You’re functioning. But it’s costing you.
Therapy for young adults and early-career adults who overthink the text, spend all day talking themselves into plans, freeze during conflict, say “yes” when they mean “no”, and crash into their phone at night because there’s nothing left.
A TEAM PEOPLE KEEP CHOOSING
Life by Design Therapy™ has been recognized for its mind-body approach to therapy in Berkeley and online helping young adults and early-career adults work with anxiety, burnout, relationships, and the patterns that keep showing up in daily life.
You’ve talked it through. You’ve journaled. You’ve saved the posts. You’ve told yourself, “I just need to stop doing this.”
And somehow you still feel anxious, reactive, drained, or disconnected.
This is not a discipline problem.
When your body treats normal life like an emergency, thinking your way out usually isn’t enough.
A Therapy Team Young Adults and Early Career Adults Trust
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"Melody Wright and her team at Life by Design Therapy are exceptional therapists who truly care about their clients. I highly recommend this practice and their commitment to ethical standards, social justice, and mental health education around the importance of the mind-body connection."
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"It's hard to find a therapy practice that truly understands the power of somatic therapy that incorporates both body and therapy, but I finally found it with this team. They provide a safe and nurturing environment and are skilled in guiding clients through a healing process."
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"What sets this counseling center apart is their unique approach to therapy, which incorporates the mind-body connection. They really care about their clients … I would highly recommend this team of therapists and their holistic approach."
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"I highly recommend Life by Design Therapy to anyone seeking a supportive and transformative therapeutic experience. The exceptional team's dedication, expertise, and genuine care for their clients truly set them apart. If you are looking for a safe space where diversity is embraced, you should definitely check out Life by Design Therapy."
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What Starts To Feel Different
You answer the text, respond to the email, set the boundary, go to the plan, and get through the day without your mood hijacking the whole thing.
Our therapists use holistic, trauma-informed, somatic-based care to help you notice what happens before you spiral, shut down, over-apologize, or say “yes” when you mean “no”.
Many clients begin noticing subtle but meaningful shifts within the first few sessions.
You’ll learn tools for the exact moments your body starts bracing, scanning, avoiding, or shutting down.
You’re doing “fine” … but it doesn’t feel fine.
◆ You cancel plans because your anxiety spikes, then feel guilty all night.
◆ You overthink texts, tone, and whether you were “too much.”
◆ Some days you’re numb. Other days your chest is tight and your emotions take over.
◆ You look productive all day, then disappear into your phone because there’s nothing left by 8 p.m.
◆ You want to set boundaries but freeze when it matters.
◆ You keep waiting for the perfect mood before you can live your actual life.
Why Talking About It Hasn’t Been Enough
◆ Understanding your patterns matters. But understanding them does not always stop them mid-spiral.
◆ Because the moment your chest tightens, your brain races, or your body wants to run, logic usually loses the fight.
◆ That’s why we work with the full pattern: the thought spiral, the body alarm, the relationship trigger, and the moment you usually abandon yourself.
◆ Nothing is forced or rushed in our sessions. Our work is collaborative, paced, and grounded in trauma-informed care.
How You Start Getting Your Life Back
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Free 15-Minute Consult
Tell us what’s been happening, what you want to change, and what kind of support you need.
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Early Wins & Relief
Start spotting the exact moment you spiral, freeze, people-please, shut down, or crash.
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Breakthrough Framework
Build tools for the moments that usually run you: texts, work stress, conflict, plans, boundaries, burnout, and the end-of-day crash.
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No Pressure
If we’re not the best fit, we’ll be honest about that and help point you in a better direction.
If you’ve been looking for a therapist and nothing has clicked, start here.
If you’ve been scrolling through therapist profiles at midnight wondering why nothing has quite clicked, we see you.
Melody Wright, LMFT
Founder of Life by Design Therapy™
Our team helps young adults and early-career adults who are tired of overthinking, shutting down, burning out, people-pleasing, and feeling like their emotions are driving the car
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Krystal Williams, LMFT, LPCC
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Erica Casco, AMFT
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Rachel Eisenstat, AMFT, APCC
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Jhane Vargas, AMFT
Life by Design Therapy™ was founded to offer holistic, somatic, and culturally responsive care to the diverse Bay Area community. We help young adults and early-career adults understand their patterns, build tools that work in real life, and stop feeling hijacked by every mood, trigger, conflict, email, or text.
FAQs
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We don’t only analyze your thoughts. Our approach is holistic, looking at the full picture: your mind, body, relationships, and lived experiences.
Through conversation, somatic awareness, and experiential tools, we help you notice what’s happening internally and gently shift it, so change feels real and lasting … not just something you understand intellectually.
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Not at all. It simply means we pay attention to your nervous system and help you build practical regulation skills you can use anywhere.
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No — this is not a touch-based therapy practice. Our work is conversational and experiential, grounded in holistic care that considers the mind, body, and nervous system.
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Yes. We offer both in-person sessions in Berkeley and virtual therapy anywhere in California. Virtual currently has more availability.
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Each therapist on our team has their own rates, typically ranging from $165–$205 per session, depending on experience and availability.
Each of our clinicians also offer a limited number of sliding-scale spots.
We’ll go over options during your free consultation and help you find a therapist on our team who feels like the right fit for both your needs and your budget.
Openings Now for Young Adults in Berkeley & Virtual Across California
We keep a limited caseload so sessions remain depth-oriented, responsive, and personalized.
Please fill out the form below ↓ to reserve a free 15-minute consultation.
If you are in crisis, call 988 or 911 immediately. Do not share confidential or emergency details here.
Life by Design Therapy™ practicing in-person in Berkeley, CA and virtual anywhere in California.
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