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Mental Health Counseling in Berkeley California

  Every year, it sneaks up on you. One moment you’re lighting a candle or hanging the first ornament, and the next, your mind is already spinning with the gifts to buy, people to please, and plans to finalize. You tell yourself you’ll slow down after all the boxes are checked on your list, but “after” never seems to come. You want to feel present, grateful, even, but underneath the to-do lists and family dynamics, something feels off. Maybe you’re holding grief that no one talks about. Maybe you’re stretched thin trying to make things “special.” Or maybe you just feel disconnected from the joy everyone else seems to be having. If that’s you, I want you to know it makes sense. The holidays have a way of amplifying what’s already inside us, the love and nostalgia, yes, but also the exhaustion, loneliness, or ache for things to be different. This year, instead of pushing through, what if you cared for yourself the way you care for everyone else? So keeping the busy you in mind, here a...

Mental Health & The Holidays

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  Each year, we notice something in the clients we support around the holidays. They’re excited for connection, tradition, meaning, and at the same time, they’re carrying invisible emotional weight: overstimulation, family dynamics, grief that resurfaces, financial strain, pressure to make everything feel “special,” or simply the exhaustion of moving faster than their body can hold. And we remind them: the mix of emotions makes sense. The holidays often amplify what’s already inside us — joy and nostalgia, yes, but also overwhelm, longing, and the quiet hope that this year will feel different. Your nervous system is working hard right now. Travel, gatherings, disrupted sleep, sensory overload, and emotional highs and lows put the body into “go mode.” If you’ve felt tense, tired, irritable, or not quite yourself, it’s not a personal failure; it’s your system asking for gentleness. This is why caring for your mental health during the holidays matters. It’s about slowing down long eno...

Happy Holidays

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  Happy Holidays from our team to you! ❄︎ We hope this season brings you moments of rest, connection, and the kind of calm that reminds your nervous system it’s safe to slow down. Thank you for being part of our community. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

Holidays & Family

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  If being around family feels draining, tense, or emotionally layered, your body is picking up on something you might not be aware of. The holidays have a way of bringing old patterns to the surface, moments where you’ve had to stay small, stay quiet, earn approval, or carry the emotional weight of others. When those histories show up again, your nervous system remembers. Feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, on edge, or simply tired around certain people isn’t a sign that you’re dramatic or ungrateful. It’s often a sign that your body is trying to protect you. You deserve a holiday that honors your limits, your clarity, and your healing. You’re allowed to choose rest, distance, shorter visits, firmer boundaries, or new traditions entirely. You’re also allowed to grieve what you wish family felt like, while still taking care of the version of you that exists right now. Wishing you a season that is gentle on your nervous system, soft on old wounds, and full of choices that help you fe...

Therapy Service in Berkeley California

  Have you ever wondered why you crave closeness… or pull away when things start to feel too close in your relationships? Did you know that the way you connect with others often reflects the ways you’ve learned to protect yourself. Maybe you learned to chase love because you feared losing it. Maybe you learned to stay guarded because safety never felt guaranteed. Either way, those patterns once kept you safe. But now, they might be keeping you from the kind of connection you truly want. Therapy isn’t about fixing your attachment style, but rather about helping your body and mind feel safe enough to experience love, trust, and closeness in new ways. 🌿 If you’re longing for healthier, more secure relationships, therapy can help. Start your healing journey with Life By Design Therapy . Book a call to find out more information today! Link in bio. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

Prioritize Your Mental Health During This Holiday Season

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  The holidays can hold so many layers: joy, stress, nostalgia, overwhelm, excitement, and everything in between. If you’ve been feeling pulled in a dozen directions, you’re not doing anything wrong… you’re human. This season, your mental health matters just as much as the traditions, the gatherings, and the to-do lists. These gentle reminders are here to help you stay connected to yourself, your body, your boundaries, your rhythms, and the kinds of connection that actually feel nourishing. Save this list for when the season starts to feel heavy, and remember: slowing down is allowed. Caring for yourself is allowed. And if you need support , therapy is a powerful place to find steadiness again. 💛 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

Holiday Season

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  The holiday season places a lot of demands on the body and the nervous system, and many people don’t realize how much that impacts mood, focus, and emotional well-being. At our practice, we encourage clients to honor their bodies in simple, sustainable ways that actually support mental health: ✨ Pause for body check-ins — A few slow breaths or a moment of noticing tension can help regulate the nervous system and prevent overwhelm from building. ✨ Re-establish steady rhythms — Consistent sleep, meals, movement, and hydration give the body the predictability it needs to feel balanced. ✨ Let boundaries be body-led — Your physical cues often signal when you’re reaching capacity. Listening to those signals is a form of self-care, not selfishness. ✨ Create quiet moments — Small pockets of stillness help the body reset and reduce holiday stress. When you support your body, you support your mental health, and the holidays become far more manageable. If you’re looking to begin the new...