigger for me, and nevermind the fact that I’ve routinely talked to her about saving money and getting a job. In walks my older daughter who has conveniently overheard this conversation and says to me, “That’s not fair! I asked for...

Being the Best Role Model: How a Parent’s Screen Addiction Can Affect Their Child’s Well-Being

By Rice Psychology Group

on October 5, 2019 at 7:38 AM /

As a parent, do you believe that you’re a good role model for your child? It seems like a simple question and our experience shows that a majority of parents want to be good role models. When you look closer at every detail of your life, though, you may find some potentially damaging behaviors that can have a negative effect on your children’s well-being. One potentially damaging behavior that a parent can pass onto their child is an over-reliance or addiction to screen time. Our Tampa-based psychologists and therapists would like to highlight how this behavior can easily become an addiction and how...

Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood Vlog (Friendship)

By Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood

on September 24, 2019 at 10:52 AM /

Watch, learn, and enjoy! ...

Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood Vlog

By Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood

on August 13, 2019 at 4:43 PM /

In this short vlog, Rice Psychology Group’s Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood would like to discuss the back-to-school period for college students! We hear so much about kids going back to school, but what about those in higher education? Post-high school education can be a period of both academics and finding your identity, and Dr. Rogers-Wood would like to discuss this topic in length. Watch, learn, and enjoy! ...

Taking the Best Steps Towards Making Your Stepfamily into a Happy Family

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 9, 2019 at 12:31 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I recently married a man with a wonderful family of his own. I have a 9-year old son from my first marriage, and he has 14-year old twin daughters. The one thing that concerned us both was how our children were going to adapt to living in the same home. Much to our relief, our kids hit it off. My stepdaughters have already warmed up to my son and love him like a biological brother. With me, though, it’s a different story. They’re both still distant and rarely make conversation...