Life By Design Therapy

  When is the last time you paid attention to what your mind was telling your body? 🧠 Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic technique that goes hand-in-hand with somatic therapy. CBT relies on the belief that our thoughts drive our behaviors which drive our emotions. In the case of our bodies, our thoughts can dictate not only our behaviors but also the physical sensations we experience. Negative thoughts can make you feel physically worse -- just as using CBT techniques to change and reframe your thoughts can help you feel better. Our holistic therapists understand this mind-body connection and can teach you to identify harmful thoughts that are furthering unpleasant physical sensations, as well as how to change those thoughts. Contact Life by Design Therapy for a free phone consultation to learn more. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/holistic-somatic-therapists

  Our brain might feel "foggy" when we are anxious for many reasons. One is that anxiety taps into our mental capacity. If a person is experiencing an increase in anxious thoughts and taps into their mental resources at a higher rate than usual, this can have an impact on their overall thought processes. A high impact on a person’s thought process is what can create feelings of brain fog. The stressors, anxiety levels, and mental resources can vary from person to person, and so can their resulting levels of brain fog. To learn more about the connection between brain fog & anxiety, check out our latest blog post at the link in our bio. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/brain-fog-and-anxiety-why-is-it-hard-for-me-to-focus/3/2022

  Ecotherapy is a type of therapy that helps people heal by connecting with the natural environment. Many of our therapists here at Life by Design Therapy practice ecotherapy, including Krystal Williams LMFT . To learn more about ecotherapy and find out if it could be right for you, contact us at  lifebydesigntherapy.com  🌎 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/krystal-williams-lmft-lpcc

  A partner with an avoidant attachment style might shut down, withdraw, struggle to trust, or exhibit hyper-independence. If we don't know that our partners struggle with insecure attachment, we might assume that these behaviors come from a place of aloofness or emotional unavailability. To learn more about attachment styles in relationships , check out our wealth of blog posts at  lifebydesigntherapy.com  for more information. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/understanding-attachment-styles-what-is-avoidant-and-disorganized-attachment/9/2020

  A partner with a secure attachment style feels comfortable directly expressing their emotions and needs. They are able to self-regulate, and to balance their needs for space & for closeness, during a conflict. We can all work toward a more secure attachment style, regardless of our current patterns of attachment, by replacing maladaptive behaviors with ones that support healthy, secure bonds with others. To learn more about attachment styles in relationships , check out our wealth of blog posts at  lifebydesigntherapy.com  for more information. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/understanding-attachment-styles-part-iii-what-is-secure-attachment/10/2020

  A partner who is anxiously attached might engage in protest behavior, make demands, over-talk, or give ultimatums, especially in times of conflict. These behaviors can be confusing or frustrating when we do not understand that they come from a place of insecure attachment. To learn more about attachment styles in relationships, check out our wealth of blog posts at  lifebydesigntherapy.com  for more information. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/understanding-attachment-styles-what-is-anxious-attachment/8/2020

  Thoughts are not inherently "good" or "bad" -- and struggling against them will do little to change the way we think. Instead, we recommend practicing acceptance of all thoughts as neutral, temporary visitors 💙 Your thoughts are not the problem . The way you react to them, however, can create issues when you're ignoring your needs or engaging in maladaptive coping mechanisms as a result. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/getstarted

  We may feel helpless to defend our reproductive rights, but we can help by making our money count with donations to organizations like... 💛 Planned Parenthood 💛 the Center for Reproductive Rights 💛 In Our Own Voice 💛 National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum 💛 National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice 💛 NARAL Pro-Choice America For more tips on coping with the attack on reproductive justice, check out our latest blog post at the link in our bio. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/therapy-blog

  Disorganized attachment is a response to traumatic patterns of attachment with our childhood caregivers. As a result, it can lead to similar symptoms as complex PTSD, including hypervigilance, fear of abandonment, and fight/flee/fawn/freeze responses. To learn more about attachment styles in relationships, check out our wealth of blog posts at  lifebydesigntherapy.com  for more information. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/understanding-attachment-styles-part-iii-what-is-secure-attachment/10/2020

  The recent threats against Roe vs. Wade have made many women feel as though their bodies, rights, and reproductive health are under attack. For many, it feels increasingly difficult to cope with politically-driven threats after all that has occurred in this country over the last couple of years. This can leave many women feeling concerned and overwhelmed by the prospect of losing rights that are strongly advocated for. To learn how you can cope with these political attacks on bodily autonomy & reproductive freedoms, check out our latest blog post at  lifebydesigntherapy.com  (or visit the link in our bio!) https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/how-to-cope-with-political-threats-against-womens-rights/3/2022

  Happy Earth Day from Life by Design Therapy ! 🌎 Climate justice and mental health are strongly linked. In taking care of the environment, we are also taking care of ourselves and our loved ones. www.lifebydesigntherapy.com

  Many adults who identify as " people-pleasers " began as children whose needs were not met. When their attempts to speak up for their needs went unaddressed by their caregivers, they learned that even their most basic needs made them needy or "too much." It can be challenging to unlearn this pattern as an adult, but it begins by reminding yourself of this important fact: having unmet needs does NOT make you needy 💙 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Shame sabotages our healing by making us believe we aren't capable of change and fueling maladaptive coping behaviors. Therapy can help you break free from shame to achieve full recovery from whatever's weighing you down 💙 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  The people connected to our traumatic pasts are single-handedly responsible for what they did to us. What happened to you was not your fault. Treat yourself with kindness 💙 You did the best you can to survive with the hand you were given. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/trauma-therapy

  Happy National Pet Day to all of our furry friends! 🐾 Today we appreciate our pets for all they do for our mental health , including the unconditional love they show us every day -- even when we are at our lowest. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Inner child wounds take many forms, including: 💛 Guilt 💛 Abandonment 💛 Trust 💛 Neglect Therapy can help you tap into your inner child to determine what yours needs. Contact Life by Design Therapy today to learn more about the role we can play in healing your inner child. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Increases in stress and anxiety can hamper our ability to focus, giving us "brain fog." Brain fog can make it difficult to complete tasks that you previously may not have had any issues completing. It can also present itself as forgetfulness or being easily distracted. To learn more about brain fog and its link to anxiety, check out our latest blog post on  lifebydesigntherapy.com  (or visit the link in our bio!) https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/brain-fog-and-anxiety-why-is-it-hard-for-me-to-focus/3/2022

  April is here and Spring is in full swing! We hope that you’ve been able to welcome this new season by taking an opportunity to go outside and enjoy the new blooms. In addition to much anticipated changes in weather, April is also chock full of different holidays and observances, such as April Fool’s Day, Earth Day, and Autism Awareness Day. One of the lesser known April observances includes Stress Awareness Month . With the continuation of the Covid pandemic, and ongoing updates of world events, you may notice yourself dealing with higher levels of stress. We encourage you to tune in to your current stress levels and be aware of the impact that stress is having on your body. It’s important to notice when your stress levels are getting higher, and ask yourself if it’s time for a break. Whether you choose to have a day free of your mobile devices, or schedule a day off from work to practice self-care, take a moment to address your stress levels this month (and every month!) in observa

  Happy World Health Day from Life by Design Therapy ! 🌎 As you engage in the conversation today using the hashtag #LetsTalk, don't forget to discuss the role of mental health in supporting our physical health & and overall sense of well-being. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Burying our emotions may help us feel better in the moment, but it doesn't lead to true healing. In fact, our unprocessed pain can be unwillingly passed on to others, including as interpersonal trauma. Contact Life by Design Therapy today to find out how therapy can help you break the cycle by giving yourself permission to feel 💙 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/holistic-somatic-therapists

  Sitting with uncomfortable emotions starts with: 💛 Noticing the unpleasant sensations. Where and how do you feel this emotion in your body? 💛 Identifying the thoughts you're having about these emotions. What makes them so intolerable? 💛 Naming the emotion you're feeling. Giving your emotion a name takes away much of the shame and discomfort 💛 Refocusing attention on the body and the breath, rather than running with your unhelpful thoughts What else are we missing? Let us know in the comments below! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/