Life by Design Therapy

Spring is a season of growth: the change in seasons allows for beautiful new flowers to bloom. We can look at changes in our own lives the same way. Change can be difficult, bittersweet, or even painful. Yet change also paves the way for new beauty to come into our lives. Many changes have come into our lives as a result of the pandemic. It's okay to mourn what you could have had before those changes came along. But, it's also time to look at change as offering us new opportu...nities for growth. Life by Design Therapy's team can help you let go of sadness, find acceptance, and embrace the new opportunities that change brings. Contact us today to learn more about working with our clinicians. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

Our culture is becoming increasingly diverse, making it more important than ever for therapists to understand different identities. Unfortunately, not all therapists are there yet. So, how do you find a therapist who is culturally competent, or sensitive to other identities? Try asking your therapist questions like:... Do you have experience working with people of my race, cultural background, gender, or sexual orientation? How comfortable are you addressing issues like race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. in sessions? What work have you personally done to educate yourself on privilege and race? At Life by Design Therapy, we pride ourselves on hiring culturally-competent therapists from different walks of life. Learn more about our approach to issues like race and gender at lifebydesigntherapy.com.

We're excited to announce the arrival of our e-book, The Mind-Body Toolkit! This e-book will give you skills and resources to ground yourself in the present moment and feel more connected to your physical body and sense of self. In it, you'll receive: An introductory letter from our founder, Melody Wright, LMFT... Research-backed psychoeducation about the mind-body connection A questionnaire to assess your connection to your physical body 50 ways to ground yourself in the present moment A list of items that can be purchased on Amazon for your mental, emotional, and physical health You can now get this e-book for FREE when you sign up for our email newsletter. Visit lifebydesigntherapy.com to get started!

A warm welcome to our newest team member, Tiana Brawley, ASW! Tiana works holistically, blending Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Theory, Narrative Therapy, and Attachment. She specializes in working with BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ and nonbinary individuals and communities. In therapy, she brings her openness, warmth and authenticity and enjoys supporting clients who are struggling with major life transitions and looking to heal from systemic and environmental factors.... To book a consultation with Tiana, visit lifebydesigntherapy.com.

What is panic disorder -- and how is it different from "normal" anxiety? The main symptom of panic disorder is panic attacks and the pervasive fear of having another panic attack. People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience panic attacks, too, but they also experience other symptoms, such as physical tension, frequent illness, or moving or speaking faster than usual. While someone with GAD often worries about a wide variety of everyday situations, people with pa...nic disorder are most concerned with when and where they are going to have a panic attack next. This can lead to agoraphobia, the fear of public spaces. Whether you believe you are suffering from panic disorder, GAD, or something else entirely, Life by Design Therapy can help you take control of panic attacks and anxiety. Contact us today to learn more about our holistic and somatic approach to therapy. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/anxiety-therapy

On National Trans Day of Visibility, in addition to showing solidarity and support, we want to draw attention to the mental health challenges faced by the transgender community. According to Yale University, transgender individuals are: 6x more likely to have a mood or anxiety disorder... 3x as likely to be prescribed antidepressants or antianxiety medications more than 6x as likely to attempt suicide Life by Design Therapy is dedicated to serving the transgender community not just today -- but every day. Contact us today to learn more about our LGBTQ+ sensitive mental health services. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

You probably hear people say "I feel depressed" all the time, but depression is more than just a feeling of deep sadness. In fact, some people with depression may not feel sad at all -- they may feel angry, guilty, worthless, anxious, or even numb. Most people with depression will lose interest in the things they used to care about, such as activities or friendships. We're big on the mind-body connection at Life by Design Therapy, and depression offers a great example of how ...our minds and bodies are connected. The symptoms of depression can be just as physical as they are mental. Depression can make you more or less hungry, can make you sleep too much or too little, or even make you move faster or slower than usual. In short, it's a physical illness as much as it is a psychological one. This is just one reason why we use the mind-body connection and principles of somatic therapy in our approach to treating depression and other mental health issues at Life by Design Therapy. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with the physical and mental symptoms of depression. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/depression-therapy

February is Black History Month. Here at Life by Design Therapy, we want to draw your attention to some of the resources we have created to support the Black community. In 2020, Dr. Nia Saunders shared a blog post on coping with racial trauma in the wake of difficult news. Unfortunately, these tips remain relevant to the Black community and may for some time. You can check out the blog post at the following link: www.lifebydesigntherapy.com//5-ways-to-care-for-you/9/2020... Life by Design Therapy also created a fund to support its BIPOC clients in 2020. This fund pays the cost of therapy for Black and indigenous individuals who cannot otherwise afford it, with a special emphasis on aiding the LGBTQ+ community. To support the fund in honor of Black History Month, donate at the PayPal link in the comments below. https://www.paypal.com/donate/

Toward the end of 2020, Life by Design Therapy established a fund to support our Black and indigenous clients who may not be able to afford mental healthcare services otherwise. Now more than ever, it is essential to support Black mental health. The current racial climate has had traumatic effects on many Black individuals -- and Black Americans may be more likely to struggle with their mental health as a result. Here are some statistics from the Black Girl Health Foundation ...that emphasize why supporting Black Mental Health is so important: Black Americans living below the poverty line are three times more likely to report serious psychological distress. Black adults are more likely to report feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than white adults. Beliefs about stigma, psychological openness, and help-seeking in the Black community may make them less likely to seek support and more likely to develop unhelpful coping strategies. To support Black and indigenous mental health in the Berkeley and Richmond communities, consider donating to Life by Design Therapy's fund for BIPOC mental health. Find the PayPal link in the comments below https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a strain on many of our relationships. Unfortunately, relationship issues -- including breakups -- remain an important concern in our lives, despite the many other things going on in the world around us. It's okay and normal for some relationships not to work out, but that doesn't make it any easier to cope with the psychological stress of a breakup -- especially during these uncertain times. Recently, Bob Taibbi, LCSW shared some tips for cop...ing with breakups for Psychology Today. Here are four of those tips to help you get through the challenge of ending a relationship during COVID-19: Avoid rebound relationships. During the vulnerable phase after the end of a relationship, you may be tempted to dive into something new. Think deeply about the consequences before entering a "rebound relationship" with an ex or new lover. Seek social support. Your friends and family play an important role in helping you get through challenges such as breakups. Take time to connect with them in pandemic-safe ways, such as a virtual coffee or lunch date. Practice self-care. After a breakup, self-care is essential. Not only should you take time to slow down and relax, but you should also make time for "boring" self-care, like keeping up with your daily eating, sleeping, and exercise routines. Consider therapy. Everyone can benefit from having someone to talk to after the end of an important relationship. Seeking therapy after a breakup does not make you weak or any less independent. If you are struggling to overcome the emotions of a breakup during COVID-19, virtual therapy may help. Contact Life by Design Therapy today for a free consultation. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/marriage-counseling

As Valentine's Day approaches, you may be feeling extra lonely if you are single and sheltering in place. It's natural for humans to seek belonging and connection, but COVID-19 does not mean you cannot find it for yourself. Being single during COVID-19 offers you the perfect opportunity to fall in love with the most important person in your life: yourself. Use this time to engage in self-care, learn to accept your flaws, and make peace with who you are. Dating is not the only... way to find meaning, love, and connection during COVID-19. Therapy can help you discover self-love in isolation. Contact Life by Design Therapy to begin unraveling your connection to yourself. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/marriage-counseling