Why School Punishments for Minor Infractions Don’t Always Work on Kids

on March 6, 2020 at 12:09 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Our son is a good kid and does well in school, but my husband and I have noticed that he’s made a couple of questionable decisions in recent months. Nothing serious, but enough to get our attention. We spoke to him about them when they happened, and he was always receptive. Last month, though, he was given detention after talking back to one of his teachers. He was angry and told us, “This is so stupid! All I did was make a joke about something she said! She knew I...

A Few Topics That Millennials Often Bring Up in Therapy

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 27, 2020 at 12:31 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I’m proud to be a millennial. I love feeling empowered when standing up for what’s right and enjoy the freedom my generation has to speak our minds. While I feel grateful for being a part of this wonderful generation, I’m also starting to feel the massive pressure that comes with it. I’m so stressed about my student loan debt, the cost of living, and saving for my future. When I try to escape reality by watching TV or browsing social media, it seems as if it all highlights the division in...

The Benefits of Breaking Your Daily Routine and Trying Something New

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 20, 2020 at 12:49 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. My husband and I were talking about our individual daily routines. Every day, we do the same thing: wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV, go to bed. While we both enjoy the structure of our daily routines, we could really use some excitement in our lives! We talked about some things we've always wanted to do but have been too afraid to try, such as taking dancing lessons (me) and learning to rock-climb (him). So, we got online, found some places that offer these activities, and we...

Complex ADHD: New Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Children and Adolescents

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on February 13, 2020 at 11:45 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Recently, my husband and I noticed that our 9-year old daughter was having difficulty paying attention, and she’s rarely able to sit still. At school, her teacher notified us that she was falling behind in class and recommended setting up a meeting with the school psychologist because she believed she might have ADHD. After some testing, she was officially diagnosed. To say that I’m scared is an understatement. What does this mean? How will this affect her life? The school psychologist informed us about some new ADHD guidelines that might...

How the Great Outdoors Can Help in Easing Your Depression

By Rice Psychology Group

on February 7, 2020 at 11:16 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I’m a single mom who works 9 to 5 and takes care of two kids. Most of my time is spent sitting at my desk, running errands, attending school functions, helping with homework, or cleaning the house. The state of my life left me feeling lonely, empty, and depressed, which was later diagnosed by a psychologist. It was recommended that, on top of my therapy, I should make some time for myself. My psychologist recommended a jog in the park or walking the dog. After taking her advice, I was...

Bullying: A Viewpoint from Both Sides

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 31, 2020 at 12:05 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. "I'm really worried about my son. Lately, it seems his personality and demeanor have changed, and I can’t figure out why. He's always been a happy kid, but now he just comes home from school and goes straight into his room, shuts the door, and doesn’t want to come out. I try to talk to him to see what the issue is, but he's just so closed off. At dinner, he hardly eats, and I can barely get two words out of him. I'm so worried and don’t know what...

“Perfection” on Social Media Does Not Make You Perfect

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 24, 2020 at 1:11 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I love following bloggers on Instagram and could spend hours watching their makeup or home DIY tutorials. In fact, I love it so much that it’s starting to interfere with my lifestyle in a significant way. Ever since I discovered the world of bloggers on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest who share their beauty recommendations, cooking tips, or home decor projects, I’ve become somewhat obsessed - and not in a good way. I’ve become overwhelmed with perfection and making sure that my life looks just as good as theirs on social media....

How Good Eating Habits Can Benefit People of All Ages on a Mental Level

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 16, 2020 at 4:00 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. For the longest time, I tried to lose weight but kept falling back to my old habits. I’d lose a few pounds here and there, but it was never a noticeable change. It left my already negative perception of myself in shambles. A friend suggested that I make some small changes to my eating habits before getting into exercising so I didn’t bite off more than I could chew in the too-many-changes-at-once department. It was tough at first, but I began eating healthier and cutting out sugars and trans fats....

Exposure Therapy: How Dealing with Your Anxiety Through Discussion AND Action Can Work

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 20, 2019 at 12:27 PM /

I recently asked a middle schooler what the word “anxiety” meant to her. I’m sharing this with her permission and that of her mother’s. Her response was: Being in crowds of people, sharing things with the class, sometimes just going to school, doing anything that’s awkward in front of people who I know or may see again. Anxiety feels like being nervous, scared, sometimes frozen in place, or like, “I’ve got to get out of here!” I’ve learned that taking small steps toward doing things that scare me has helped me get braver. I think that doing stuff is more helpful...

Depression: Know That There is a Way Out

By Dr. Wendy Rice

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....