Keep Calm and Color On

on November 1, 2015 at 6:48 PM /

By Elaine Spencer, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist I walked into Michaels Craft store the other day and was pleasantly surprised to see the front display was advertising coloring books for adults and I thought to myself, “Wow! Coloring really is the new craze!” So What is This New Coloring Phenomenon All About? The simple answer is that coloring can actually be therapeutic. If you were like me as a child, you spent hours with your coloring books and your parents probably thought you enjoyed coloring because ‘that’s what kids do’. We now know that children are on to something because not only is coloring...

Become Trauma-Informed

By Rice Psychology Group

on January 22, 2015 at 2:45 PM /

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related symptoms are often misunderstood. You may have experienced a traumatic event without having any symptoms or you may be symptomatic but no one has ever asked you about the traumatic event. Trauma-informed therapy does ask, "What happened to you?" not "What is wrong with you?"...

Why Parents Can’t Be Dumb About Social Media

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 10, 2014 at 2:13 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Today many in the Tampa Bay area will be remembering Rebecca Sedwick through vigils, classroom and home discussions, and of course, news reports on teens and bullying. One year ago today, Rebecca committed suicide after reportedly being bullied both on and offline for more than a year. These stories seem to be far too common these days and I am often asked how parents can help prevent bullying, especially online. Walking the fine line of respecting your child’s online privacy while looking out for their well-being is a challenge that our parents didn’t exactly have. I always use...

Dealing with Depression

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on August 12, 2014 at 10:00 AM /

Dr. Wendy Rice of Rice Psychology in Tampa was interviewed on Florida Live with Dan Maduri from NewsTalk Florida about depression following the death of Robin Williams. Click Play below to listen to the interview. Dr. Wendy Rice of Rice Psychology in Tampa was interviewed on The Miguel Show with Holly & Mandy about depression following the death of Robin Williams. Click Play below to listen to the interview. ...

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

By Rice Psychology Group

on July 29, 2014 at 3:34 PM /

Sarah is the mother of a 5 year old boy, Dylan. She feels frustrated and lost as to how to handle her son’s behaviors. He throws tantrums when he does not get his way, screams, hits, and throws things. Sarah finds herself constantly telling Dylan to clean up his toys and he refuses to comply. She gets so frustrated that she yells and loses her temper. She eventually cleans up the toys herself....

When to Seek Marital Help

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 24, 2014 at 8:00 AM /

With the divorce rate at 3.6 per 1,000 population, according to this CDC report, a lot of couples are asking when is the best time to seek marital help? When is it necessary or when is it too late? The easy answer is that you don’t have to be on the edge of divorce to seek some counseling. When your level of unhappiness is pretty pervasive, and it has been going on for more days than not, and if you are just feeling angry or frustrated, you don’t have to wait for things to go south to talk to somebody. “But what...

How to Really Treat an Eating Disorder- It’s Not Just About the Food

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 13, 2014 at 12:00 PM /

By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Why won’t you just start eating more?! Just eat more dessert- that will fix this eating problem! What do you mean you force yourself to throw up after you eat??? Stop doing that!!! The frustration expressed by parents of teenage girls struggling with an eating disorder generally centers around the counterintuitive and largely irrational nature of this disease. Parents see the overt and physical ramifications of problem; their child is losing an unhealthy amount of weight, is engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors, and is starting to think and act in very different and often distressing ways. As a...

Happy Mother’s Day – Holiday of the Heart

By Rice Psychology Group

on May 7, 2014 at 4:25 AM /

Mother's Day is special to all of us but do we know where it came from and why we celebrate our own mothers each year? The celebration of mothers has a history that is centuries old. In ancient Greece there was a celebration to honor Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. In England during the early 1600's there was a celebration of Mary, the mother of Christ, that was later expanded to include all mothers on Mothering Sunday and was later changed to honor the Mother Church. When settlers came to the United States, these traditions were no longer celebrated because...

How to Differentiate Mental Health Professionals

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on April 8, 2014 at 10:00 AM /

Sometimes people seek out a mental health professional when they're in "panic" mode. They are of course, less inclined to understand the necessity for counseling when everything's fine, so they wait until there is a crisis before they take any action. By that time, they are often so emotionally wrapped-up in the situation that they don't bother to look at the training or credentials and see the first mental health provider they find. The general public generally does not realize that there are more than a dozen mental health professional designations with many variations. Educational level, clinical skills and training can...

What to Look for When Choosing a Therapist

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on March 25, 2014 at 12:00 PM /

Choosing a licensed psychologist or a therapist is something that must be taken seriously, especially if you're in a "crisis" which requires immediate attention. It is critical, however, that you do your homework before making this important decision and ask questions that will assist you with the selection process. Here are a few steps that will help with finding a mental health professional that matches your needs. The first thing you need to do prior to making your choice is to have information readily available to assist the potential therapist in evaluating your unique situation. To help you get started, think...