Melody Wright, Somatic Psychotherapy

Melody Wright, Somatic Psychotherapy Somatic Psychotherapist and Founder of Life by Design Therapy. Offering therapy and mental health education for all.

As a therapist, I’ve noticed something powerful in the way people talk to themselves.It’s rarely the big, obvious though...
12/05/2025

As a therapist, I’ve noticed something powerful in the way people talk to themselves.
It’s rarely the big, obvious thoughts that keep them stuck; it’s the quiet, everyday ones.

“I should be over this.”
“I’m too sensitive.”
“I just need to get it together.”

Those phrases might just seem like words, but your brain registers them as pressure, and that criticism tells your nervous system you’re not safe.

It keeps your body in a state of tension, even when your mind is trying to heal.

Reframing isn’t about pretending everything’s fine.

It’s about creating safety through language; speaking to yourself in a way your body can believe.

When you shift from “I need to fix this” to “I’m learning to care for myself,” your body begins to soften, and healing becomes possible.

Follow for more body-based tools and gentle reframes — and save this for the days your self-talk feels heavy. 💛

When every moment is filled with something, the next email, the next scroll, the next thought, your body never truly re...
12/04/2025

When every moment is filled with something, the next email, the next scroll, the next thought, your body never truly resets.

It’s not just mental fatigue; it’s a physical response.

Your nervous system stays on high alert, bracing for the next demand before the last one even ends.

Over time, that constant activation leads to anxiety, tension, headaches, poor sleep, and eventually… burnout.

But slowing down isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s how your body finds balance again.

Pausing between tasks, stepping outside, or taking a few deep breaths aren’t small things; they’re signals to your nervous system that it’s safe to rest.

✨ At Life By Design Therapy™, we help you understand what your body is trying to tell you, and teach you how to regulate, reset, and move through life with more calm and clarity.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more about how somatic and holistic therapy can support your nervous system.

I spent 10+ years helping women heal… and still didn’t realize healing would feel this uncomfortable.Most high-achieving...
12/03/2025

I spent 10+ years helping women heal… and still didn’t realize healing would feel this uncomfortable.

Most high-achieving women think discomfort means something is wrong.

But in reality, it’s often the moment your body is finally safe enough to feel again.

And that’s the difference between living in survival mode… and living in alignment.

15 years ago, I was the woman who looked “put together,” but inside I was exhausted, anxious, and completely disconnected from myself.

I didn’t slow down.
I didn’t ask for help.
I didn’t take a break unless it was convenient.

I thought being busy made me valuable.
I thought being needed made me lovable.
I thought healing would feel calm and peaceful.

It wasn’t.

The reality is: healing was the most uncomfortable season of my life.

Then I discovered something that changed everything:

Your body doesn’t heal through insight.
It heals through sensation.

Through shaky hands.
Through tears that feel inconvenient.
Through a throat tight with words you’re finally ready to speak.
Through the guilt that rises when you set a boundary you’ve needed for years.

Once I understood that discomfort was the healing… my entire life shifted.

I implemented 3 simple practices:

1. I paused for 30 seconds each morning.
Not to meditate.
But to actually feel the weight of my body in the chair.
That was the first time I had “met” myself in years.

2. I named one sensation per day.
Tight chest.
Knots in stomach.
Sweaty hands.
My emotional vocabulary expanded because my body finally had a voice.

3. I stopped solving everything with my mind

I started tracking:
What energizes me?
What shuts me down?
What brings me peace?

The answers were always in my body, not my to-do list.

Within 90 days, I felt more grounded, confident, and clear than I had in a decade.

Here’s what this means for you:

If healing feels uncomfortable, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

It means you’re finally doing it.

It means your nervous system feels safe enough to release.

It means you’re becoming someone you’ve been waiting to meet.

The bottom line: Discomfort is not a sign to stop. It’s a sign you’re finally reconnecting with yourself.

No one tells you that healing isn’t just about feeling better, it’s about feeling everything and moving through it safel...
12/03/2025

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!

I used to think vulnerability meant saying everything out loud, laying it all bare.But over the years, I’ve learned that...
12/02/2025

I used to think vulnerability meant saying everything out loud, laying it all bare.

But over the years, I’ve learned that’s not what true vulnerability looks like.

In session, I often see people try to open up, only to feel flooded with regret afterward.

Their body tightens, their chest closes, and they think, “See? This is why I don’t share.”

It’s not that they don’t want connection, it’s that their nervous system still believes openness isn’t safe.

So it protects them the only way it knows how: by shutting down, pleasing, or staying small.

Real vulnerability doesn’t rush.

It starts with safety, a pause, a breath, a small truth shared and met with care.

Over time, those moments teach your body that honesty doesn’t have to equal danger.

💛 I wrote more about this in our latest blog. Read it now - link in bio

For a long time, I thought safety in relationships came from keeping the peace. Like saying the right things, avoiding c...
12/01/2025

For a long time, I thought safety in relationships came from keeping the peace. Like saying the right things, avoiding conflict, staying calm, and being agreeable.

But surprisingly, the moments that brought me closer to others weren’t the ones where everything felt easy.

They were the moments I allowed myself to be honest, even when I worried it might be too much.

That’s when the connections began to feel more authentic.

In therapy, I see this same shift happen with clients all the time.
We spend so much of our lives protecting ourselves from being seen by hiding what feels messy, fearing that if we’re fully known, we’ll lose the connection we want most.

But what actually happens is the opposite.

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 the bridge back to safety between both partners.

Because 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 uncomfortable.

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

If vulnerability feels hard, check out my blog - A Therapist’s Guide to Vulnerability in Relationships, to find out ways to increase emotional intimacy in your relationships.

In therapy, I often hear people say, “I want to be honest, but every time I try, it turns into a fight.”It’s natural to ...
11/28/2025

In therapy, I 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 you’re afraid it might shift the closeness you’ve worked so hard to keep.

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

What I’ve learned in my work with couples is that being honest starts long before the words come out.
It begins 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.
It creates space for connection, not conflict.

Here are a few small ways to begin:
🌿 Start small - You don’t need to begin with the deepest wound. Start with sharing 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, try to 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 gentle 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.

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.

11/25/2025

Take a mindful moment with me.
If your mind has been racing or your body feels tense, this is your reminder to pause, breathe, and come back home to yourself.

I hope this short guided meditation will help you feel less overwhelmed.

Remember, mindfulness isn’t about fixing anything. It’s about finding safety within, even for a few seconds.

So, come settle your nervous system, reconnect with your body, and feel supported from the inside out. You got this!

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 history, 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.

As a therapist, I work with so many people who feel completely exhausted, but quitting their job isn’t an option.Burnout...
11/24/2025

As a therapist, I work with so many people who feel completely exhausted, but quitting their job isn’t an option.

Burnout isn’t always about the work itself.
It’s about what happens when your nervous system never gets the chance to reset.

When stress becomes constant, your body stays in survival mode, where it’s alert, tense, and disconnected.

You start to feel like no matter how much you rest, it’s never enough.

But you don’t have to walk away from everything to recover.

You can begin by changing how your body experiences your day through boundaries, nervous system breaks, and moments of real restoration.

💛 You can read our blog for even more therapist-approved tips on creating balance that lasts. - Link In Bio!

Every time your phone buzzes, your body reacts, even if you don’t consciously notice it.A quick spike of adrenaline. A ...
11/20/2025

Every time your phone buzzes, your body reacts, even if you don’t consciously notice it.

A quick spike of adrenaline. A flicker of alertness.

Your nervous system can’t tell the difference between a true emergency and a notification.

When this happens all day, your body stays in a low-level stress response, tense, distracted, and on edge.

That’s why turning off notifications isn’t just about focus; it’s about regulation.

When you choose when to check your phone, you give your body permission to slow down.

Your breath deepens. Your shoulders drop. Your mind quiets.

Small changes like this are how you begin to move from constant reactivity to calm awareness. 🌿

✨ At Life By Design Therapy™, we help you reconnect with your body’s cues and find rhythms that support nervous system balance.

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Berkeley, CA

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

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Our Story

Hi, I’m Melody Wright, LMFT. I am the Founder of Life by Design Therapy and a Licensed Somatic Psychotherapist.

I enjoy working with adults and couples and I’m passionate about supporting clients in healing old wounds, connecting with their deepest desires and creating lasting change that has the potential to impact generations to come.

I also support therapists, coaches and entrepreneurs struggling to feel empowered around money and their practice. I utilize 18+ years worth of business ownership, tax and bookkeeping knowledge to support you in creating a business that brings you joy and abundance!

Meet Our Therapy Team Melody Wright, LMFT #107069 - Founder and Somatic Therapist Ashley Gregory, LMFT #110299 - Somatic Therapist Dr. Nia Saunders, PSY#31472 - Clinical Psychologist