Life by Design Therapy

Life by Design Therapy Life by Design Therapy offers Holistic and Somatic Psychotherapy In-Person and Online for those in CA

12/09/2025

If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, this is your sign to start the year off right with support that actually feels grounding and not overwhelming.

For a limited time, we’re offering $40 off each session for your first 4 months of therapy when you book a free phone consultation by 12/31.
This is our way of making therapy more accessible as you move into the new year with intention, nervous system support, and a little more ease.

✨ What this means for you:

Lower cost as you begin your therapy journey
Space to process the holidays, stress, or transitions
Support to build routines that feel sustainable in 2026
A chance to work with a clinician who truly meets you where you are

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin, therapy can be a powerful first step.

📞 Book your free phone consultation, link in bio, or call 510-646-0046
Let’s get you connected with a therapist who feels like the right fit.

You deserve support. 💛

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/therapy-phone-consultation

12/08/2025

It’s a quiet evening, and you and your partner are sitting side by side.

Maybe there’s something you’ve been wanting to say…something small, but real.

You start to open your mouth… and then pause.

The words get caught somewhere between your chest and your throat.

You tell yourself it’s not the right time.
You scroll your phone.
You change the subject.
You pretend you’re fine.

You’re not necessarily avoiding the conversation; you’re actually avoiding the feeling.

That uncomfortable flutter in your chest, the lump in your throat, the what-if that says:

What if they don’t get it? What if it pushes them away?

That’s what vulnerability feels like, the tension between wanting to be seen and wanting to be safe.

If this sounds like you, it might be time to explore what’s happening beneath that hesitation.

🪞 Read the full blog — “How Vulnerability Can Bring You and Your Partner Closer”— for practical ways to regulate your nervous system and build emotional safety in your relationships.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/therapy-blog

How to Manage Stress and Prevent Burnout in the WorkplaceIt started on a Wednesday.I was sitting at my desk, halfway thr...
12/05/2025

How to Manage Stress and Prevent Burnout in the Workplace
It started on a Wednesday.

I was sitting at my desk, halfway through a meeting, when I realized I hadn’t stopped all morning.

My inbox was overflowing, my shoulders ached, and my brain was locked on one thought: “Just get through the day.”

Sound familiar?

Workplace stress has become so normalized that many of us don’t notice how much it’s draining our energy and dysregulating our nervous system, until we’re completely depleted.

While many of us desire to be okay and live with a sense of purpose and peace, it’s hard to regulate and find those moments in the midst of hustle culture.

Read More

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/how-to-manage-stress-and-prevent-burnout-in-the-workplace

12/04/2025

One day, you’ll realize your body was never against you.
It was protecting you.

That shutdown, the overthinking, the need to control, the emotional numbness…they aren’t flaws in your personality; they’re your nervous system’s way of saying,

“I don’t feel safe.”

When you’ve experienced trauma or chronic stress, your brain learns to prioritize survival over connection.

So you might find yourself withdrawing when things get too close, getting angry when you actually feel scared, or staying “busy” because slowing down feels unsafe.

This is your body doing its best with the information it has.
Healing begins when you stop fighting those patterns and start understanding them.

Because the moment your system feels safe, it no longer needs to protect you in the same way.

Your body isn’t the problem; it’s the guide. 🌿

Follow for more nervous system–based insights and gentle reminders — and save this for the days you feel frustrated with yourself. 💛

At Life By Design Therapy™, we often hear from clients who feel completely drained, but can’t just walk away from their ...
12/03/2025

At Life By Design Therapy™, we often hear from clients who feel completely drained, but can’t just walk away from their jobs.

The truth is, burnout doesn’t always mean you need a new career.

Sometimes, it means your body and nervous system need new ways to feel supported.

Chronic stress keeps your system stuck in survival mode, constantly alert, always “on.”

Over time, that leaves you feeling detached, unmotivated, or emotionally exhausted.

Preventing burnout isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing things differently.

Small, intentional shifts like nervous system breaks, emotional boundaries, and restoring body-based regulation can make all the difference.

💛 Read our latest blog for more therapist-approved tips on burnout recovery — link in bio.

💛 And follow for more insights on nervous system regulation and holistic healing.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

12/02/2025

Healing doesn’t always feel comfortable, and that’s normal.

For a lot of us, discomfort can feel like a sign something is wrong. But often, it’s actually the moment your body feels safe enough to process emotions and real healing can begin.

At our counseling center, we help clients reconnect with themselves through somatic and mindfulness-based approaches. For us, healing isn’t just about insight… it happens through the body: noticing tension, allowing tears, feeling emotions you may have ignored, and practicing self-compassion.

Simple practices can make a big difference:
• Pause to check in with your body each day
• Name sensations and emotions as they arise
• Notice what energizes or drains you

These small steps help the nervous system regulate, restore safety, and support emotional growth. Healing isn’t always easy, but it’s always possible.

No one tells you that healing isn’t just about feeling better, it’s about feeling everything and moving through it safel...
12/02/2025

No one tells you that healing isn’t just about feeling better, it’s about feeling everything and moving through it safely.

When your body starts to feel safe again, it finally has permission to release what it’s been holding: grief, tension, memories, and unmet needs.

That release can look like fatigue, tears, or even irritability. It’s not a setback; it’s your nervous system learning how to regulate.

Somatic and holistic therapy support this process by helping you stay connected to your body instead of fighting it.

Because healing isn’t about pushing through, it’s about learning to move with your system, not against it.

If you’re ready to start therapy, let’s begin your healing journey together.

Book a call through the link in my bio!

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/therapy-phone-consultation

12/01/2025

Teens today are navigating more pressure than ever…school expectations, social media, friendships, and constant stimulation from a world that rarely slows down.

It’s no wonder so many teens are feeling anxious, disconnected, or exhausted.
Their nervous systems are working overtime to keep up.

As a parent, you can’t remove every source of stress, but you can help your teen feel safe, supported, and seen. 🌿

Here are a few therapist-approved ways to start:
✨ Slow down before big events — help your teen take a few deep breaths.
✨ Create space beyond screens — connection happens offline, too.
✨ Celebrate small wins — effort matters more than perfection.

Every small moment of support helps regulate your teen’s body and strengthen their sense of self.

💛 Learn more in our latest blog: 10 Ways to Support Your Teen’s Mental Health — link in bio.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/10-ways-to-support-your-teens-mental-health

Many people grow up believing that safety in relationships comes from keeping the peace by saying the right things, avoi...
11/28/2025

Many people grow up believing that safety in relationships comes from keeping the peace by saying the right things, avoiding conflict, staying calm, and being agreeable.

But in our work with clients, we often see that the moments of deepest connection aren’t the ones where everything feels easy.
They’re the moments of honesty, when someone shares what’s true, even when it feels uncomfortable or risky.

That’s when relationships begin to feel more authentic.

So many of us spend our lives protecting ourselves from being seen, hiding what feels messy, fearing that if we’re fully known, we’ll lose the connection we want most. Yet, again and again, we see the opposite happen.

When someone is brave enough to be vulnerable and says something like, ‘I felt hurt when…’ or ‘I’m scared we’re drifting apart,’ something shifts. In an emotionally safe relationship, their nervous system can begin to relax, and the connection naturally softens.

That moment of truth becomes a bridge back to safety, which is a reminder that healthy emotional intimacy doesn’t come from agreement or perfection.

It comes from being seen, accepted, and met where you are, even in the moments that feel uncertain.

That’s the kind of safety our minds, bodies, and hearts are always longing for.

🪞 If vulnerability feels hard, read our latest blog — “How Vulnerability Can Bring You and Your Partner Closer,” and explore ways to build emotional intimacy in your relationships.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/therapy-blog

For those who celebrate today, Happy Thanksgiving from Life by Design Therapy!We encourage you to use this time to engag...
11/27/2025

For those who celebrate today, Happy Thanksgiving from Life by Design Therapy!

We encourage you to use this time to engage with your loved ones, create a space of gratitude, and honor the Indigenous as this day could be a reminder of what they have endured.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

In therapy, we often hear people say, “I want to be honest, but every time I try, it turns into a fight.”It’s natural to...
11/26/2025

In therapy, we often hear people say, “I want to be honest, but every time I try, it turns into a fight.”

It’s natural to hesitate before sharing what’s real, especially when honesty feels like it might risk the closeness you’ve worked so hard to protect.

But honesty doesn’t have to be loud or harsh. Sometimes it’s quiet, intentional, and rooted in care.

In our work with couples, we’ve seen that honesty begins long before the words come out.

It starts with awareness by noticing what’s happening in your body, pausing before reacting, and asking yourself, “What am I really trying to say?”

When you can stay grounded and present, honesty becomes less about being right and more about being real.

That’s where the connection begins to grow.

Here are a few small ways to start:
🌿 Start small — You don’t need to begin with the deepest wound. Start with a small worry, disappointment, or appreciation. Safety builds in layers.
🌿 Name what’s happening in your body — Try saying, “This feels hard to say out loud,” or “I’m nervous you won’t understand.” Naming it is vulnerability.
🌿 Respond with curiosity, not correction — When your partner shares something vulnerable, listen before you problem-solve. Curiosity keeps the door open.
🌿 Stay in the present — The heart of vulnerability is being here, listening, noticing, and staying engaged even when it feels uncomfortable. The more present you are with each other, the safer vulnerability becomes.

These small shifts can turn difficult conversations into moments of understanding.

💛 Save this post for when your instinct is to shut down, but your heart wants to stay.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

November is Native American Heritage Month! 🍂This month, we honor the strength, wisdom, and enduring spirit of Native Am...
11/25/2025

November is Native American Heritage Month! 🍂

This month, we honor the strength, wisdom, and enduring spirit of Native American communities.

It’s a time to slow down, listen, and learn; to reflect on the histories that have shaped this land and the stories that continue to live through art, music, and tradition.

One way to honor this month is by investing time in education and connection. Learn about the true history of Native peoples, support Native-owned businesses and artists, and engage with local community events.

At Life By Design Therapy™, we believe healing happens through understanding and connection, both with ourselves and with the communities that surround us.

✨ Take time this month to honor, learn, and celebrate.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

Address

2140 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA
94704

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+15106460046

Website

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Offering Well-Rounded Healing with Holistic and Somatic Psychotherapy

Life by Design Therapy was founded out of the need to bring holistic and somatic (body and mindfulness-based) psychotherapy to our diverse Bay Area communities. Our therapists value cultural and sexual diversity and we aim to provide our clients with a safe and supportive environment for growth, healing, and transformation. We have office locations in Downtown Berkeley and Richmond (near Hilltop). Please visit our website to learn more about holistic and somatic therapy can support you in creating a life you love.

Meet Our Team Melody Wright, LMFT #107069 - Founder and Somatic Therapist Ashley Gregory, LMFT #110299 - Somatic Therapist Dr. Nia Saunders, PSY#31472 - Clinical Psychologist Life by Design Marriage and Family Therapy, Inc. DBA Life by Design Therapy www.lifebydesigntherapy.com