Life By Design Therapy

  The short answer? YES! ✔️ The long answer: Depression is treatable. However, it does not have to be treated in a standard clinical setting where you are prescribed antidepressants and told to hope for the best. While we are not anti-medication by any means, we believe that the mind-body connection can be used to promote healing from depression. Other clinicians are right there with us. Holistic therapy is building a lot of traction within the medical and mental health communities. This multifaceted approach to managing depression is working for others, and it can work for you too! Contact us to find out how. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/depression-therapy

  The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted many types of grief. Some of us lost loved ones, while others lost opportunities or important life events (such as weddings and vacations). But however grief has shown up in your life, it has affected nearly all of us in the past year. With this in mind, we hope you will join us for our Moving Through Grief workshop on Sunday, December 5th. The workshop, led by Associate Clinical Social Worker Tiana Brawley, will allow you to explore and process your emotions surrounding the pandemic. Visit   Moving Through Grief and Loss Online Workshop — Holistic and Somatic Therapy | Berkeley & Richmond for more details as they become available! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/moving-through-grief-online-workshop

  Not sure what to expect from your first virtual therapy session? Life by Design Therapy is offering weekly telehealth sessions with our holistic team of therapists. We offer secure, HIPAA-compliant video and phone sessions with easy online booking to help you navigate life's challenges despite the pandemic. As for our therapists, they continue to be as supportive as ever via telehealth. Our culturally-competent, holistic therapists are dedicated to providing you with resources for growth and change -- all from a safe distance. Our offices in Berkeley and Richmond have immediate openings for online sessions. Contact Life by Design Therapy today to schedule an initial consultation. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/online-therapy

  Grounding is a self-soothing strategy that depends on the five senses to invite mindfulness and relax the mind and body . Some ways to ground yourself using your sense of hearing include: 💙 Listening to your favorite music 💙 Calling a loved one so you can hear their voice 💙 Reading aloud (or asking someone to read to you) What else would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Anxiety shows up in our bodies in different ways. When we internalize anxiety, it can lead to headaches, muscle pain, and stomach troubles, among other uncomfortable symptoms . How does anxiety show up in your body? Let us know in the comments below! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/anxiety-therapy

  The therapeutic relationship, or the relationship you have with your therapist as a client, is an instrumental part in healing. When talking about deeply personal issues, there needs to be trust and comfort between a therapist and their client. Finding the right therapist is key to overcoming whatever problems ail you. But how do you choose the right therapist for you? Try asking yourself the following questions: ⭐️ Do I care about the gender or age of my therapist? If so, what am I looking for in my therapist? ⭐️ What credentials do I need in a therapist? Do I need to see a psychologist with a Ph.D. or am I comfortable seeing a licensed professional? ⭐️ Am I looking for a specialized therapist? If so, what do they need to specialize in so they can help me best? ⭐️ Does this person have experience working with people who have racial and cultural backgrounds like mine? How important is this to me? If you still don't know what you're looking for in your ideal therapist, that

  Life by Design Therapy is hiring! We are a team of holistic therapists serving the Bay Area community, who value cultural competency and LGBTQ+ sensitivity. We are currently searching for a licensed clinician to join our group practice. Therapists must be available to hold at least 16 sessions per week and not work for any other group or individual practice. For more information, visit the link in the comments below. We hope to hear from you soon! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/hiring-therapists-california-employment-position

  We all occasionally spend too much time thinking about a problem without coming to a solution, especially when the problem is particularly stressful. However, when these worries become frequent and time-consuming, they may create challenges in your life, including work, school, and relationships. When it becomes debilitating, chronic overthinking can be a sign of an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) . Life by Design Therapy can help you determine if you may be suffering from anxiety and develop a treatment plan. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take back your life from overthinking! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/anxiety-therapy

  October is #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth. It's important to be aware of how this disease affects physical health, but also of how it affects mental health. Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can shake your world, leading to shock, depression, and anxiety. As cancer treatment progresses, you may find your mood, friendships, and relationships impacted by the experience. Symptoms of depression also impact survival rates: mortality rates are up to 26x higher in cancer patients with depressive symptoms, according to the American Psychological Association. Breast cancer survivors can continue to experience the psychological effects of the disease long after remission. Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common among breast cancer survivors, according to the Young Survival Coalition. It's important to take care of yourself and your loved ones if you or someone you care about is facing a breast cancer diagnosis. Holistic therapy can help you navigate the challenging

  WE'RE HIRING! 💻 Life by Design Therapy is looking to add a licensed clinician to our team. Candidates must have a Master's degree and valid license in the state of CA, and be available to hold at least 16 sessions per week. We are dedicated to hiring clinicians who are experienced in helping BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clients, as well as interracial couples and families. WE PROVIDE: Competitive compensation  Semiannual Bonuses Quarterly Productivity Bonuses  Paid Sick Time 401(k) with up to 4% company matching  Annual CE Allowance Supportive team environment  Comfortable and modern office space conveniently located in Downtown Berkeley and Richmond (currently telehealth) Dedication to professional development with in-house training  Opportunities for full-time employment (with health and dental) *Opportunities for future growth within the company To learn more, visit  Employment — Holistic and Somatic Therapy | Berkeley & Richmond  + follow the directions on the page to apply! h

  The phrase "emotionally available" is often used to describe a partner who is responsive to our emotional needs. This might include communicating their own emotions, especially when there are disagreements, and comforting their partner when their partner's emotions become challenging or overwhelming. Emotional availability, like open communication, is a skill that can be strengthened by both parties in a relationship. Life by Design Therapy's couples' therapists can work with you to develop greater comfort handling your own and others' emotions to improve your relationship. Contact us today to learn more. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  " Reparenting " is a process of showing yourself the love, affection, and patience you may have been denied by your early caregivers. It can be an especially effective strategy for recovery if you suffered from early childhood trauma or a problematic attachment style as a result of your relationship to your caregiver(s). The process of reparenting is best undertaken with the guidance of a trained therapist. Life by Design Therapy can walk you through the process -- and teach you how to show yourself kindness when you may not be used to having those behaviors modeled for you. Contact us today to learn more about inner child work, reparenting, and if these methods could be right for you. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/childtherapy

  Our emotional health refers to our ability to recognize and cope with a wide variety of feelings. Strong emotional health plays a role in many areas of our lives, including our relationships, our workplace achievements, and our subjective sense of well-being. Alternatively, when our emotional health is weak, we may experience signs of a mental health problem , such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Our bodies may also react, exhausting our immune system and leading us to get sick or feel less than our best. Contact Life by Design Therapy today to get in touch with one of our therapists and learn more about the importance of emotional health! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  "Trauma" is not what happens to us. It is not a singular event, or type of event. Rather, it is the emotional response that our bodies hold inside when we are unable to fight back or flee from danger. Peter Levine is the founder of somatic experiencing, a form of bodily awareness used in the treatment of traumatic stress. His quote emphasizes the way in which telling our stories can help us heal after trauma. If you are ready to discuss your trauma history with an " empathetic witness ," contact Life by Design Therapy today. Our therapists are trauma-sensitive and ready to listen. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/trauma-therapy

  Our emotions are like waves. We cannot fight back against them, even when they are overwhelming -- but we can choose which ones to "surf," mindfully acknowledging our feelings without reacting to them. Mindfulness is just one technique for "surfing" the waves of our emotions. To learn more ways of regulating overwhelming feelings, contact Life by Design Therapy today to schedule a session with one of our therapists. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Being assertive is often confused with being aggressive, but they are very different things! Someone who is assertive knows what their boundaries are and communicates them to others, firmly and effectively. You do not need to do this in an aggressive manner to be considered an assertive person. If you struggle to set boundaries with others, you may benefit from speaking to a therapist about the importance of developing your assertiveness. Contact Life by Design Therapy today to learn more about how boundaries can help you thrive. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/holistic-somatic-therapists

  Want to incorporate an easy mindfulness practice into your everyday life? Try a body-scan meditation! Begin by deepening your breath and concentrating your awareness at the top of your head. Then, move this awareness down your body, "scanning" until you reach your toes -- and making note of any areas of tension or discomfort. What can this discomfort teach you about your current emotional state? And how can you show yourself compassion today? Let us know in the comments below! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the amount of empathy you feel for others? Do you feel like you are experiencing their emotions right alongside them? These can be signs that you are an "empath," or someone who experiences empathy more deeply than the average person. While being an empath can be a strength, it may also be draining or overwhelming when it asks us to take on others' emotions. If you are having difficulty setting emotional boundaries, Life by Design Therapy can help. Contact us today to learn how therapy can benefit you -- especially as an empath! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/online-therapy

  We all know that spending time outdoors is good for us. Many of us are instinctively drawn to nature and enjoy outdoor forms of exercise like hiking, biking, or swimming. But nature does not only affect our physical health: it impacts our mental health as well. Now, mental healthcare professionals are harnessing its advantages to help clients struggling with anxiety, depression, and more. The practice of incorporating nature into mental healthcare is known as ecotherapy or ecopsychology. As a client (or potential client), here's what you should know about ecotherapy and how it can help you thrive -- link in bio to read more ! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF A NARCISSISTIC RELATIONSHIP THAT CAN BE MISTAKEN FOR EMOTIONAL INTIMACY Narcissistic relationships often start off on a high note, creating a false sense of emotional intimacy. An early narcissistic relationship can feel like a whirlwind, or may even convince you that you have met your soulmate. However, many of the traits we mistake for love or emotional intimacy in a narcissistic relationship are actually the result of your partner's Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).  Whether or not you choose to stay with a narcissistic partner, it's important to understand the difference between true intimacy and narcissistic traits and behaviors. While true intimacy is not impossible in a narcissistic relationship, it may not come easily to someone struggling with NPD. Ultimately, the decision to stay in or leave a narcissistic relationship is intensely personal. In the process of evaluating the quality of your relationship, take care that you don't con

  Non-violent communication emphasizes the feelings we experience when our needs are met and when they are not met. When our needs are met, we may feel interested, affectionate, or hopeful. When they are not met, we may feel agitated, disconnected, or vulnerable. In NVC, feelings are like colors: the more variety, the better. It's important not to label our emotions as "good" or "bad." Simply observe and sit with what you are feeling as you feel it. To learn more about NVC, check out our blog post -- link in bio ❣️ https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/nonviolent-communication-nvc-an-introduction/5/2020