Life by Design Therapy

10/22/2025

Parenting Counseling
Parenting a teen can feel like walking a tightrope between wanting to protect them and also needing to let them figure things out.

And sometimes, it’s easy to forget that showing up is enough.

I want you to remember…

☀️ You don’t have to have the perfect response.
☀️ You don’t have to fix every problem.
☀️ Your presence, consistency, and willingness to listen make more of an impact than you realize.

Teens are navigating some of the most complex years of their lives, balancing independence with belonging, identity with expectation, and emotions that often feel bigger than their ability to manage them.

And while they may not always say it, your steady presence helps anchor them through it.

So on the hard days, when the eye rolls feel endless or conversations fall flat, remember your effort to stay connected still matters.

Every time you pause before reacting, model self-compassion, or remind them they’re not alone, you’re teaching them how to regulate, repair, and reach for connection too.

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What helps you stay grounded when parenting feels hard?

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

10/21/2025

Holistic and Somatic Therapists

You don’t have to wait for things to fall apart to start therapy.

Sometimes the first signs you’re ready are quiet; you feel stuck in patterns you can’t name, you crave a space to talk without judgment, or you just want to feel more like yourself again.

Therapy isn’t about fixing what’s broken; it’s about understanding what your mind and body have been trying to tell you.

At Life By Design Therapy™, our holistic and somatic therapists help you reconnect with your nervous system, rediscover balance, and move through life with more calm and clarity.

✨ Learn more or schedule a consultation with the link in bio!

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

10/20/2025

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

✨ Please join us in welcoming Jhane Vargas, AMFT, to the Life By Design Therapy™ team!

Jhane brings a grounded, compassionate presence to her work, helping clients slow down, reconnect with themselves, and explore the patterns that shape how they move through the world.

She supports adults navigating stress, anxiety, life transitions, and identity exploration, and she’s passionate about creating a warm, safe space where clients can feel seen, understood, and empowered to grow.

Jhane is currently accepting new clients with in-person, online, and evening appointments available.

💛 If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy or finding a therapist who truly meets you where you are, we’d love to help you connect with Jhane.

[Link in bio or DM us for details]

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/holistic-somatic-therapists

10/17/2025

Teen's Mental Health

Some days it feels like the world is spinning faster than any of us can keep up. And for teens, the weight can feel especially heavy. Between school demands, pressure about the future, navigating friendships, constant social media exposure, and the endless stream of news…it’s a lot.

As a parent, you might notice your teen pulling away by spending more time in their room, giving one-word answers, or meeting your questions with sass instead of conversation. Maybe they seem moody or unpredictable, and as a parent, it can be hard to watch and not know how to help.

Your teen is in one of the most important seasons of life, discovering who they are, testing boundaries, and trying on different versions of themselves, all while the outside world keeps demanding more and more.

Social media tells them who they should be.

School tells them what they need to achieve.

Friends and family may have expectations too.

It’s no wonder so many teens are struggling with enormous stress, anxiety, and self-esteem. Did you know that, according to Transforming Education, roughly 60% of students report feeling stressed every day?

Here’s the important part: it’s completely normal if your teen is feeling overwhelmed. Their nervous system is simply responding to stress, like their body is on high alert, bracing for what’s next. For some teens, that can look like giving short, low-effort responses when you try to talk with them, or retreating to their room and sleeping a lot more than usual.

That stress doesn’t just affect their mind; it affects their body too. The good news is that there are ways to support your teen that work with their body, not against it.

Protecting mental health isn’t about ignoring challenges or pushing harder. It’s about learning to regulate their nervous system, build self-esteem, and create space for authenticity, even in a chaotic world.

To learn 10 ways to support your teen's mental health and build connection, click the link in my bio to read our blog!

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

10/16/2025

National Boss's Day

Behind every “boss” title is a human who carries a lot. You make decisions that ripple through others’ lives, constantly problem-solving, and carry the invisible mental load of leading well and caring deeply.

If you’re in that role, this is your reminder: you deserve support too.
You can take a breath, delegate, and let rest be part of your leadership.

Protecting your mental health isn’t just good for you; it’s what allows you to lead with clarity, compassion, and presence.

💛 Today, we’re also celebrating our incredible founder and leader, Melody Wright, LMFT, whose vision, empathy, and authenticity make Life By Design Therapy™ what it is. Thank you for leading with heart and intention every day.

If you’re ready to create space for your own mental health, our therapists at Life By Design Therapy™ are here to support you.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/melody-wright-mft

10/15/2025

Depression Counseling in Berkeley California

If your depression feels invisible to everyone else, this is for you.

Depression doesn’t always scream.
Sometimes it whispers through silence, stillness, and isolation.

This quote was written to honor that experience; to put words to what feels impossible to explain.

📌 Save this for the days you need to feel seen.
And if you’re ready for support, we’re here when you are.

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

10/14/2025

There’s a common misconception that therapy is only for people in crisis, but I want you to know that therapy actually supports both the deep struggles and the quiet disconnects.

Sometimes therapy is about learning how to breathe again after life has felt like too much. Those moments when anxiety, loss, or stress have taken over, and you just need someone to help you find your footing.

Other times, it’s for when life looks “fine” on the outside, but inside you feel off, for when you are feeling distant from yourself, running on autopilot, or unsure why the things that used to bring joy don’t feel the same anymore.

Therapy meets you wherever you are. You’re human, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

💛 If you’ve been wondering whether therapy might be right for you, our Client Care Coordinator, Kirsten, is here to help you take that first step and connect with a therapist who’s the right fit.

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

10/13/2025

I know what it’s like when anxiety feels heavier than usual, when your body is tense, your mind is racing, and even the smallest things feel overwhelming. 🌿

Right now, so many of us are living with more uncertainty, constant exposure to difficult news, and the weight of caring for others.

Your nervous system wasn’t built to hold this much for this long, which is why it may feel like you’re always on high alert.

But here’s the truth: it doesn’t mean you’re weak or failing. It means you’re human in a world that feels overwhelming.

✨ Therapy can help lighten that load. It gives you a safe space to process what’s weighing you down, learn how anxiety shows up in your body, and discover tools that bring steadiness back into your day-to-day.

💛 If your anxiety has been feeling heavier lately, know you don’t have to carry it alone. Support is here when you’re ready.

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

10/10/2025

Life feels heavy for so many right now.

And if you’ve been moving through your days feeling exhausted, anxious, emotionally fatigued, or just burnt out, we understand.

World Mental Health Day is a reminder that mental health is health.

It’s not just about symptoms or diagnoses, it’s about how safe, supported, and connected we feel in our everyday lives.

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation or in silence.

It happens in the moments we’re brave enough to reach out, share the truth of what we’re carrying, and let ourselves be seen.

It happens in the spaces where we feel heard, understood, and safe enough to speak, whether that’s with a friend, a therapist, or within ourselves.

So today, let this be your reminder: you don’t have to hold it all together to be doing okay.

You’re allowed to slow down, to seek help, to talk about what hurts, and to keep the conversation going. 💚

At Life By Design Therapy™, we believe that connection is the foundation of healing and that your story deserves to be met with care, not judgment.

10/10/2025

6 Natural Ways to Ease Anxiety

I know what it’s like to live with anxiety; to feel your body tense up for no clear reason, to lie awake at night with your thoughts running in circles, or to carry that heavy sense of dread through your day. It takes me back to college during finals week. I can still remember the late nights with my roommates, trying to pull all-nighters, grabbing junk food and soda to push through, running on maybe four hours of sleep before doing it all over again. My body felt like it was in complete stress mode: exhausted, jittery, and constantly on edge.

Read More

Looking for natural ways to decrease anxiety? Discover gentle, holistic practices, from grounding and breathwork to journaling and time in nature, to calm your mind and body with compassion.

10/09/2025

How to Stop Anxiety Fast

When anxiety hits, it can feel like your whole system has been hijacked. Your heart races, your thoughts spin, your body tenses up, and all you want is relief, fast.

The good news? There are ways to support your nervous system in the moment.

These aren’t about forcing anxiety to disappear, but about signaling to your body that it’s safe enough to begin settling again.

✨ 3 Body-Based Tools to Calm Anxiety Quickly:

1️⃣ Ground through your senses
Look around and name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste. This anchors your nervous system back into the present moment instead of letting the mental loops continue.

2️⃣ Release stored tension
Anxiety often shows up in clenched jaws, tight shoulders, or restless hands. Try rolling your shoulders down and back, unclenching your jaw, or closing your fists and spreading your fingers wide. Releasing tension in the body tells your brain: “It’s okay to let go.”

3️⃣ Reset with your breath
Place one hand over your chest and inhale slowly, letting your belly rise. Exhale longer than your inhale (for example, in for 4, out for 6. This helps lower your heart rate and cues your body to move out of fight-or-flight.

🌿 Remember: anxiety is not a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s your body working hard to protect you.

When you learn to meet it with gentleness and give your body the tools it needs, you create space for calm to return.

✨ Save this post so you have these tools ready the next time anxiety shows up.

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/melody-wright-mft

10/08/2025

Somatic and Holistic Therapy

Therapy isn’t always about “feeling fixed” overnight; it’s about noticing steady, meaningful shifts in your daily life. 🌿

With somatic and holistic therapy, those shifts often begin in the body. You might notice…
✨ Tension that feels easier to release
✨ A steadier nervous system, fewer extremes in mood or energy
✨ Healthier ways of coping that feel natural, not forced
✨ Relationships improving as you hold clearer boundaries
✨ A growing sense of trust in yourself and your ability to handle what comes

These are signs that therapy is working, even if the process feels slow at times.

Somatic and holistic therapy go beyond understanding your thoughts; they help you connect with your body, too.

By bringing your body, mind, and emotions into alignment, this approach creates change that feels deeper and more lasting, not just surface-level.

💛 At Life By Design Therapy™, we specialize in somatic and holistic approaches that go deeper than “talking it out.”

If you’re ready to experience therapy in a way that truly supports your whole self, book a call with us today. The link is in our bio!

https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/