In It Together: How You Can Help a Significant Other with Their Mental Health

on August 6, 2020 at 7:09 PM /

My boyfriend suffers from depression and ADHD. Some days are really good; however, others can be tough, not just for him, but for me, too. I thought that since I’d taken a few psychology classes in college and read about some specifics related to depression online, I was prepared and could handle whatever his situation threw our way. I was so wrong! Not only are his mental health challenges causing major issues between us, but I’m worried it’s affecting my own mental health as well. I want to help him and our relationship, but I don’t even know where to...

Parenting in the Time of COVID-19: Talking to Your Kids About the New School Year

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 31, 2020 at 11:43 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Last week, we learned that our child will be attending school in August. I processed the information and heard the new guidelines his school would be implementing, but I’m extremely worried and nervous for him. Are they going to be able to keep him safe? Will my third-grader wear his mask all day and stay six feet away from his friends? As I’ve grown quite negative about the situation, I’ve also grown nervous that he’s picked up on my bad attitude. He used to be so excited about going back...

Living with and Learning More About Yourself

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 24, 2020 at 2:02 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Before the pandemic, I was able to handle just about anything my family threw at me: the usual wife/mommy duties of the day. Now, because we’ve been spending so much time together, my super mom/wife abilities seem to have vanished. I’m snapping more at the kids, finding my husband’s habits more bothersome, and seem to be constantly fighting the urge to lock myself in the bathroom for some peace and quiet. Last night, I sat down and thought about my actions and feelings toward my family over the last few...

Embracing First Times: What You Can do to Make New Experiences Easier

By Kai Zhuang Shum

on July 17, 2020 at 3:05 PM /

It can be especially challenging to navigate new experiences in the middle of a pandemic. It seems like we just can’t plan fast enough to keep up the pace when major changes are happening in the world. Over the past few months, I experienced more first times than I can count, and let me tell you, they were hard! I recently came across a podcast and blog by Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, where she shared how hard it is to be new at things. In the blog, she writes that “showing up and pushing...

Understanding Restlessness and What You Can do to Overcome It

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 10, 2020 at 9:26 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. It seems like every day there’s a new warning or disastrous event happening in the world. I try to limit my time on social media, stay away from the news, and think happy thoughts, but I’m always worried about something. Between COVID-19 continuing to spread, constant protests, political news, and my daily responsibilities, I have trouble thinking about anything else! And it seems to hit me hardest when I go to bed. No matter what I try, I just can’t sleep. I’ve tried reading and watching TV to take my...

Sometimes it Isn’t the Horse or the Saddle, It’s the Rider

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on July 3, 2020 at 12:17 PM /

How often do you overlook the role you might be playing in a problem and assume that, if you tweak something caused by someone or something else, poof, no more problem? The Situation In the past when I rode my horse, I was often lopsided. I literally leaned off to one side. It isn’t an ideal way to ride. And even though I’m an experienced rider, sometimes steering and getting my horse to go (walk, trot, canter) was met with major resistance. So, what did I do to fix the problem? Well, I started by getting a new saddle, but even with...

Fine-Tuning Your Social Skills for Today’s World

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on June 19, 2020 at 2:01 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I moved to Tampa a few months ago for a great new career opportunity. Things have been good for the most part, but my shyness and tendency to feel terribly awkward around people I don’t know well has really been holding me back from getting to know my new coworkers. They seem like great people, but I always back out when they invite me to lunch or to get drinks on Fridays after work. I’m just so scared of saying the wrong thing and having them judge me. I really...

We Are Back in the Office for Testing Only

By Rice Psychology Group

on June 18, 2020 at 10:01 AM /

Rice Psychology Team

Tour and Guidelines ...

Protests in America: Why They’re Happening and Why We Should Listen

By Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood

on June 5, 2020 at 2:35 PM /

As fun as I like to think that I am, no one sees a psychologist if their life is going along smoothly. People come to me when they’re uncomfortable – too uncomfortable to go on with the “status quo.” That’s how changes are made, too. What we are currently doing is more uncomfortable than the discomfort of doing something different, so we change. I once had a colleague explain that, because making changes is hard, part of the work psychologists do is maintain the discomfort, to help people sit with, and remember why change is necessary. The same thing is happening...

An Anxious Return: Heading Back to Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on May 29, 2020 at 1:51 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. The company I work for reopened last week. I was excited at first to finally get out of the house and earn a paycheck again, but seeing the crowded hallways, closed office doors, and multiple face-to-face meetings are making me very anxious. At home, I was mindful of keeping things especially clean due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When going out to get groceries, I was even more careful. But now at work, with people hovering over me so much and participating in one meeting after the next, my anxiety is...