Life By Design Therapy

  Did you know that your body remembers what your mind tries to forget?😨 Trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress don’t just live in your thoughts, they live in your body. Our nervous system is designed for survival, not just memory. When we experience a distressing or overwhelming event, especially one that feels life-threatening or emotionally unbearable, our body and brain work together to keep us safe. If we can’t fully process or release the experience in the moment, the trauma gets stored in the body instead. It can manifest as physical symptoms like muscle tension, headaches, digestive issues, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and even dissociation. Holistic and somatic therapy help you break free. Instead of just talking about what’s wrong, these approaches guide you through body-based healing techniques like breathwork, movement, and nervous system regulation. This allows your body to finally release stored tension, shift out of survival mode, and reconnect with a sense of safety. ...

  Your body is always speaking to you, are you listening? Emotions don’t just exist in your mind; they show up in your body as physical sensations. These sensations are your body’s way of processing what you’re experiencing and signaling what it needs. For example, a racing heart might be your body’s way of saying, “I feel anxious,” while a lump in your throat could mean, “I’m holding back sadness.” By learning to tune into these signals, you can begin to understand your emotions on a deeper level and respond with care. 💡 Here’s the truth, ignoring your body’s messages can lead to tension, burnout, or feeling stuck. But when you take a moment to pause, notice, and name what you’re feeling, you create space for healing and self-awareness. You can read more about ways to process emotions on my blog, How to Recognize and Process Emotions When You Were Never Taught How . The link to read is in my bio! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Your body holds onto so much more than you realize. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, or unprocessed emotions, these experiences can get “stuck” in your body and show up as tension, discomfort, or feeling disconnected. That’s where somatic therapy comes in. By focusing on the mind-body connection, somatic therapy helps you process emotions in a holistic and effective way. ✨ Benefits of somatic therapy include: Enhancing self-regulation so you can respond to life’s challenges with more ease. Increasing emotional awareness to help you name and process your feelings. Releasing stored trauma that your body has been holding onto. Connecting your mind and body for a greater sense of balance. Reducing stress and anxiety, so you can feel more grounded and at peace. When starting any new therapy journey, it’s important to have a therapist that you feel safe and connected with. Let me introduce you to Krystal! Krystal Williams is a licensed, Somatic Therapist at Life By Design Therapy and sh...

  Many of us have been conditioned to judge or suppress our emotions, mistaking them for weaknesses instead of the wisdom they hold. However, when we take the time to reframe how we see them, emotions become valuable tools for growth and understanding. Here’s why this shift matters: ✨ Curiosity over judgment : When you approach emotions with curiosity, you’re inviting self-compassion into the process. Instead of labeling an emotion as “bad” or “wrong,” curiosity allows you to explore its purpose without shame or guilt. ✨ Messages, not problems : Emotions are your body’s way of saying, “Hey, something needs attention here.” Ignoring or suppressing them often leads to bigger issues, like stress or burnout. When you listen to their message, you take the first step toward healing. ✨ Your body’s language : Emotional awareness often starts in the body. Whether it’s a tight chest, a racing heart, or a lump in your throat, these sensations are clues. Learning to connect these physical sen...

  Navigating emotions can feel overwhelming, especially when self-judgment gets in the way. Affirmations are powerful tools that help shift your mindset from judgment to compassion. They create space for you to honor your emotions without labeling them as “good” or “bad.” By repeating affirmations like the ones here, you remind yourself that all emotions are valid and part of the human experience. ✨ Here’s how affirmations can support you: They create self-compassion : Affirmations allow you to acknowledge your feelings without criticism, offering yourself the same kindness you’d give a friend. They help reframe your perspective : Instead of thinking, “I shouldn’t feel this way,” affirmations like “My emotions are valid” help you embrace what you’re experiencing. They encourage self-trust : Reminding yourself that emotions are here to guide and teach you strengthens your ability to listen to and trust your inner wisdom. Remember emotions are part of your story, not something to ...

  Meet Krystal Williams , LMFT, one of the incredible clinicians on our team, and someone we’re excited to highlight because of the care, presence, and grounded support she brings to every client she works with. Krystal has a natural gift for helping people feel deeply seen and understood. Her approach is warm, insightful, and steady, making her a great fit for clients who want a therapist who truly listens and helps them create meaningful change in their lives. A few fun facts about Krystal: 🍂 Autumn is her favorite season 🙏 She is a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor 🌲 Her favorite childhood memory is camping with her family If you’re looking for a therapist who is compassionate, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in your growth, Krystal is currently accepting new clients. 💛 Book a consultation through the link in our bio to get started with her. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/krystal-williams-lmft-lpcc

  It’s 2 p.m., the inbox is full, the meetings keep coming, and your body has been in go-mode since morning. Burnout rarely starts with exhaustion; it begins with disconnection. The mind keeps pushing forward while the body quietly falls behind. One of the simplest ways to reconnect is through color breathing , a brief somatic tool you can use right at your desk. 🌿 Inhale a color that feels calm or grounding. 🌫 Exhale a color that represents tension leaving your body. This gentle practice signals to your nervous system: you’re safe enough to slow down. At Life By Design Therapy ™ , our clinicians use somatic and holistic approaches to help professionals manage stress, prevent burnout, and restore balance from the inside out. Regulation isn’t about pushing through; it’s about learning to listen. 💛 Save this for the days work feels like too much. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  There’s something about the quiet after the holidays that can feel both peaceful and heavy. The lights come down, the house feels still, and all that energy that carried you through December starts to fade. You might notice a dip in motivation or find yourself feeling flat, restless, or even a little lost. And you might have caught yourself wondering, Why do I feel this way after such a joyful time? Many people experience what’s often called the post-holiday slump, which is an emotional crash that follows after weeks of anticipation, connection, and constant stimulation. After running on adrenaline and social energy, your nervous system is simply recalibrating. So don’t worry about starting the year off wrong. Instead, remember that you’re actually coming back into the normal rhythm of everyday life. However, understanding why you feel off can help you meet yourself with compassion instead of pressure. Read the full blog to find out the seven reasons this slump happens and how...

  Meet Rachel Eisenstat, AMFT 🌿 Rachel creates a calm, grounded space for clients to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and explore what’s beneath the surface. Her work blends warmth, curiosity, and somatic awareness, helping clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and bodies. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, or a season of transition, Rachel supports you in building awareness, regulation, and self-trust. She offers in-person and online sessions and is currently accepting new clients. If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, this might be your sign to reach out and begin your next chapter of growth and healing. 💛 ✨ Learn more about Rachel and schedule a consultation at the link in bio. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/rachel-eisenstat-amft-apcc

  Throughout the day, we move from one thing to the next…meetings, conversations, parenting, planning…often without realizing how little space we give ourselves to pause. When every space of our day is filled, it causes our nervous systems to stay on high alert, often leading to burnout and overwhelm. That's why transitions in your day are so important. They give your nervous system a break, allowing you to be present in the moment. Transitions are more than habits; they’re opportunities for your nervous system to regulate, for your mind to reset, and for your body to release what it’s been holding. Here are a few simple ways to begin: ➜ Wash your hands as a symbolic “reset.” ➜ Change clothes between roles. ➜ Take 5 silent breaths before dinner. ➜ Step outside, even for 60 seconds. ➜ Shake it off (literally… move your body). Transitions don’t slow you down; they help you move through your day with more presence, calm, and clarity. 🌿 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  You can’t biohack your way to safety. Healing isn’t a formula or a checklist; it’s a relationship between you and your body. Somatic and holistic therapy teaches that safety isn’t created by what you do, but how your body experiences what you do. You can meditate, journal, or practice breathwork every day, but if you’re still in a state of survival, your nervous system won’t register safety. Healing begins when your body feels included in the process, when awareness turns into connection, and connection turns into flow. The more you listen to your body’s signals instead of trying to override them, the more your system learns it’s safe to soften. That’s when regulation becomes sustainable, not because you forced it, but because you felt it. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/holistic-somatic-therapists

  At Life By Design Therapy ™, we often meet clients who believe mindfulness is something you have to “get right.” They assume it means sitting perfectly still, silencing their thoughts, or instantly accessing calm. And when that doesn’t happen, they worry they’re failing the practice. But the truth we share often is this: mindfulness isn’t about controlling your mind or emotion. It’s about noticing what’s happening inside you with curiosity instead of judgment. In session, it sounds like: “I just realized my shoulders are tense.” “I’m feeling overwhelmed, and I didn’t notice until now.” “My breath got shallow when I started talking about that memory.” Those moments matter. They’re signs that the nervous system is speaking, and that you’re tuning in instead of pushing through. Mindfulness doesn’t always look like long meditations or perfect focus. Sometimes it’s a brief pause before reacting. A deeper breath during a stressful moment. Or simply naming the emotion you feel without t...

  The week after the holidays has a way of feeling strangely quiet. The decorations are still up, the house feels lived-in, and yet… something in the air is different. Heavier. Slower. A little emptier. Many people notice themselves moving through the days with less energy, motivation, or clarity than they expected heading into the new year. And naturally, the question comes up: “Why do I feel this way?” From a therapeutic lens, this is a completely normal response — because the body has been through a lot. ❄️ Weeks of overstimulation catch up. The noise, gatherings, rushing, travel, and emotional load of the season put the nervous system into overdrive. When the pace slows, that “come down” can feel like a slump. ❄️ The end of the holidays can stir up quiet grief. Not in the way we normally think about grief, but rather, the subtle ache of noticing who’s missing, what’s changed, or the difference between what you hoped for and what happened. ❄️ The pressure to “start fresh” arrive...

  If you’ve been feeling down, unmotivated, or emotionally off after the holidays, it’s not because you’re doing January “wrong.” For weeks, your body was in a heightened state; navigating busy schedules, social demands, emotional labor, disrupted routines, and constant stimulation. When the season ends, your nervous system finally gets a chance to slow down… and that drop can feel heavy. Add in quiet grief, unmet expectations, pressure to “start fresh,” and rhythms that are still out of sync, and it makes sense that motivation feels hard to access right now. This isn’t a personal failure. It’s a nervous system response. Instead of pushing yourself to snap back, try offering your body what it actually needs: 💚 Slower mornings 💚 Steadier routines 💚 Rest without guilt 💚 A little grace And if you want support understanding what’s happening beneath the surface, therapy can help you gently reset and find your footing again. 💛 You don’t have to do this season alone. https://www.lif...

  Every January, we see the same pattern in our therapy space: So many people hope to start the new year feeling energized and motivated… But instead, they find themselves tired, unfocused, or discouraged. And this response is far more common than most people realize. From a therapeutic perspective, there are clear reasons why the New Year push can feel so heavy: ✨ Your body is still recovering from the holidays. Your nervous system doesn’t move from overstimulation to clarity overnight. It needs time to settle and regulate. ✨ Big goals feel overwhelming when your energy is low. When your system is depleted, your capacity naturally shrinks. We know it can feel like a lack of discipline, but it’s not; it’s just biology. ✨ The pressure to “start fresh” can create discouragement. External expectations for productivity can clash with your internal need for rest, making motivation harder to access. ✨ Your body needs rest, nourishment, and routine. Sustainable momentum comes after you r...